My fish aint eating food for 5 days now.....what am i to do?

Question

Im thinking that she might not be eating her food because of change in weather.I stay in northern India,n the mercury has dipped from 10 to 2degrees within a week.can this be the reason why she aint eating her food?

what should i do to make her eat?

yes she is very lathargic these days........n thanks i will keep her away from the window as she is near one.

Answer 1

Is the weather changing inside your house, also? If you don't heat very much, or if, as you say, she is near a window, this is probably exacerbating the problem.
You did not specify what kind of fish or what tank size? Most fish commonly available in petstores - this includes betta fish and all tropical community fish - are warmwater fish, needing temperatures of 76-78F, with bettas requiring more about 78-80F. If this temperature is not attained, the fish have trouble metabolizing their food which accumulates in their stomachs and intestines, causing bloating, constipation, internal food poisoning - and overall lethargy.

I'm guessing that you have a fish in a small bowl / tank, like a betta? The myth that bettas can live in unheated bowls is just that - a myth. Bettas can survive in bowls, but diligent maintenance and warm room temperatures are imperative. Move the bowl away from the window, as far from it as possible, and near a heating vent (I mean, not right on top of the vent, but in the general area of the room where it is warmer) and near a lamp to keep the water warm. You must also do frequent cleaning of the water - unless you have a filter, of course. I suggest you use a turkey baster, and just suck out half the water (and any uneaten food or poop) and replace with fresh dechlorinated water - do this every day. It'll only take you a few minutes and you won't have to do a full, 100% water change which is time consuming and stressful for your fish. If you do these things, your fish should recover nicely and live long and healthy. Or, better yet, get a small 5 gallon tank with heater and filter :)

If you have a goldfish, then cool temps are fine, but small tanks are not. Even the smallest, fancy goldfish can grow 7-8", and need at least 15 gallons of water per fish because they produce so much waste.

To encourage her appetite, offer a few small pieces of shelled pea, and some freezedried or frozen bloodworms or brine shrimp. This should encourage her appetite and clear out any blockage she may have in her tummy.

Answer 2

Just a suggestion - If you would like serious answers, you might want to let us know what type(s) of fish and what you're trying to feed them. EDIT: Okay, no new info, so I'll try without knowing the fish species. First, so fish are very specialized in their diet - they might be filter feeders, herbivores, or need something like bloodworms or live food. Check the diet for your type of fish in the links I'll provide in the "sources" section. If your fish is new, it may be that he's still stressed from being moved to a new tank, or you're not giving him the kind of food it was used to getting where you bought it. If he's mouthing the food and still not eating after a few days, you might try softening it if it's pellets or flakes - just let it sit in some tank water before you give it to him. You can always try another brand of food if it still won't eat. If none of these work, your fish might have an internal parasite problem.

Answer 3

It is possiable. The weather has a big impact on fish. If the temperature falls below 50 fish become lethargic and do not need to eat as much. Do you have a heater in your tank? Also is it only one fish or two?

Gradually warm the water to around 78. If the fish does not respond to the increase in temperature there may be more underlying problems. What is the nitrate level in the tank? Are there any signs of parasites?

Check out this site for additional information:
http://ourhouse.ninemsn.com.au/ourhouse/factsheets/db/tips/01/180.asp

Answer 4

It could be due to the weather. It depends on the type of fish also. For Bettas and tropical fish, you want the temperature of the water to be 75 to 80 degrees. Especially when they are sick.
Put a desk lamp next to the bowl. Do not keep the bowl next to a window.

Are there any signs of fungus or rot on the fish. How is the fish swimming?

Answer 5

yeah, it's probablly because of the weather. Most fishes (pet fishes) come from warmer climates so cold weather can really affect their behaviour. When you take a shower, you can bring your fish bowl and fish and just place on the sink while you shower then all that moist and warmth will get to it and it will love it! Hope it starts eating!