So many people think that rainbow sharks are among the neatest fish to own. They’re gorgeous fish that have the potential to look great in your tank.
Caring for rainbow sharks can be a bit tricky sometimes, though. Most experts say that beginners should never purchase these fish.
They’re aggressive fish and they’re moderately difficult to care for. If you don’t do things right you might have certain problems with your fish in the tank.
Have you noticed that your rainbow shark isn’t eating normally? What would cause this to happen?
Read on to learn more about rainbow sharks and the reasons why they might stop eating food. This should help you to figure out what’s going on in your situation so you can try to turn things around.
1 – Stress
Stress could easily cause these fish to stop eating. Rainbow sharks don’t do well when they’re stressed.
It’s fairly common for rainbow sharks to be stressed when you first get them. The process of being transported and put in a new tank can be very stressful for the fish.
You might need to give the fish a week to acclimate to its new environment. So long as you’re keeping the fish in appropriate water conditions, things should be normal as the fish gets used to the new tank.
This isn’t something that only happens to rainbow sharks. Many new fish will be so stressed that they won’t eat when they’re just entering a tank.
The fish might be ready to eat after several days have passed or it could take a week. Just be sure to monitor the situation and focus on providing appropriate care so the fish will feel less stressed.
2 – Water Conditions
Water quality is important when you’re caring for fish. Rainbow sharks are going to become extremely stressed if the water quality doesn’t remain high in the tank.
Dirty water can make it so the fish will stop eating. They might choose to hide instead of acting normal and eating when it’s time for them to be fed.
You must monitor the water parameters in the tank to protect your fish. Make sure that the water temperature stays between 72 degrees Fahrenheit and 79 degrees Fahrenheit.
The pH balance in the tank should stay between 6.5 and 7.5. It’s best to use pH balance testing kits to test the water regularly so you can ensure that all is well.
Regular tank maintenance is an essential aspect of caring for fish. You need to clean the fish tank, do regular water changes, and monitor the water parameters accordingly.
3 – Improper Food
Have you thought about whether you’re feeding the rainbow sharks the right food? You might be offering the fish food that they don’t like.
These fish are known to be slightly picky. You might be trying to feed them fish flakes that aren’t appropriate for them.
Typically, people give rainbow sharks algae wafers or other types of flake fish food that contains algae. Then you’ll supplement the diet with various types of live foods.
You might not be mixing things up enough and the fish are getting bored of what you’re offering them. Try feeding the rainbow sharks live foods such as brine shrimp, bloodworms, and insect larvae.
It’s also fine to give these fish veggies such as spinach and lettuce as snacks. Try to do your best to feed these fish a high-quality diet so they will eat and stay strong.
Generally, it’s best to feed the fish three times per day. You feed them as much as they can eat in five minutes.
4 – Is the Tank Too Crowded?
Crowded tanks will be very bad for your rainbow sharks. These fish are known to do poorly in crowded fish tank environments.
One rainbow shark is supposed to be kept in a 50-gallon fish tank. It’s not as common to keep these fish in groups since they fight each other, but you can try to do so if you buy a very large tank.
You’d need at least a 125-gallon aquarium to think of getting started. So you now know that rainbow sharks require big tanks no matter what the situation is.
When keeping a rainbow shark in a 50-gallon tank you need to ensure that you don’t overcrowd the tank with fish. Cramming too many fish in the tank will be detrimental to the fish.
This is something you can avoid by planning ahead. Buy a tank that’s a bit bigger than you need it to be if possible.
Rainbow sharks can be kept in community tanks with compatible fish, but they need to be given enough space. Keep this in mind and avoid issues with overcrowding.
5 – Disease
Another thing to consider is whether your fish is sick or not. Rainbow sharks can get sick, and some illnesses might make the fish stop eating.
For instance, it’s not unusual for rainbow sharks to deal with bloating and swim bladder issues. A rainbow shark might eat too much at once and become bloated.
This will keep it from eating due to not being able to move around properly. The fish will need to poop a lot to relieve its constipation.
Or the bloating could be caused by an infection of some kind. In this situation, the fish would need to take antibiotics to clear up the infection.
There could be other diseases that will cause the fish to lose its appetite as well. Various common fish illnesses are known to make fish feel sluggish and make them not want to eat.
Final Thoughts
You should feel much more confident now that you understand what’s likely going on. Your fish might simply be stressed due to being new to the tank.
Or it could be that you need to monitor the water parameters in the take closer. Sometimes rainbow sharks even stop eating because they’re being kept in overcrowded fish tanks.
So many different things can cause these fish to stop eating. You need to make sure that you’re feeding them the right foods and watch out to see if they’re getting sick.
Keep an eye on your fish and troubleshoot the situation by using the information above. You should be able to determine what’s wrong so you can help your fish to feel better and start eating normally again.
Jeff has always enjoyed having pets, but as a child, he was drawn to his family’s fish tank. Being able to maintain a small ecosystem and observe the behaviors and interactions in the underwater world peaked his interest early on and has kept him hooked until this day. On Avid Aquarist, Jeff shares everything he’s learned about helping aquatic life survive and thrive in a home aquarium.