Fish not eating in quarantine, solutions?

[George Villasenor]

Second day into the quarantine, currently have 3 fish in my 30gal quarantine tank, all being juveniles, a potters angelfish, mimic lemon peel tang, and a harlequin tusk. The potters and tusk eat fine, the tang on the other hand is not eating anything, and is a bit skinny, I've tried mysis, pellets, and seaweed so far and he ignores them or spits them out. The seaweed is from the v20 brand and is rubber banded to a piece of pvc and not on a clip, going to try soaking it in garlic once I get a hold of liquid garlic. Any help is appreciated.

 

[Flippers4pups]

Skinny could be internal parasites. Try a quality frozen food like Rods or LRS. If you can get it to eat, then try soaking the food in metro using some focus.

 

[TheShrimpNibbler]

See if he was eating at the your lfs. If so, try feeding that. Are you medicating? That could make it not eat. Try garlic. Lrs and rods are good choices. Maybe it will it roe or fish eggs.

 

[ca1ore]

I always make sure new fish are eating before even considering any kind of medication. Not unusual for acanthurus genus tangs to arrive skinny (mimics and convicts particularly). As long as it’s not being harassed by the others, offering variety is really the only thing you can do. I’ve never personally found garlic to do anything at all. If you can find it, live brine may be worth a try. Also, two days isn't very long so keep trying different stuff.

Potters is the one of those three that is usually toughest to get eating.

 

[George Villasenor]

See if he was eating at the your lfs. If so, try feeding that. Are you medicating? That could make it not eat. Try garlic. Lrs and rods are good choices. Maybe it will it roe or fish eggs.

Currently have copper in the system.

 

[LAReefer4Life]

Copper is an appetite suppressant. Can you please give us more information.

- What copper and which test kit are you using? What level is the copper current at?

- Did have any sign of ich or velvet? or just proactively treating?

- What are your water parameters

 

[ScottR]

+1 on copper being appetite suppressant. They may never eat and starve to death or they’ll eventually start to take food.

 

[George Villasenor]

Copper is an appetite suppressant. Can you please give us more information.

- How long have they been in QT?

- What copper and which test kit are you using? What level is the copper current at?

- Did have any sign of ich or velvet? or just proactively treating?

- What are your water parameters

QT for 2 days going into the third / Cupramine / Seachem test, 0.4 / Proactively treating / Salinity 1.025, Ca 380, mag 1325, alk 8,

 

[LAReefer4Life]

Ammonia? make sure you have an ammonia alert badge as many ammonia tests are not compatible with cupramine.

Also make sure water surface is highly agitated. Keep a close eye on him, its not abnormal for fish to lose appetite with meds.

 

[MERKEY]

While in hospital tank my tang took a couple days in copper to eat. Give him another day or so to build up with the copper before worrying too much.
Not sure if you know this or not but while keeping amonia down dont use prime with cupramine as it becomes toxic.

 

[LAReefer4Life]

While in hospital tank my tang took a couple days in copper to eat. Give him another day or so to build up with the copper before worrying too much.
Not sure if you know this or not but while keeping amonia down dont use prime with cupramine as it becomes toxic.

+1

 

[Lasse]

Is the tang discolored (dark) and/or shy? You state it spit out the food. Does it still take in food and spit it out or have he/she lost all interest of food during time?

Sincerely Lasse

 

[Paul B]

Fish hate bare quarantine tanks as well as PVC pipes, copper and rubber bands. I would put some real looking rock or bricks in there so they can hide. If you can see them, they can see you.
That is their problem, stress not disease.

 

[TheShrimpNibbler]

Fish hate bare quarantine tanks as well as PVC pipes, copper and rubber bands. I would put some real looking rock or bricks in there so they can hide. If you can see them, they can see you.
That is their problem, stress not disease.

I totally agree. I always use fake plants and plastic decorations that are meant for freshwater in my qt tanks. They don’t soak up copper, are more porous than pvc, so they add filtration, and the fish can hide in them.

 

[RedSea500MaxS]

Chaeto algae is like candy...and live brine.

 

[dhof]

I had finicky fish in quarantine who would not eat. you can try soaking the food in garlic. Also, baby brine and live worms are almost always eaten. You might be able to get live worms at your LFS. Even the most finicky fish can't resist the squiggle of a live worm.