how long fish not eating will last

mrtian97 · Dec 20, 2015

Got new BJ Trigger on Monday, hasn't eaten since then, he was eating at LFS. He got ich on Tuesday, start clearing up, I would say he has only 20% ich compared to Tuesday (which was covering his whole body).
He came up and swim normal, just shy when he sees me and hide.
I tried frozen brine and 2 types of pellets but he has not ate them.

Today he took 1 brine shrimp but then spit it out. Only saw him do this once.

His tummy seems still big (ie not skinny yet), how long usually fish will last without eating? I am worry he won't make it.

Thanks

twilliard · Dec 20, 2015

@Humblefish
@melypr1985

twilliard · Dec 20, 2015

Sorry I dont know a lot about fish so I called in for backup

mrtian97 · Dec 20, 2015

no problem, thanks.
My water parameter is good and so far my other fish are doing well

rayn · Dec 20, 2015

Fish can go off feelings for a few days. When I ran all pred tanks I would feed every other day and skip weekends. If I had to go out of town for less then two weeks I would feed heavy before I left and then nothing while I was gone. If they aren't skinny they should be fine.

You could always try some garlic with the food, it will help entice them to eat sometimes.

mrtian97 · Dec 20, 2015

@rayn: thanks for the input, interesting, didn't know that triggerfish can stay 2 wks without eating, his tummy still looks good

Pfisherman · Dec 20, 2015

I have had a couple fish starve out so I can say with confidence they will go about 10-14 days without eating. You should maybe try my method of rods, selcon and garlic xtreme. It's fishtastic!

rayn · Dec 20, 2015

2 weeks is about my limit. It is good to know if you ever wean a pred from live to frozen. While it is good to keep our fish fat and healthy, they can go longer then we think without eating sometimes.

4FordFamily · Dec 20, 2015

Agree, 2 weeks or so max

Humblefish · Dec 20, 2015

Some fish can go much longer, but I agree >2 weeks risks reaching the point of no return with most fish. Are you treating for ich?

melypr1985 · Dec 20, 2015

You'll need to worry at the 2 week mark for sure. You wouldn't feel like eating if your gills and body were being eaten. Would you consider treating the trigger for the ich? Garlic would help entice him to eat I'm sure. Or some live food like a crawfish, clams, shrimp ect. Movement get's them excited.

mrtian97 · Dec 20, 2015

I treat my DT since Friday with this, I don't have QT. dose daily, dose 2x so far. All the other fish seems fine, 2 tangs, 5 damsels and 1 clown.
I am hopeful the trigger rebounds, I don't plan add anymore fish in the 120 gallon, next is coral. Now I have 3 zoa colonies and 1 monti, that's why I am limited with med that I can use.
The trigger looks much better than the 2nd day I got him. he is shy but comes out more often. he took a brine then spit it out , at least he tried. he ate frozen brine at LFS