Regal Angel - Stopped Eating

ws6kid · Dec 18, 2016

Well, I have had a Regal in QT for 3 weeks. He is by himself. Ate some live black worms to start and clams on the half shell. Has stopped eating pretty much all together. I have tried LRS, Rods, live clams, nori, and garlic soaked everything. I am starting to think he will starve and die. Does anyone have any magic tricks up their sleeves? I am hatching live brine overnight to see if he will eat, but I have my doubts.

Thank you for any suggestions!

4FordFamily · Dec 18, 2016

ws6kid said:
Well, I have had a Regal in QT for 3 weeks. He is by himself. Ate some live black worms to start and clams on the half shell. Has stopped eating pretty much all together. I have tried LRS, Rods, live clams, nori, and garlic soaked everything. I am starting to think he will starve and die. Does anyone have any magic tricks up their sleeves? I am hatching live brine overnight to see if he will eat, but I have my doubts.

Thank you for any suggestions!

Did you treat this fish for anything or were you just observing?

If so, what meds are present currently?

Offhand comment but regals do not tolerate hypo well at all, I lost all 3 I tried this with.

Eating then discontinuing to eat is typically due to one of three factors.

1) illness or ailment
2) stress (any new fish added, new surroundings, or poor water quality?)
3) medications or treatments they do not tolerate well.

Kmsutows · Dec 18, 2016

What's the QT gal size as well as his size? Anywhere for it to hide and feel less stressed?

fin mike · Dec 18, 2016

Is there live rock in the QT? Indo or yellow belly? Did you buy it online or from a local fish store? Size?

ws6kid · Dec 18, 2016

Indo, larger, maybe 4". No liverock, just larger PVC which he hides in quite a bit. He is in a 40g breeder that is split in half. He is in one half. I purchased online.

ws6kid · Dec 18, 2016

My larger tanks are all a part of my main system. I have not used any medication as of now as I wanted to be sure he was eating first.

fin mike · Dec 18, 2016

You need to get some live rock in that tank. He needs something to pick on while he swims around. Indo's are considered harder to keep than yellow bellys. Does he have a guarantee?

Kmsutows · Dec 18, 2016

Have you tried sponges? I'm no expert but if I'm not mistaken they are sponge eaters... my live rock has sponge all over hopefully you have some as well that you can add

ws6kid · Dec 18, 2016

No guarantee at this point. Been 3 weeks. I will get some LR in there from my 120g. Thank you for the quick suggestions.

dankreef · Dec 18, 2016

Prazi him

eatbreakfast · Dec 19, 2016

Prazi will curb appetite, so try adding liverock and see if he starts showing an interest in food prior to prazi.

dankreef · Dec 19, 2016

Unless he has flukes which will make him not eat and is common in angels. Adding a piece of rock won't change anything. Especially if he was already eating then stopped. I would suspect Illness . Personal opinion

ws6kid · Dec 19, 2016

I will add the LR. Give him another day or so, then medicate. Just hate adding anything that usually discourages healthy fish from eating.

Thank you all for the suggestions

Hoping for good results.

miyags · Dec 19, 2016

Check for ammonia.loss of ap. is one of the first sign's

dankreef · Dec 19, 2016

Prazi very gentle. I've never had a fish stop eating due to prazi. Good luck . I'm not sure what your QT process is but ttm and prazi same time has worked best for me.

jenreefer · Dec 19, 2016

ws6kid said:
Well, I have had a Regal in QT for 3 weeks. He is by himself. Ate some live black worms to start and clams on the half shell. Has stopped eating pretty much all together. I have tried LRS, Rods, live clams, nori, and garlic soaked everything. I am starting to think he will starve and die. Does anyone have any magic tricks up their sleeves? I am hatching live brine overnight to see if he will eat, but I have my doubts.

Thank you for any suggestions!

I was talking to a LFS that I trust just the other day about regal angels. His opinion is that they are prone to stop eating on and off for no obvious reasons. He said they are very finicky. It was for that reason that he did not suggest the fish for anyone but an expert with a very large tank. My personal experience with them is zero. Just thought I would share. Hoping for a turn around with him.

4FordFamily · Dec 19, 2016

jenreefer said:
I was talking to a LFS that I trust just the other day about regal angels. His opinion is that they are prone to stop eating on and off for no obvious reasons. He said they are very finicky. It was for that reason that he did not suggest the fish for anyone but an expert with a very large tank. My personal experience with them is zero. Just thought I would share. Hoping for a turn around with him.

I wouldn't say it's ever for no reason, we often just don't know or see the reason