wild peruvian scalares not eating

[joshdway]

like to check with more experienced bros here

but I bought some wild peruvian scalares about 4 days ago.

but they don't seem to be eating well.
I tried feeding them flakes, some of them nibbled and spitted it out again
only a couple of them ate the smallest portion

I tried tubifex worms too, but they simply bo chup the worms

is there any reason why they don't seem to be eating?
since they have already been here for 4 days

only thing is, my ph is high, about 8
cannot get it down....

[BettaCJunior]

I think getting them to eat is of lesser concern here.

pH 8 is too high for them, plus the fact that they are wild caught and fragile from the catching and shipment process. Would recommend that u prepare a quarantine tank for them if space and resources allow. Use water softener resins and add the appropriate amount of pH lowering items like peat moss or KTP leaves.

What's the current tank setup for the tank they are in?

[patclay]

Need to gradually bring down the ph. May need to either put peat, or buy the pH down powder from seachem.

[joshdway]

sigh....

I have them in a pond
but my water here in the north side of Singapore has high ph
have not been successful in getting it down

long term probably wont do them justice even if it doesn't harm them
maybe I should let them go...?

[Altum]

Hi bro, u mention that u keep them in a pond. Can i know what type of pond? Make of concrete pond or FGT pond? If its a concrete pond the PH is surely very high. U may need to get some peat moss from LFS to bring down the the PH level to acidic level. Then u can safe them.

[joshdway]

it is a concrete pond but its tiled over.

I soaked it for 3 months

cycled it for another 3 months

and my kois have been in them for 12 months

ph is still high
but my kois seem to have acclimatized to it
think kois can tahan 8, even though they prefer 7.5

but 8 may be just too high for the scalares

[BettaCJunior]

Wrong pondmates. Kois need high pH but angels prefer slight acidic water. Especially wild peruvian angels(sometimes called peruvian altums).

Its like how we should not mix tanganyikans and discus together. They require different water chemistries. One is soft and acidic, the other is hard and alkali.

Any space in your house to install another tank? Would be another way to enjoy the hobby too if u dun mind the extra WC

[joshdway]

hahah

no more space...
altums are the kings? the ones that will grow the biggest?

I think mine are scalars

think I will let them go
no sense in attempting to raise them in ph 8 and end up killing them or have them being unhealthy

sigh........

[BettaCJunior]

Yes altums are the biggest strains.

Peruvian are scalares, peruvian altum is just a name used occasionally by suppliers and some hobbyists because they look similar to altums haha.

All the best.

[nitingdedao]

Originally Posted by joshdway

sigh....

I have them in a pond
but my water here in the north side of Singapore has high ph
have not been successful in getting it down

long term probably wont do them justice even if it doesn't harm them
maybe I should let them go...?

Just curious. Pictures of your pond please.