How long can fish go without eating?

Skep18 · Nov 12, 2018

Long story short, I've got a Flame Hawkfish in QT. He came in and ate well. I began metro medication for white feces. He ate that well. Shortly thereafter began a round of Prazi introduced over the course of a day. He continued to eat well until about 24hr following Prazi. How long before I should start getting concerned about the lack of eating?

He sits in a corner and moves a little. His gills are breathing fine as far as I can tell. He just won't eat anything.

Flippers4pups · Nov 12, 2018

Could be a couple days. Fish in transit can go 3-4 days without eating.

Brew12 · Nov 12, 2018

Skep18 said:
Long story short, I've got a Flame Hawkfish in QT. He came in and ate well. I began metro medication for white feces. He ate that well. Shortly thereafter began a round of Prazi introduced over the course of a day. He continued to eat well until about 24hr following Prazi. How long before I should start getting concerned about the lack of eating?

He sits in a corner and moves a little. His gills are breathing fine as far as I can tell. He just won't eat anything.

The fact that he ate for a few days after you got him is a good sign. Prazi treatments are short so I would do a big water change and/or run carbon if you haven't to get any Prazi left in the water out and try to get him eating again. You should have a few days before it is a problem.

Skep18 · Nov 12, 2018

Yea, its been probably 48hr since he ate last. I've ceased the metro for now. We're trying a variety of food, some of which hits him in the mouth but obviously he's just not interested.

Flippers4pups · Nov 12, 2018

Skep18 said:
Yea, its been probably 48hr since he ate last. I've ceased the metro for now. We're trying a variety of food, some of which hits him in the mouth but obviously he's just not interested.

Rods or LRS should pull him back eating.

Skep18 · Nov 12, 2018

I've got Rods, PE and Hikari Spirulina. When he did eat, he wasn't a modest eater.

Flippers4pups · Nov 12, 2018

Skep18 said:
I've got Rods, PE and Hikari Spirulina. When he did eat, he wasn't a modest eater.

Should return.

HB AL · Nov 12, 2018

Something like live brine or worms should get him started.

Skep18 · Nov 12, 2018

Just tried some Rods with flow off added to the tank near him. He didn't eat any but he did kinda eyeball it and swam more than he has in the past few days. Hoping it's a good sign. I'm not terribly worried yet but obviously just hoping he'll shake it off.

HB AL · Nov 12, 2018

HB AL said:
Something like like brine or worms should get him started.

Obviously one of the words "like" should have read live

Skep18 · Nov 12, 2018

Did roughly a 17gal WC in the 20L. Maybe it'll be enough, he'll start looking better in the AM.

Reefbuds · Nov 12, 2018

My flame hawks LOVE plankton. They seem to love the big meaty chunks.

Skep18 · Nov 12, 2018

wallace said:
My flame hawks LOVE plankton. They seem to love the big meaty chunks.

When he was eating, I noticed the same thing. Big chunks.

Reefbuds · Nov 12, 2018

Skep18 said:
When he was eating, I noticed the same thing. Big chunks.

Yea man, got any plankton?

Skep18 · Nov 12, 2018

wallace said:
Yea man, got any plankton?

Not specifically I guess. Just a big spread of common frozen foods. Rods, PE mysis, Hikari Spirulina Brine and a bunch of small cube packs of stuff. PE and Rods have chunks big enough to stop his mouth from closing over it, which he seems to prefer.

Skep18 · Nov 12, 2018

FWIW, I've also tried Selcon.

Reefbuds · Nov 12, 2018

Could just be the meds man. Not sure tho I don't QT. Could just be stressed out. If you have a variety of foods I doubt he is being picky. Flame hawks have huge appetites, so one thing is for sure, something is making him not want eat

Skep18 · Nov 12, 2018

wallace said:
Could just be the meds man. Not sure tho I don't QT. Could just be stressed out. If you have a variety of foods I doubt he is being picky. Flame hawks have huge appetites, so one thing is for sure, something is making him not want eat

Oh, I'm like 99% sure it's meds. My concern is well it wear off fast enough for him to eat before it's too late. Then how do I complete QT afterwards, but that's pretty secondary right now.

Skep18 · Nov 12, 2018

Shortly after WC, he's moving a lot more. It doesn't look like stressed movement but we'll see. Water matched in temp and salinity of course.

4FordFamily · Nov 12, 2018

They can go quite a while, weeks even in extreme cases. The fish needs to eat medicated food. I recommend General Cure and Focus next go around.

Your symptoms almost sound more like ammonia issues than issues from feeding educated food to me. Do you have an ammonia alert badge?