Regal Angel Won't Eat, Advice needed!

[Lebreton33]

Hi Fam. I've got a Regal Angel that arrived last Thursday morning from Mike at Quarantined Fish. Came in conditioned only, not fully quarantined (I do my own quarantining). He's 5" and was fat when he got here. He has not eaten since he arrived. He's a bit shy, but he's out quite a bit now. I've tried every food other than live (which I can't get because my LFS doesn't have any). I've even tried clam on a half shell but he has no interest. He's in a 46b QT with a 4" margined coral fish and a 3" burgess butterfly. They all get along fine, there has been no aggression (on occasion the margined coral fish gets too close and the regal lets him know but no chasing). The other two fish came in two weeks ago, they look clean and they eat like pigs. I have not medicated them yet with anything, I was waiting for the regal to arrive. They came from DD and the LFS.

Aside from the Regal not eating, it looks like he's got some ich on his tail fin. He did not come in with visible ich. If I had to guess, it was likely brought in by one of the other two fish (even though they aren't showing ich on their bodies currently). I don't see it anywhere else on his body. In addition, he's been exhibiting some interesting behavior with the burgess butterfly. On occasion, the burgess will approach the regal and the regal will tilt slightly on it's side. The burgess will survey the regal and then either pick at the anal fin or the body. The regal tolerates this and almost appears to be encouraging this. The reason I say this is because he has shown in his relationship with the margined coral fish that he will let other fish know if they are bothering him. I could be wrong but he doesn't swim away from the burgess butterfly when he picks at the body or fin. So I suspect he has some sort of parasite? Maybe flukes?

My question is - chicken or the egg - should I start prazi and copper even though he's not yet eating and hope that he starts to eat as a result of the treatment? Or should I start GC and Kanaplax? Or should I give him a few more days to settle in and hope that he eats before starting any meds? This evening will be day 6 that he has not eaten. Thanks so much for your help, I really want to help him!

 

[Lebreton33]

Pics

 

[Lebreton33]

Ok he’s def got some visible white spots on his side towards his back fin too.

 

[Dragon174]

I wish I could help but not that knowledgeable. I've had some tangs that I've had a hard time getting them to eat nori, but it only takes a couple of days. Every one of my fish has always gone after brine, probably because that is what my LFS feeds. Best of luck.

 

[Lebreton33]

I wish I could help but not that knowledgeable. I've had some tangs that I've had a hard time getting them to eat nori, but it only takes a couple of days. Every one of my fish has always gone after brine, probably because that is what my LFS feeds. Best of luck.

Thanks. I feel like if I can just get some food down him, and start treatment, he will be fine. In light of him not eating, it's tempting to start treatment anyway to see if it provides him some relief so that he will eat. But I also don't want to send him rapidly downhill if he is still settling in. What to do, what to do...

 

[Sidvicious]

I swear by New Life Spectrum Thera A, if you don’t already have some I’d suggest grabbing some. I’ve yet to come across a fish who won’t eat it, though some do take longer than others such as a Potters Angel and your Regal. Once on the food tho, the results are astounding and literally the only food I feed my tanks with the exception of throwing PE Mysis in about once or twice a month.

 

[Lebreton33]

I swear by New Life Spectrum Thera A, if you don’t already have some I’d suggest grabbing some. I’ve yet to come across a fish who won’t eat it, though some do take longer than others such as a Potters Angel and your Regal. Once on the food tho, the results are astounding and literally the only food I feed my tanks with the exception of throwing PE Mysis in about once or twice a month.

Thanks, I'll def try anything at this point!

 

[Sidvicious]

You’re very welcome, NLS pellets IMO are the absolute best food on the market and pack the biggest nutritional punch out of the bunch! Thera A has kept all my fish friends thriving and healthy, not to mention the colors on the fish from feeding this food truly pop.

 

[Lebreton33]

You’re very welcome, NLS pellets IMO are the absolute best food on the market and pack the biggest nutritional punch out of the bunch! Thera A has kept all my fish friends thriving and healthy, not to mention the colors on the fish from feeding this food truly pop.

Question: Have you ever gotten a fish who is not eat to start eating using just these pellets? My local Petco has them and I think I may take a trip over there but wanted to ask you first, TY

 

[Lebreton33]

Consensus I have received thus far off line is wait another day or two and then start treatment regardless of whether or not he eats. Anyone have any opinions? Also, what's the best way to handle? Prazi for 7 days...then copper? Or start prazi and ramp up copper simulatniously? What do you guys think? TY

 

[Sidvicious]

Question: Have you ever gotten a fish who is not eat to start eating using just these pellets? My local Petco has them and I think I may take a trip over there but wanted to ask you first, TY

I certainly have and even with the pickiest of eaters. It’s like a miracle in a jar, amazing product and it takes some getting used to as we’ve been trained to think a varied diet is best but with the way this food is made it literally has everything in it that the fish needs and is varied. That’s why this is the only food that goes into the tanks and your fish will thank you.

 

[Lebreton33]

I certainly have and even with the pickiest of eaters. It’s like a miracle in a jar, amazing product and it takes some getting used to as we’ve been trained to think a varied diet is best but with the way this food is made it literally has everything in it that the fish needs and is varied. That’s why this is the only food that goes into the tanks and your fish will thank you.

Ok I'm gonna go pick some up now and give it a shot. I'll let you know how it works, thanks again

 

[Sidvicious]

No problem, who knows the little one may take to NLS right away or it may take a little while but sooner or later she’ll have the desire to take a bite. You could also soak the pellets in some Seachem Garlic Guard as well and that won’t do any harm but rather good.

 

[ca1ore]

Regal is a difficult fish to get eating. How bad is the ich? Meds aren’t going to help on the eating front. Might be better to do tank transfer. Have you tried masstick? I found that to be quite good a enticing finnicky feeders, especially grazers like the regal.

 

[Lebreton33]

Regal is a difficult fish to get eating. How bad is the ich? Meds aren’t going to help on the eating front. Might be better to do tank transfer. Have you tried masstick? I found that to be quite good a enticing finnicky feeders, especially grazers like the regal.

So he was eating just fine for three weeks with Mike at quarantined fish. He came in super fat. But he won’t eat in my tank. So you are saying if he has flukes or ich, those wouldn’t stop him from eating? I wasn’t aware of that, that would change my whole plan to treat. I always thought that when fish are sick they can stop eating.

 

[Lebreton33]

Ok so I just fed some omega infused brine with the nls pellets and he took a couple bites. Progress! Hopefully tomorrow he’ll have a meal and start eating like a pig shortly.

 

[MERKEY]

Consensus I have received thus far off line is wait another day or two and then start treatment regardless of whether or not he eats. Anyone have any opinions? Also, what's the best way to handle? Prazi for 7 days...then copper? Or start prazi and ramp up copper simulatniously? What do you guys think? TY

If he isnt eating that much I would try TTM and do prazi at the end of the 1st and 3rd rounds.

This will cure ich and flukes without using chemicals.

 

[ca1ore]

So he was eating just fine for three weeks with Mike at quarantined fish. He came in super fat. But he won’t eat in my tank. So you are saying if he has flukes or ich, those wouldn’t stop him from eating? I wasn’t aware of that, that would change my whole plan to treat. I always thought that when fish are sick they can stop eating.

Not saying that. Depends on how bad. What I’m saying is that copper or something equivalent may act as a further appetite suppressant. As long as the ich is minor, you may be better off getting it eating without meds first.

 

[Lebreton33]

So he's nibbling a bit more today, mostly on small particles. More so than yesterday tho. Do you guys think I should start prazi ASAP or wait another day to see if I can get him to really eat well? In the last few days I've seen him shake his head a couple times. Thanks!

 

[vetteguy53081]

Grab Seachem Entice. It has worked for me.
A) Try Brine shrimp, mysis shrimp with garlic added.
If this does not work,
B) Try live blackworms
If still does not work
C) Give Selgado Aquatics (sponsor for R2R) a call. He seems to get all his to eat.