Fish not eating

Hi there. I'm new to keeping native fish. I have had a longear caught from a local lake for about 8 months now. As long as I've had him (her?), he's been crazy for mealworms. He would even take them from my hand. In the past few days, he has began behaving differently and doesn't really eat. I thought that maybe his behavioral changes were a result of the coming spawn, but I had read that longear spawn at a certain water temperature, not necessarily in accordance to a specific season. Does anyone else's fish do wierd things in the spring, or should I be more concerned?

Hi there. I'm new to keeping native fish. I have had a longear caught from a local lake for about 8 months now. As long as I've had him (her?), he's been crazy for mealworms. He would even take them from my hand. In the past few days, he has began behaving differently and doesn't really eat. I thought that maybe his behavioral changes were a result of the coming spawn, but I had read that longear spawn at a certain water temperature, not necessarily in accordance to a specific season. Does anyone else's fish do wierd things in the spring, or should I be more concerned?

It would be very helpful if you could share some info with us. Firstly, water parems. Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, temp...anything you can tell us about the quality of your water and it's properties. Alos, we will need tanksize, tankmates, diet. Any details you can give us about the setup, has anything new been done to the tank? Anything added or changed?
Are mealworms the only thing your longear is getting? If so this isnot a very good or varied diet and the fish will require more for it's longterm survival and health. Try frozen foods like brineshrimp, bloodworms or daphnia. Other live foods like earthworms and crickets...freezedried will also work. If your longear is fussy about pellets there are a few brands of pellets you can try that I have had great luck with. HBH supersoft krill pellets and Tetra Jumbomin food sticks.

As far as water conditions, I couldn't really say other than its dechlorinated city water. I can say that he's been in water from this source for several months with no noticeable differences in behavior. I change approximately 1/2 the water once a month when I siphon clean the bottom of the tank. Temp is room temp. Its a 10 gallon tank with only a few snails as tankmates (I once put a small goldfish in the tank as a temp arrangement, but the longear was extremely aggressive and probably would have killed the goldfish after a few minutes). The tank has a couple plastic plants, fake rock structure and an aquarium gravel substrate. The setup has not been changed. The diet has been mostly melaworms and koi pellets.

As far as water conditions, I couldn't really say other than its dechlorinated city water. I can say that he's been in water from this source for several months with no noticeable differences in behavior. I change approximately 1/2 the water once a month when I siphon clean the bottom of the tank. Temp is room temp. Its a 10 gallon tank with only a few snails as tankmates (I once put a small goldfish in the tank as a temp arrangement, but the longear was extremely aggressive and probably would have killed the goldfish after a few minutes). The tank has a couple plastic plants, fake rock structure and an aquarium gravel substrate. The setup has not been changed. The diet has been mostly melaworms and koi pellets.

A 10 gallon tank seems too small for a longear, unless he's still a baby. He may be growing and getting crowded in that small tank.

A 10 gallon tank seems too small for a longear, unless he's still a baby. He may be growing and getting crowded in that small tank.

I agree with Ed, I also highly suggest you get a test kit and test your parems. If you're doing water changes once a month I would not be shocked if your tank had detectable ammonia or at least high nitrates. First things first...do a large water change and do them more often (like once a week).

I agree with the weekly water changes ... for now, 1/3 to 1/2 the volume of the tank (but be mindful the new water is the same temp as the old so as not to shock the fish). Additionally it would be good to rinse your filter sponge or pad under a stiff current like a garden hose spray nozzle. You don't want to replace it so much as clean out the copious fecal matter that sunfish are so great at producing.

I agree with the weekly water changes ... for now, 1/3 to 1/2 the volume of the tank (but be mindful the new water is the same temp as the old so as not to shock the fish). Additionally it would be good to rinse your filter sponge or pad under a stiff current like a garden hose spray nozzle. You don't want to replace it so much as clean out the copious fecal matter that sunfish are so great at producing.

I would suggest swishing the media in a bucket of old tankwater myself, especially if he has city water.

I did a full water change. The parameters of the water are:
Nitrate: 20
Nitrite: 0
Total Hardness: 150
Total alkalinity: 80
pH: between 7.2 and 7.8

Before the water change, the Nitrate level was at 40 and the Nitirite level was at .5. I don't know about amonia because stupid me didn't check the kit for that test before I bought it.

Hi there. I'm new to keeping native fish. I have had a longear caught from a local lake for about 8 months now. As long as I've had him (her?), he's been crazy for mealworms. He would even take them from my hand. In the past few days, he has began behaving differently and doesn't really eat. I thought that maybe his behavioral changes were a result of the coming spawn, but I had read that longear spawn at a certain water temperature, not necessarily in accordance to a specific season. Does anyone else's fish do wierd things in the spring, or should I be more concerned?

Just tell him he better eat or no desert for him tonight.

I did a full water change. The parameters of the water are:
Nitrate: 20
Nitrite: 0
Total Hardness: 150
Total alkalinity: 80
pH: between 7.2 and 7.8

Before the water change, the Nitrate level was at 40 and the Nitirite level was at .5. I don't know about amonia because stupid me didn't check the kit for that test before I bought it.

If you got a nitrite level then take that as a warning. A fully cycled tank should have zero ammonia and nitrite. Even low levels will alter fish behavior. Keep an eye on nitrite and try to keep the nitrate low. I keep my nitrates below 20...or at least try to. Also get an ammonia test kit ASAP and keep an eye on that. Has the fish started acting normal yet?

Sorry for the late reply, I have been out of town. I appreciate everyone's responses. It turns out it that there was ammonia in the water. Since, I've only kept very small fish before, this didn't even occur to me. I changed out most of the water in the tank and added ammonia neutralizer. The fish is back to normal now. All I can say is that longears sure are hardy fish.