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A sad morning.
Woke up to find one of my zebra's had died.
I think I know the cause. I feed them a wide variety of food and if the pellets are too big (Tetra Min tropical tablets and Hikari Massivore Delite) I usually break it up into little pieces but this time I only broke them in half. Lesson learned the hard way! Well I think one of the pellets/tablets blew into a cave and I saw a zebra follow behind it...not sure if its the same one but I think my zebra died from gluttony!
Here are a few pic of the deceased fish....its not like it matters but I think its a female, what do you think? Ken

Profile shot
<a><img src="http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff54 ... G_3424.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Belly shot; notice the dark areas on its belly (is that its stomach?) and side near fins, i think he eat too much and its stomach burst. And I'm not sure about the redness near its anal fin....
<a><img src="http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff54 ... G_3426.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Birds eye view
<a><img src="http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff54 ... G_3422.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Sorry for your loss.
Your fish was male, not sure if he would have chocked as he looked fairly big, could he have been fairly old?
Sorry anyway.

Thanks Steve.K
I've had the fish for 2.5 yrs and it was about 2 yrs old when I got it. So I would say that puts it around 4-5 yrs old, F1.
If its a male then I only have 1 female and 3 males left....

Hi Lifted193

Sorry about your fish.
I think everyone that has zebs worries about what you think happened to your fish he looked a very nice fish and I'm sad for your loss and wish better luck with your other fish.

Jerry

Sorry for your loss Lifted193

Hi Ken,

Sorry about your MALE fish. But it is part and parcel of our hobby to experience such situation. Think positive, maybe this is the "bully" male that is obstructing your female to spawn, and the charm may works for you. And be glad that it is NOT the female.

On the other hand, since you know (or assume) that the cause is due to indigestion, consipation or gluttony. Then the correct approach will be to

1) Go green and add veg to their diets.

I know they won't take algae pellets, but u can try green pea or other leafy veg and it will be fill with holes the next day. I feed 3 veg meals in a week with some pellets, while the other 3 meals are purely pellets.

2) Fast them for a day in a week.

I usually fast them on sunday. Reasons being I changed water on sunday afternoon and I do not want to dirty the water. As such, I can excuse myself the duties of clearing the waste due to monday morning's blue. By fasting, you help to clear their stomach and prevent indigestion. For your info, they won't die even if they do not eat for a week, so not to worry.


Last and final, as an encouragement, I have a spawning pairs with just 2 males and 1 female, so you have a better chance at getting it right than me.

Cheers
darry