Emperor angel not eating

ajiisss · Feb 22, 2022

I have a emperor angel in my 220 gallon fowlr . I had him for almost a year . suddenly he stopped eating . he picks little bit of pellets here and there. I treated my whole tank with 2 rounds of prazi . He is still not eating . After first does of prazi I saw white poop coming out. now looks like he is having some internal infection . I tried adding API gc in fish food and he doesn't take it. I just want to give him laxative to test if gut is blocked or constipated. Can I use epsom salt in my fish tank ?? please advice any help would be appreciated. Its hard to catch him form the 220.

KrisReef · Feb 22, 2022

Can you post a current picture of the emperor?
@Jay Hemdal

I hope it passes.

ajiisss · Feb 22, 2022

KrisReef said:
Can you post a current picture of the emperor?
@Jay Hemdal

I hope it passes.

ajiisss · Feb 22, 2022

ajiisss said:

ajiisss · Feb 22, 2022

KrisReef said:
Can you post a current picture of the emperor?
@Jay Hemdal

I hope it passes.

Here is a video

ajiisss · Feb 22, 2022

ajiisss said:
Here is a video

KrisReef said:
Can you post a current picture of the emperor?
@Jay Hemdal

I hope it passes.

I am not able to attach vidoes for soem reason

ajiisss · Feb 22, 2022

ajiisss said:
Here is a video

ajiisss · Feb 22, 2022

ajiisss said:
@

@Jay Hemdal @Humblefish

JumboShrimp · Feb 22, 2022

(Just a stray observation, but you have some very powerful flow in that tank, no? Even the Emperor seems to be getting blown around.)

ajiisss · Feb 22, 2022

JumboShrimp said:
(Just a stray observation, but you have some very powerful flow in that tank, no? Even the Emperor seems to be getting blown around.)

Yes I have 4 power heads . To be honest I am not sure what is an ideal flow as well. Whats your take

JumboShrimp · Feb 22, 2022

I have a full grown Emperor, and he definitely likes to glide; they like to 'chill' (lol). My tank is a FOWLR-- so unless you have some specific coral that you are trying to direct high flow to, I would crank them all down and give the fish a little more of a break. I know they can't talk, but they might thank you. ;Happy It seems that of your 4 powerheads at least one must be pointed up to break and agitate the surface of the water; that's good. Maybe two can point up. Extra gas exchange can't hurt.

And although it is a little hard to tell with the current flow, it's a nice looking fish which 'seems' to be swimming normally. Best wishes!

ajiisss · Feb 22, 2022

JumboShrimp said:
I have a full grown Emperor, and he definitely likes to glide; they like to 'chill' (lol). My tank is a FOWLR-- so unless you have some specific coral that you are trying to direct high flow to, I would crank them all down and give the fish a little more of a break. I know they can't talk, but they might thank you. ;Happy It seems that of your 4 powerheads at least one must be pointed up to break and agitate the surface of the water; that's good. Maybe two can point up. Extra gas exchange can't hurt.

And although it is a little hard to tell with the current flow, it's a nice looking fish which 'seems' to be swimming normally. Best wishes!

it swims normally even come to us when I approach the tank. Just wont eat sometimes it takes 1-2 pellets . Do you think adding epsom salt might help?

Jay Hemdal · Feb 22, 2022

ajiisss said:
@Jay Hemdal @Humblefish

The angel does look a bit "off" - kind of lethargic, but not breathing fast. I can't tell you what this is though; could be an internal infection, either protozoan or bacterial. I can tell you that Epsom salts won't help - that is an old fashioned freshwater tonic that somehow has gotten traction for use in marine tanks - but remember, the fourth most common salt in your mix is magnesium sulfate, so adding a bit more is pointless, all it will do is raise the salinity a bit. What can have some benefit is to mix Epsom salts in the diet at 3% by weight. But, as you pointed out, oral meds don't work for a fish that isn't eating.

Are any other fish showing symptoms?
How long has the angel been off feed?
Do you have a treatment tank you can use?

Here is an article I wrote on the topic (but be forewarned, it isn't going to offer you a solution, it will just give you some background info):

Chronic Anorexia in Aquarium Fishes

Don't fall into the trap of assuming the fish will begin feeding when it gets hungry enough, or conclude it must be eating something, just not when you are watching.

reefs.com

Jay

ajiisss · Feb 22, 2022

Jay Hemdal said:
The angel does look a bit "off" - kind of lethargic, but not breathing fast. I can't tell you what this is though; could be an internal infection, either protozoan or bacterial. I can tell you that Epsom salts won't help - that is an old fashioned freshwater tonic that somehow has gotten traction for use in marine tanks - but remember, the fourth most common salt in your mix is magnesium sulfate, so adding a bit more is pointless, all it will do is raise the salinity a bit. What can have some benefit is to mix Epsom salts in the diet at 3% by weight. But, as you pointed out, oral meds don't work for a fish that isn't eating.

Are any other fish showing symptoms?
How long has the angel been off feed?
Do you have a treatment tank you can use?

Here is an article I wrote on the topic (but be forewarned, it isn't going to offer you a solution, it will just give you some background info):

Chronic Anorexia in Aquarium Fishes

Don't fall into the trap of assuming the fish will begin feeding when it gets hungry enough, or conclude it must be eating something, just not when you are watching.

reefs.com

Jay

No other fish has symptoms all other fish eating well. I noticed 10 days back it started off with refusing to eat frozen food. It was eating pellet food for few days .. it comes close to food and then swims away . I dosed prazipro for 5 days total 10 days and did a water change yesterday. After prazi the fish had white poop coming out of it. I have had him for exactly an year . he is the king of the tank. I have a treatment tank but not filled now. The pain is to catch him from the DT I may need to move a lot of rocks

JumboShrimp · Feb 22, 2022

Regarding catching him, is that a narrow tank (at it appears)? 18 inches?

ajiisss · Feb 22, 2022

JumboShrimp said:
Regarding catching him, is that a narrow tank (at it appears)? 18 inches?

Its 24 inch wide 6ft long and 31 inches high

JumboShrimp · Feb 22, 2022

Ah, I see. Optical illusion. Still, if you take out just a few rocks on the end and get something like a sheet of plastic or egg crate divider 24" wide, you can corral him all by himself near the end-glass, and then net him.

ajiisss · Feb 28, 2022

JumboShrimp said:
Ah, I see. Optical illusion. Still, if you take out just a few rocks on the end and get something like a sheet of plastic or egg crate divider 24" wide, you can corral him all by himself near the end-glass, and then net him.

UPDATE: My emperor started eating again after 3 weeks. I believe he had a intestinal blockage. He passed a whole lot of wierd looking poop yesterday and everything is back to normal. I haven't done anything but let it ride after the prazipro. He lost some fat and is little thin hope that recovers. Thank you all for the replies and suggestions.