Hi Peter,
When I first got the fish a month ago there was no problem, although probably 20% died at the store from that batch.
I have 3 small sp. ampah in the tank of 12 liters. I give them twice a day 10 adult brine shrimp. A throw in a little daphnia too. The food is being consumed, but i don’t know if it is by the two healthier ones. When i first throw the food in i wait and they don’t always eat right away.
This particular tank has Reverse Osmosis water in it, nothing else.
I did leave the tank for a week with the two driftwoods and leaves without water changes due to two deaths of friends over the holidays. But i didn’t think a week would this. Of course i continued feeding and the water was a nice tea color.
I checked this morning, day 5, fish are still alive so i can only assume they are eating. I do remember noticing very heavy breathing in the beginning. I am going to feed baby artemia today, even if my paros are sick they eat that.
I did test water values after that week and all was fine. There was no temperature shock i am aware of. I keep it at 78F.
Of the 3 fish 2 have it, one worse than the other. I did observe 2 of them eating yesterday. I will continue to observe. As long as this is not bacterial because i am not medicating.