How long can fish go without eating?

[Skep18]

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?

Yea. It's two small fish in there, him and a very small tang. The tang is fine. I think it's gotta be meds. The fish haven't been in there for a week yet.

 

[4FordFamily]

Yea. It's two small fish in there and the tang is fine. I think it's gotta be meds.

I’ve not experienced that issue before feeding meds. I had a fish or two refuse to eat medicated food (fixed with garlic guard addition) but never caused any to stop eating. Who knows though!

 

[Skep18]

I’ve not experienced that issue before feeding meds. I had a fish or two refuse to eat medicated food (fixed with garlic guard addition) but never caused any to stop eating. Who knows though!

Yea, maybe the Prazi and Metro/Focus? Or maybe stress, idk.

 

[4FordFamily]

Yea, maybe the Prazi and Metro/Focus? Or maybe stress, idk.

Prazi can suppress appetite, but it generally resumes rather quickly upon removal.

 

[Skep18]

Prazi can suppress appetite, but it generally resumes rather quickly upon removal.

I think that's what I'm seeing. Just did a big WC and fish perked up. Hopefully he'll eat in the AM

 

[Skep18]

Fish ate a few bites at the last feeding today. He showed interest all day but seems to maybe need convincing what he's eating is food. Idk. We'll see tomorrow if it gets better but today was good progress.

 

[jasonrusso]

Depends on the fish. Lionfish, angler fish, eels, can go a month or more. They sit around most of the day because they are ambush hunters.

Grazers, like tangs, foxface, angels, pick all day. Maybe they can go a week or 2.

 

[jasonrusso]

Fish ate a few bites at the last feeding today. He showed interest all day but seems to maybe need convincing what he's eating is food. Idk. We'll see tomorrow if it gets better but today was good progress.

Maybe set up a camera. If I stand in front of the tank most of the skiddish fish hide. If I lay down on the couch they all come out.

 

[Skep18]

Maybe set up a camera. If I stand in front of the tank most of the skiddish fish hide. If I lay down on the couch they all come out.

You're not wrong. The QT tank is in a bathroom where I can get some cover and they can't see me. That said, the hawkfish doesn't seem shy but I have for sure seen some which were shy.

 

[Skep18]

He's eating like a piggy today.

On that note, the tiny purple tang in there with him is enormous. Can fish eat too much?

 

[HB AL]

As long as the bio filter can handle, I say feed away. I feed my fish heavy and there all healthy and stocky.

 

[vetteguy53081]

When I had my pet store 3 weeks was not unusual through acclimation process

 

[Skep18]

When I had my pet store 3 weeks was not unusual through acclimation process

Wow, thanks for the insight. I figured a week, MAYBE two. But good to hear they can hang in there. I don't assume the size of the fish had much effect? At least not in that time frame?

 

[jasonrusso]

He's eating like a piggy today.

On that note, the tiny purple tang in there with him is enormous. Can fish eat too much?

My tang and foxface are really fat! I don't think that you can feed a grazer too much.

An angler (or other low active fish) can be fed too much. They have a very slow metabolism and the food can rot in their stomach. I lost an angler because of this.

 

[Skep18]

Well I dosed the second dose of Prazi today. I have not fed metro since he stopped eating. He is not eating again as of tonight. Looks like this fish doesn't react well to Prazi.

 

[WetPets]

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?

I like the amo alert in a frag tank.