okay, so I got a shipment in of a spot banded butterfly and a kole tang. I have them both in a 20 gallon together in QT. The tang seems fine. He's eating and swimming and acting normal. Today is day 3 and my butterfly will not eat and he's hiding under a rock. I always notice him shaking his head I'm not sure if that's a sign of anything. I don't know if I should take the tang out and leave the butterfly in the 20g. I don't know what to do. Any help would be appreciated. I also bought live copepods today and the butterfly didn't touch them. I don't notice anything on the butterfly either. No white dots.
Is there something wrong with my butterfly
- Thread starter Garyf7257
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Shaking his head could mean worms or parasites inside the gills, but butterflies are tricky to diagnosis because they'll also do this as part of a feeding response.
How comfortable are you doing a FW dip to check for flukes? https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/freshwater-dip.248898/
Also, can you get live food (brine, blackworms) or a littleneck clam from the grocery store to try feeding him?
How comfortable are you doing a FW dip to check for flukes? https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/freshwater-dip.248898/
Also, can you get live food (brine, blackworms) or a littleneck clam from the grocery store to try feeding him?
Its most likely parasitic infection if its shaking its head trying to remove something. Is it scratching too or is it only head movement? Are there any other visible symptoms? Can you provide a photo. Is it breathing heavily or acting lethargic.
Keep both fish in the tank for now, because if its parasitic infection then both got infected and you dont want to spread the parasites to other tanks.
As suggested by @Humblefish perform a 5 min FW dip, it will confirm/rule out flukes, also it might provide some relief if its any other kind of parasite.
Since its hiding in the rock, do you notice that its sensitive to light? It might be velvet, hopefully not.
Also do you notice any symptoms on the tang?
Keep both fish in the tank for now, because if its parasitic infection then both got infected and you dont want to spread the parasites to other tanks.
As suggested by @Humblefish perform a 5 min FW dip, it will confirm/rule out flukes, also it might provide some relief if its any other kind of parasite.
Since its hiding in the rock, do you notice that its sensitive to light? It might be velvet, hopefully not.
Also do you notice any symptoms on the tang?
Thanks for the response! He comes out sometimes during the day. Not much tho. I'm wondering if the tang could be bothering him bc they tend to want to go into the same cave. Nothing wrong with the tang. He's active and eating and no signs of infection. On the butterfly I don't notice anything concerning. There is a mark that looks like a scar but that's it. He is lethargic and only hides in the cave. I do not see him scratching on the rocks. I just notice his head twitching. I just got him 3 days ago and he hasn't eaten at all so I'm concerned. I'm going to try the clam on half shell tonight. He is not breathy heavily. When first acclimated he was but not so much now.
This is going to sound like I'm attaching human emotions to an animal, but put yourself in his shoes. He's been fishnapped out of the ocean, manhandled with a net multiple times, lived in bags/buckets/cramped dirty glass boxes everywhere along the way... all done to him by HUMANS.
You are the first human he's ever encountered who actually cares about his well-being, but he doesn't know that yet. It takes time to earn their trust after so much mistreatment.
melypr1985
totally addicted
I would try the freshwater dip on him. It would be awesome if he had a good meal beforehand though.
I'd also like to see a picture of this "scar" if you can manage it.
I'd also like to see a picture of this "scar" if you can manage it.
Yes that is the problem. He hides in the cave a lot so it's tough to get s photo and when he's out and I go near the tank he goes back into the cave. I can try to get a photo of him.
He has not eaten anything since I got him so that's why I'm worried about the FW dip and also prazipro. It says prazipro can decrease appetite so that's why I'm worried about prazipro bc he's not eating to begin with.
He has not eaten anything since I got him so that's why I'm worried about the FW dip and also prazipro. It says prazipro can decrease appetite so that's why I'm worried about prazipro bc he's not eating to begin with.
I'm a natural blue
Active Member
Still not eating? Is he any better today?
I moved the tang last night into a different tank bc to me it seems like it may be bothering him. He was constantly following him so I figured I'd move the tang just incase. He seems the same today. I'm gonna be trying to feed him later tonight. I don't even know what to do if he still doesn't eat. If he doesn't this will be day 4.
I'm a natural blue
Active Member
Can you use a garlic enriched food to try and stimulate his appetite?
A butterfly fish will sometimes find live or fresh food a bit extra-tempting. If you can get hold of live brine shrimp or live blackworms, give them a shot. Fresh clams from your local seafood market can be used in two different ways - fresh on the half-shell, or frozen and shaved.
~Bruce
~Bruce
I have tried garlic enriched prepared foods, LRS reef frenzy with garlic extreme on it and clam on the half shell, also tiger pods. Will be retrying the clam and tiger pods tonight again hoping he eats now that he is by himself. If not it will be day 4 of no food. I am guessing a FW dip either way?
Depends on the fish. I recently had a parrotfish go for a month without eating - though not with a happy outcome. Butterflies are so slim that I'd expect one of those to have less resources to work with.
~Bruce
~Bruce
I'm a natural blue
Active Member
I was just reading up on this guy and found that they eat algae and coral polyps in addition to benthic inverts. Have you tried some Nori or algae wafers?
I have not but am willing to try anything at this point, will be able to provide him with it by tomorrow afternoon, would the same type of algae wafer you would give to a fresh water bristle nose pleco work or are there special algae wafers for saltwater?
I'm a natural blue
Active Member
I am not sure about fresh/salt wafer differences, so I can't help with that question. Sorry!
