HELP waspfish not eating and stiff

[ileas12:]

I've had this waspfish for many months now and was taking mysis fine. For the last few days it has gone stiff and randomly will get jumpy and move around but isn't taking food and will sit in one spot stiff/limp like this for hours.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I've had this waspfish for many months now and was taking mysis fine. For the last few days it has gone stiff and randomly will get jumpy and move around but isn't taking food and will sit in one spot stiff/limp like this for hours.

The breathing rate appears shallow for this fish.... and it may be becoming moribund. It needs more than mysis shrimp to eat long term. This type of fish also desires lots of hiding places in the tank and while they are not very active, its sitting in the video is concerning. Lower white light and add airstone for added oxygen, ASSURE your tests are accurate as like a lion this fish does not do well with high ammonia and nitrate levels

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I agree, it is breathing shallow and fast and seems lethargic. It is also very thin. I think it is moribund at this point, sorry.

Jay

 

[lion king]

You can try and offer live ghost shrimp to see if you get a feeding response, seriously this can save your fish. I have rescued many scorps in poor condition, by first offering them live food. If he eats continue on a live diet to get her back then start offering other foods which I recommend in many of my threads, click my name and "find all threads. Water quality is first but likely nutritional defiencency.

 

[ileas12:]

You can try and offer live ghost shrimp to see if you get a feeding response, seriously this can save your fish. I have rescued many scorps in poor condition, by first offering them live food. If he eats continue on a live diet to get her back then start offering other foods which I recommend in many of my threads, click my name and "find all threads. Water quality is first but likely nutritional defiencency.

The breathing rate appears shallow for this fish.... and it may be becoming moribund. It needs more than mysis shrimp to eat long term. This type of fish also desires lots of hiding places in the tank and while they are not very active, its sitting in the video is concerning. Lower white light and add airstone for added oxygen, ASSURE your tests are accurate as like a lion this fish does not do well with high ammonia and nitrate levels

Dang. It’s been 4 days like this I got him to eat Monday night. I lowered the white light and will buy an air stone on my way home. What else can I try besides that and adding ghost shrimp?

 

[ileas12:]

You can try and offer live ghost shrimp to see if you get a feeding response, seriously this can save your fish. I have rescued many scorps in poor condition, by first offering them live food. If he eats continue on a live diet to get her back then start offering other foods which I recommend in many of my threads, click my name and "find all threads. Water quality is first but likely nutritional defiencency.

Just straight freshwater ghost shrimp? Any other recs?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Dang. It’s been 4 days like this I got him to eat Monday night. I lowered the white light and will buy an air stone on my way home. What else can I try besides that and adding ghost shrimp?

Just straight freshwater ghost shrimp? Any other recs?

Yes as well as mysid shrimp which are not always available

 

[lion king]

Just straight freshwater ghost shrimp? Any other recs?

Yes, always best to gut load them with a micro pellet or good food, you can use any type of container to give them food before offering. Guppies are another live food but difficult to get to them sometimes, there is a trick by herding the guppies with a feeding stick to a position where they can catch them. These guys can go a while without eating but sometimes the nutritional deficiencies pass the threshold and they will refuse any food. Of they start eating the live food they will likely rebound fine.

Click my name and "find all threads", I wrote 2 threads specifically towards the care of these small waspfish.

Oh live black worms also, turn off pumps and drop some in front of them using hemo,s.

 

[ileas12:]

Yes, always best to gut load them with a micro pellet or good food, you can use any type of container to give them food before offering. Guppies are another live food but difficult to get to them sometimes, there is a trick by herding the guppies with a feeding stick to a position where they can catch them. These guys can go a while without eating but sometimes the nutritional deficiencies pass the threshold and they will refuse any food. Of they start eating the live food they will likely rebound fine.

Click my name and "find all threads", I wrote 2 threads specifically towards the care of these small waspfish.

Oh live black worms also, turn off pumps and drop some in front of them using hemo,s.

Awesome! I’ll read your thread when I’m out of here. Grabbing adult brine and ghost shrimp on my way home as well as an air stone to be safe

 

[ileas12:]

I don’t think my lfs has live black worms btw. Is that more of a reptile shop kinda thing? Also when you say gut load what should I give? Sorry for all the questions but after scrolling through your stuff I realized you’re the predator fish king

Yes, always best to gut load them with a micro pellet or good food, you can use any type of container to give them food before offering. Guppies are another live food but difficult to get to them sometimes, there is a trick by herding the guppies with a feeding stick to a position where they can catch them. These guys can go a while without eating but sometimes the nutritional deficiencies pass the threshold and they will refuse any food. Of they start eating the live food they will likely rebound fine.

Click my name and "find all threads", I wrote 2 threads specifically towards the care of these small waspfish.

Oh live black worms also, turn off pumps and drop some in front of them using hemo,s.

 

[lion king]

I don’t think my lfs has live black worms btw. Is that more of a reptile shop kinda thing? Also when you say gut load what should I give? Sorry for all the questions but after scrolling through your stuff I realized you’re the predator fish king

Brine shrimp are not going to be a food that will help with a nutritional defiencency in this fish. Ask your lfs about black worms, they are used to feed many fish, they are high in protein, not something to be used as a staple, but a good addition and this species seem to enjoy them. Gut loading is when you feed the ghost shrimp with a quality pellet or even flakes before you feed the ghosties to your predator. The nutrition in the pellet is then carried on. I prefer a small pellet.

Another thing to consider is how much is this fish really eating, people feeding foods like mysis routinely underfeed. You need to target feed them not expect them to catch the food from the water column on their own. After a feeding you should see a little bulge in their belly. They should eat on a gorge/fast cycle with at least a day between feedings. Feeding small amounts too frequently can also cause an issue over time.

 

[ileas12:]

Brine shrimp are not going to be a food that will help with a nutritional defiencency in this fish. Ask your lfs about black worms, they are used to feed many fish, they are high in protein, not something to be used as a staple, but a good addition and this species seem to enjoy them. Gut loading is when you feed the ghost shrimp with a quality pellet or even flakes before you feed the ghosties to your predator. The nutrition in the pellet is then carried on. I prefer a small pellet.

Another thing to consider is how much is this fish really eating, people feeding foods like mysis routinely underfeed. You need to target feed them not expect them to catch the food from the water column on their own. After a feeding you should see a little bulge in their belly. They should eat on a gorge/fast cycle with at least a day between feedings. Feeding small amounts too frequently can also cause an issue over time.

This makes sense. i Have always spot fed him and watched him take 5-7 big mysis chunks and I usually wait until she stops showing interest to stop. I had her trained to bite right off the Turkey baster

 

[ileas12:]

The brine are enriched so I’m hoping it’s just a good hold off until I can find black worms.

 

[ileas12:]

Picked up some tiny ghost shrimp too. I have a pretty good pellet food so I’m going to crush some of it up get them to eat it and then give it a shot.

 

[ileas12:]

It appears I am too late found him on his side but still breathing. I’m glad I got a good 6 months with him but I’m very upset at losing such a rare and amazing creature. Thank you everyone for your help, maybe I’ll try this again someday when the time is right

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

It appears I am too late found him on his side but still breathing. I’m glad I got a good 6 months with him but I’m very upset at losing such a rare and amazing creature. Thank you everyone for your help, maybe I’ll try this again someday when the time is right

Sorry to hear.

Jay