Longnose hawk fish lethargic, not eating

[Eldritch_blast]

Hello everyone. I’ve had Karl since a couple weeks after tank finished is nitrogen cycle.
They have always been one of my most gluttonous eaters, but past 2 days he has shown little interest in food.
We feed primarily a smorgasbord of frozen with 3-4 different varieties a day. They are always down for something meaty.

Didnt eat much throughout the day today, even took baster blast of brine shrimp to the face without moving a muscle, and brine shrimps are something they will usually throw down no matter the appetite.

no visible signs I can see of any problems, and this is the first day he has shown any obvious signs anything.
Karl usually is highly active throughout the day, and while perching 99% of his time, it’s usually not for more than a minute or two, and today they have moved around significantly less, although not completely immobile but is staying out for hours at a time.

Tank params are stable, was nutrient poor for a bit but leveling out and nominal, can run fresh numbers if desired.

Within last month I have:

-Added a couple frags
-Added reef brite XHO xr15 extensions
- introduced 2 new foods (ocean nutrition formula one and something else)
-last Sunday completed my first consecutive weekend treatment of flat worm exit—I have treated with FWE previously with zero issues, and following directions followed shortly by 15% water changes. However I am still fighting the flatworms so last weekend was my second weekend in what I planned on however many it took to eradicate. Still haven’t seen any issues, aside from poor Karl which I don’t even know if is related.
- switched from manually dosing all for reef with all supplementing to running Red Sea reef foundation ABC via auto dosers.

 

[vetteguy53081]

You mentioned changes made and one of them may have impact. First thought is added lighting , but can be flukes or internal issue.
Is fish breathing normal or labored ?
any erratic behavior, darting, yawning ?
What is current ammonia-nitrate-salinity and what test kits are you using ?

 

[Eldritch_blast]

You mentioned changes made and one of them may have impact. First thought is added lighting , but can be flukes or internal issue.
Is fish breathing normal or labored ?
any erratic behavior, darting, yawning ?
What is current ammonia-nitrate-salinity and what test kits are you using ?

Tbh haven’t tested ammonia in some time, monitored it with a Seneye for about 9 months straight and never had anything spike.
Nitrate is 2.5, salinity is at 1.026. Usually would keep at 1.025 but had some calibration woes and my last to water changes came in a bit higher. So now 1.026.

I assumed if something was up it was most likely the recent changes I’ve had just not sure which one is most likely.

I too think the added lights, as it’s been obvious these fish aren’t fans of bright lights. But it’s a 115 gallon display, and doesn’t seem too bright for a mixed reef. Decent amount of shady areas, but not with their preferred perches.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Tbh haven’t tested ammonia in some time, monitored it with a Seneye for about 9 months straight and never had anything spike.
Nitrate is 2.5, salinity is at 1.026. Usually would keep at 1.025 but had some calibration woes and my last to water changes came in a bit higher. So now 1.026.

I assumed if something was up it was most likely the recent changes I’ve had just not sure which one is most likely.

I too think the added lights, as it’s been obvious these fish aren’t fans of bright lights. But it’s a 115 gallon display, and doesn’t seem too bright for a mixed reef. Decent amount of shady areas, but not with their preferred perches.

try turning off One of the two new lights and see if behavior changes

 

[Eldritch_blast]

try turning off One of the two new lights and see if behavior changes

Thanks!

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Hello everyone. I’ve had Karl since a couple weeks after tank finished is nitrogen cycle.
They have always been one of my most gluttonous eaters, but past 2 days he has shown little interest in food.
We feed primarily a smorgasbord of frozen with 3-4 different varieties a day. They are always down for something meaty.

Didnt eat much throughout the day today, even took baster blast of brine shrimp to the face without moving a muscle, and brine shrimps are something they will usually throw down no matter the appetite.

no visible signs I can see of any problems, and this is the first day he has shown any obvious signs anything.
Karl usually is highly active throughout the day, and while perching 99% of his time, it’s usually not for more than a minute or two, and today they have moved around significantly less, although not completely immobile but is staying out for hours at a time.

Tank params are stable, was nutrient poor for a bit but leveling out and nominal, can run fresh numbers if desired.

Within last month I have:

-Added a couple frags
-Added reef brite XHO xr15 extensions
- introduced 2 new foods (ocean nutrition formula one and something else)
-last Sunday completed my first consecutive weekend treatment of flat worm exit—I have treated with FWE previously with zero issues, and following directions followed shortly by 15% water changes. However I am still fighting the flatworms so last weekend was my second weekend in what I planned on however many it took to eradicate. Still haven’t seen any issues, aside from poor Karl which I don’t even know if is related.
- switched from manually dosing all for reef with all supplementing to running Red Sea reef foundation ABC via auto dosers.

I wonder if the Flatworm exit has something to do with this? It is apparently Levamisole. I've heard two things - that some fish can be sensitive to anti-nematode drugs, and then other people say that it is the dyng flatworms that release a toxin that affects the fish.

Can you post a short video? I'd like to get some sense as to its breathing rate?
How long have you had this fish?
What other fish are in with it, no symptoms on them?

Jay

 

[Wildshape]

Hello all,

I am Eldritch_Blast's fiancé and will be attempting to help expedite here since he is at work, and I am available to answer some basic questions and take/post videos. Disclaimer, I am an uber tank noob and therefore can't provide much by way of tank metrics or details about equipment, but I am also more often home and around the tank to observe and feed the fish.

I wonder if the Flatworm exit has something to do with this? It is apparently Levamisole. I've heard two things - that some fish can be sensitive to anti-nematode drugs, and then other people say that it is the dyng flatworms that release a toxin that affects the fish.

Can you post a short video? I'd like to get some sense as to its breathing rate?
How long have you had this fish?
What other fish are in with it, no symptoms on them?

Jay

Here are links to two videos. The first is Karl stationary, to show breathing as best I can. The second is a short video of Karl swimming.

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

youtube.com

Other fish in the tank include: Yellowhead wrasse, marble wrasse, red coris wrasse, purple tang, lyretail anthias, and two black storm clownfish. No noticeable atypical behavior with any of the other fish. Have had Karl since November. Karl has spent the past couple days exclusively perching in two spots in the left third of the tank space, which is a major shift from previous behavior. Will eat, but minimally. This morning ate two bits of frozen mysis, after that would approach but not eat. Up to this point Karl was one of the more interactive fish when someone approached the tank and was generally the "first in line" during feeding times.

Turned off both reef brite extensions on that side of the tank this morning to see if it helps.

Hope this helps! Let me know if there's an issue with the video links.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Hello all,

I am Eldritch_Blast's fiancé and will be attempting to help expedite here since he is at work, and I am available to answer some basic questions and take/post videos. Disclaimer, I am an uber tank noob and therefore can't provide much by way of tank metrics or details about equipment, but I am also more often home and around the tank to observe and feed the fish.


Here are links to two videos. The first is Karl stationary, to show breathing as best I can. The second is a short video of Karl swimming.

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

youtube.com

Other fish in the tank include: Yellowhead wrasse, marble wrasse, red coris wrasse, purple tang, lyretail anthias, and two black storm clownfish. No noticeable atypical behavior with any of the other fish. Have had Karl since November. Karl has spent the past couple days exclusively perching in two spots in the left third of the tank space, which is a major shift from previous behavior. Will eat, but minimally. This morning ate two bits of frozen mysis, after that would approach but not eat. Up to this point Karl was one of the more interactive fish when someone approached the tank and was generally the "first in line" during feeding times.

Turned off both reef brite extensions on that side of the tank this morning to see if it helps.

Hope this helps! Let me know if there's an issue with the video links.

The breathing is a bit fast, but not too bad. You could an an air stone to the tank just in case oxygen is not quite at saturation.
I still wonder if the flatworm exit is related to this issue.
One other possibility- see how the fishs mouth is open and there is a bit of a bump under its jaw? Fish develop thyroid problems called goiter that can cause symptoms like that.
Jay

 

[Uncle99]

Mines mouth is shut unless feeding.
I see some discoloration on the lip in the video.

 

[fishmonkey]

Is it me or is his beak pointing upward? Kind of an awkward looking hawkfish. The nose should look like this.

 

[Uncle99]

Is it me or is his beak pointing upward? Kind of an awkward looking hawkfish. The nose should look like this.

Yup, big dif from OP’s pic.

 

[Eldritch_blast]

The breathing is a bit fast, but not too bad. You could an an air stone to the tank just in case oxygen is not quite at saturation.
I still wonder if the flatworm exit is related to this issue.
One other possibility- see how the fishs mouth is open and there is a bit of a bump under its jaw? Fish develop thyroid problems called goiter that can cause symptoms like that.
Jay

Yeah it has had its mouth open much of the time, perhaps. It this much and I hadn’t ever noticed any off behavior before so I never really compared the two, most pics of hawk fish I see, or when I see them in stores are often juvenile so I haven’t compared to much it has grown considerably since we brought it home.

Im going to do an extra water change tonight, as I too was concerned with the possible relation to the flat worm exit.

I will do some educating on goiter, as this reference and a few other commenters here pointing to the beak position seeming off.
Thanks everyone for the input.