Fish Aren't Eating

[JAMSOURY]

So I picked up c purple clownfish and they've been in quarantine for about a month now. I treated them with copper, metroplex, and prazipro even though they haven't showed any signs of parasites or sickness. They don't eat when I feed them though. They look healthy and survived this far. Maybe they're just picking the food off the ground? Any ideas?

 

[mcarroll]

If they were eating when you got them and they were showing no signs of stress before this, I'd have to say the stress from medications and/or the QT itself are the problem.

Is it a prison-style QT or is it naturalistic at all? Prison-style is popular, but not very good. A little live rock, fake plants, etc go a long way. It could be a little too late if they've stopped eating, but I would add these things ASAP if your QT doesn't already have them or something like them.

How big is the QT tank?

What are you offering for food?

 

[JAMSOURY]

If they were eating when you got them and they were showing no signs of stress before this, I'd have to say the stress from medications and/or the QT itself are the problem.

Is it a prison-style QT or is it naturalistic at all? Prison-style is popular, but not very good. A little live rock, fake plants, etc go a long way. It could be a little too late if they've stopped eating, but I would add these things ASAP if your QT doesn't already have them or something like them.

How big is the QT tank?

What are you offering for food?

They really weren't eating to begin with when I got them before the medication. It's a prison style 10 gallon with a couple hideouts for them (2 clowns). I'm thinking they're just eating off the floor but it's just weird they don't eat when I put the food in. I've tried two different kinds of food, Marine flakes and PE mysis pellets.

Thanks for the help!

 

[mcarroll]

If you put the food in and it's gone later, then they must be eating it even if you don't see it happen.....they could just be really shy due to the unreal conditions.

At minimum get some fake plastic plants to put in there for additional cover.

If you have a chunk of live rock you can add, do that too.

(And for next time, do you have room for a 15 or 20 Gallon tank? 10G is really small for all but the tiniest fish.)

 

[JAMSOURY]

If you put the food in and it's gone later, then they must be eating it even if you don't see it happen.....they could just be really shy due to the unreal conditions.

At minimum get some fake plastic plants to put in there for additional cover.

If you have a chunk of live rock you can add, do that too.

(And for next time, do you have room for a 15 or 20 Gallon tank? 10G is really small for all but the tiniest fish.)

You may be right, I'll upgrade my quarantine tank to something a bit bigger. I think it stresses them out being in a small environment. And the fake plants might help as well.

 

[spiraling]

try feeding some frozen mysis or bloodworms. flakes and pellets aren't a naturally occurring food source for them. many new fish do better on fresh brine or frozen foods

 

[savetheocean]

If theres a lot of flow in the tank, you could try turning it off during feeding.

 

[mcarroll]

Good ideas coming in here!

 

[JAMSOURY]

try feeding some frozen mysis or bloodworms. flakes and pellets aren't a naturally occurring food source for them. many new fish do better on fresh brine or frozen foods

You're right, I might need to try frozen food first. Any recommendations in what to get?

 

[Barrett]

LRS reef frenzy nano if you can find it all my fish go crazy for the stuff.

 

[CanadianReefer]

are all the meds out of your water? when was your last water change? was the QT cycled before you put the fish in? did you check ammonia levels??

 

[JAMSOURY]

are all the meds out of your water? when was your last water change? was the QT cycled before you put the fish in? did you check ammonia levels??

They wouldn't eat pre med or during med but I had copper in there right now. I've been performing water changes weekly and ammonia is level is 0. Cycled the quarantine beforehand.

 

[CanadianReefer]

Well, if you aren't seeing the food later on, and your filter isn't clogged with food, my guess is that they are eating it off the floor. It's not typical clown behaviour, though. When will they be added to your DT?

 

[JAMSOURY]

Well, if you aren't seeing the food later on, and your filter isn't clogged with food, my guess is that they are eating it off the floor. It's not typical clown behaviour, though. When will they be added to your DT?

Well they appear to be healthy and no signs of sickness, so I'll probably add them to the display tank soon. I'll try and keep observing them for now as I try to figure this out or try new things

 

[spiraling]

You're right, I might need to try frozen food first. Any recommendations in what to get?

go to petsmart, petco, or LFS . get mysis shrimp, bloodworms, possibly enriched brine shrimp, thy might have others but those work well.

Well they appear to be healthy and no signs of sickness, so I'll probably add them to the display tank soon. I'll try and keep observing them for now as I try to figure this out or try new things

Do NOT put them in your DT until you see them eating and eating well every day. That's what QT is for. If clowns aren't visibly eating a bunch, then something is wrong. Mine will nibble my fingers for food. Might be disease, meds for disease, the environment, but you only want visibly healthy, fat, eating, acting normally fish in your DT. If you are bothering to QT, then don't compromise.

 

[GoVols]

I bigger QT would be better.
The LRS "Reef Frenzy" is a good food.

I have dosed "Reef Energy" in the past to get my picky eaters to start feeding. They can't eat the RE but the fish can small it.

 

[mcarroll]

but I had copper in there right now.

Just to clarify, is there still copper in there now? If so, I'd consider that as at least one possible reason for the depressed appetites.

Do you know the concentration of copper now?

 

[Crashjack]

I have quarantine experience with medium sized tomatoes (20 years ago) and more recently, two small ORA Ocellaris. These small clowns have always been skittish, and I had to feed frozen brine shrimp in the QT to get them eating and had to include frozen brine in most feelings to make them eat. The CP I was treating with didn't suppress their feeding, but the two rounds of General Cure (includes praziquantel) did suppress their feeding. When I released them into the main tank, they didn't want to eat for several days. Now, their absolute favorite food is BRS Reef Chili (really a coral food). Even though it isn't a fish food per se, I know I'm going to try Reef Chili for finicky eaters in quarantine from now on.

 

[JAMSOURY]

Just to clarify, is there still copper in there now? If so, I'd consider that as at least one possible reason for the depressed appetites.

Do you know the concentration of copper now?

Oh I didn't know it does that, I have 2ppm for coppersafe in there that I've been running for 14 days. Maybe possible internal parasites?

 

[JAMSOURY]

I've have quarantine experience with medium sized tomatoes (20 years ago) and more recently, two small ORA Ocellaris. These small clowns have always been skittish, and I had to feed frozen brine shrimp in the QT to get them eating and had to include frozen brine in most feelings to make them eat. The CP I was treating with didn't surpriess their feeding, but the two rounds of General Cure (includes praziquantel) did suppress their feeding. When I released them into the main tank, they didn't want to eat for several days. Now, their absolute favorite food is BRS Reef Chili (really a coral food). Even though it isn't a fish food per se, I know I'm going to try Reef Chili for finicky eaters in quarantine from now on.

I think I'm going to give it a try and use some frozen brine or frozen mysis. Might help them get going