Lake Tanganyika Species • Troph not eating

[zimmy]

One of my trophs has not been eating the last couple of days. She (I'm guessing it's a she because she's smaller and has less prominent markings compared to my other Muragos) darts toward the food but doesn't take any in her mouth. She seems fine otherwise. I've had the colony for seven months and I'm guessing they range in age from 9 to 11 months.

Could the behaviour I'm seeing be a sign of holding or is it something to be concerned about?

[garryism]

hey zimmy!

are you able to tell whether or not the troph has a bulge in it's buccal cavity?

[noddy]

Watch her closely, if she's holding, you will see her tumble the eggs eventually. If not, and she continues this behavior, I might soak the food in metro for a couple of days and see how she reacts. I have found that turning the lights off seems to go a long way towards helping Trophs "snap out of it".

[zimmy]

Thanks for the responses. Garryism, I can't detect if there's a bulge. I'll keep monitoring and try your suggestions, noddy, if necessary.

Thanks.

[24Tropheus]

What size tank and numbers do you have em in?
Yep females holding and females showing first sines of bloat look and act very similar.
You can even have both at once as holding it can be very stressful time for the females.
Dunno I would watch carefully and at the first sine of clear bloat (white poo) and then treat for bloat. Hope I am wrong and its just holding. A photo would help.

If holding she should take flake over the eggs if bloat she will not.
If using pellets then you can not tell. Females with early bloat and holding females will not take pellets IME.

All the best James