Day 5: Red & Stumpy

The tiniest, but most beautiful bubble nest in the history of bubble nests.

Guess what?!? I got a bubble nest this morning from Stumpy! I've been wrapping them up at night for peace, to prevent my curious cats from staring them down all night, and a little to keep in any warmth that they may lose as we move into Fall temps in Texas. So this morning was like unwrapping a gift! It's not the biggest or greatest bubble nest I have ever seen on this forum, but it's more than one bubble and Stumpy made it so I am happy about that!

Food wise, I gave them both 3 small meals yesterday, but by the 3rd I could tell they weren't that into it, so today I will stick with 2 and then do 3 again tomorrow. I don't want to force stuff them, but they clearly need all the calories they can get at this point. Neither of them is keen on bloodworms, but they do eat the occasional one. Brine is Red's fave, and Stumpy will eat pellets and brine. This morning however Stumpy seems out of sorts.

I did the usual 100% water change followed by breakfast. Today I thought I would mix in some bloodworms with shrimp brine and some tank water pellets -- like a porridge -- and while Red was thinking about eating from the stick, and did eat a bunch once it came off the stick, Stumpy watched it fall slowly and languidly sailed down after a few pieces to slurp them up. I had quite a bit of clean up to do in his bowl though...

As far as activity goes... Red is flashing around his bowl and is really looking great and active today. Stumpy is floating near the top mostly, with all his fins flat and his um... "paddle fins?" are tucked against his body. Something isn't right with him... When I woke them up he was busy pooping and had built that little nest, and was swimming just fine. Since the water change he has been like this. They both have the exact same water but I added just a little more (temp matched) tap water to Stumpy's as his bowl is marginally larger. Do you think I should do a second change with him? I don't want to stress him out unnecessarily, but he is clearly not himself and hasn't been since this morning's change. I am probably just being paranoid.