LN Butterfly acting strange

+1 to bills advice i was thinking the same thing, surly you can find some shrimps and clams at the supermarket. what does it belly look like?

 

I'm sure I can get ingredients, I just never thought to make my own. But I have looked at some recipes and tomorrow I will go out and source the ingredients. I just wish I had thought of it before, but then he looked fine until now.

I have just looked at his belly, and I can see his rib cage, so that just convinces me more that you guys are right, and it's malnutrition. This now make me feel more guilty. He always seemed to eat well, so I never gave it a second thought. I'm glad that I have learnt from this, but not that I had to lose a fish to find out.

The clowns are chubby and happy, but they get a mix of flake as well, the butterfly wouldn't take the flake though.

 

" I'm glad that I have learnt from this, but not that I had to lose a fish to find out."

So I'm guessing the butterfly didn't make it. Plus one to what everyone has already said about brine shrimp. They are kinda like potato chips for fish, they taste good and the fish eat the heck out of them but they have no nutritional value. If the fish is still alive follow instructions for getting some stuff to make homemade food mix and try to get him to eat, even if you can see his ribs if he will still eat its totally possible he will recover. I never count a fish out til they are belly up and not breathing.

 

I have moved him to a QT but he is on his side. If I touch him he gets up and swims for a bit, but then lays back down on his side. I have tried to get him to eat, but he isn't interested. I don't hold out much hope and as it's 8pm here so I can't get any other food until tomorrow, not that I think he will eat it, I don't think he will last the night

 

dont stress him out more and leave him be, get fresh meaty food asap and hope for the best he might not be a gonner just yet. malnutrition is evil, and yes if you can see his ribs it is indeed probably that. its one of the most common mistakes new mandarin keepers go through, they see the fish swim regularly for 3 or four months then it dies. its a slow death that isnt always easy to spot, dont blame yourself.

 

if you cant get fresh food cus shops are closed go to a gas station and buy frozen clams or shrimp till tomorrow. dont feed it frozen obviously and dont throw in the water that melted from the product, wash it before giving it to him