Regal stopped eating...flukes?

[Nilo]

Hi,

I've had my Regal Angel since Sept 15. It's a yellow belly Maldives I believe. It was ~5" when I got it. Spent ~3weeks in quarantine and did not show any signs of disease. It started eating mysis and flakes 5 days after I got him. I then transferred him to a standard 120gal with a 30gal sump and has been there since. It's with a copperband butterfly, chalk bass, tailspot blenny, Randall's anthias, and a Kole tang. Since it was moved into the DT, it has been the boss of the tank and the most aggressive eater and chases away other fish when it's eating. Since 4 days ago, it started being more timid and hides when other fish approach. It's still swimming around but not as active as it has been. Doesn't pick at rocks and would not touch any food. I've seen him doing big yawns and maybe an occasional twitch but otherwise no other observable symptoms. Aside from looking a bit lethargic, he has no labored breathing, no eye symptoms, no abnormalities in his gills that I see, and no skin/scale issues. He was the last one added to the tank and all the other fish are fine. I have a pink margin fairy wrasse in quarantine but I'm sure I did not cross contaminate any equipment. All the other fish in the DT are acting normal, active and eating.
pH 8, Ammonia 0, Nitrate 2, Phos 0.031, dKH 9.4, 78F, Ca 460, Mg 1400.

I'm thinking it might be a fluke infection and am planning to treat with Prazipro in the DT. No way I can catch him in the DT as it is a full reef set up. Can't use a trap either as he doesn't touch any food now and is skittish. Any other thoughts or recommendations? If it is flukes and I treat with Prazipro, how soon can I expect a response to treatment?

TIA

 

[theMeat]

Sounds like it could be fluke and/or intestinal worms, which angels are known to have. Prazi will help with both, and if it is infact these issues you should see a difference with the first round, but certainly do the second round, and don’t expect the prazi to get it all.
Could also be that the tang hit him with tail spike during feeding frenzy that now has him spooked but prazi is cheap and easy enough, and doesn’t hurt much

 

[HotRocks]

Did you treat for anything while the fish was in QT? If you didn't it could be anything.

If it is flukes, treating with Prazipro will knock the worms out within an hour. Usually a heavy affliction you will notice a change in behavior pretty quickly.

 

[Nilo]

No, I usually don't treat in QT unless I see them having any issues. I've had the Regal since Sept 15, so roughly 7 weeks now. So I would assume that if it had anything, it would have shown up sooner? No new stressors in the tank either. I don't know if the Kole had anything to do with it. He's less than half the size of the Regal and is pretty laid back. I'd treat with Prazi tonight and see what happens. Thanks for the help and will update in a few days

 

[GoldeneyeRet]

I think it sounds like flukes though as mentioned it really could be anything given the circumstances.

I think I would try prazi in the dt.

Good luck

 

[cancun]

Any update on your Regal?

 

[Nilo]

Good news...started trying flakes and a few pellets again. Still ignored mysis. Appears to be a little more active too but still not normal. This is approximately 30hrs from dosing of Prazi. Hopefully he continues to get better

 

[Nilo]

Had to turn off skimmer though as it was going nuts. When do I do my water change and carbon? 2-3 days after Prazi or just before the next treatment?

 

[theMeat]

Cool beans

Good idea to do water change before and after second round. Then carbon, then skimmer

 

[Nilo]

Update on my Regal:

Planning to do my 2nd dose of Prazipro today. So far, aside from my skimmer going crazy with microbubbles everywhere in the tank and one of my gorgonians closing up since last week, no effect that I can see on my corals (sps, lps). The Regal perked up a little bit and is more out and about. Still only eating spirulina flakes, NLS Thera A pellets, and Cobalt Aquatics Marine Omni flakes. Had a couple of bites of live black worms I fed my Copperband the other day. But otherwise hasn’t touched anything frozen. Appetite is still not what it used to be from 2 weeks ago when it would attack any food I put in the tank. It’s probably eating only a third or fourth of what it used to eat. I feed the tank 2-3x a day depending if I’m home or not.

Question for the experts, do you think there is still a chance this Regal would pull through? I’m not too optimistic the 2nd dose of Prazi will do anything as I understand the first dose is really the treatment and the 2nd one is to eradicate any flukes that may have hatched after. All the rest of my fish are acting normal. The Regal has lost some weight since 1 week ago and it’s lateral line is now showing. Stomach is not yet sunken in though.

 

[HotRocks]

I would say there is a chance the fish can pull through.

Have you offered live mussel or frozen clams on a half shell?

 

[theMeat]

Good chance she’ Make it

Prazi works faster on flukes, slower on intestinal worms.

 

[Nilo]

Thanks for the suggestions and encouragement. I tried an open clam last night and he initially rushed to it quick and took a bite. But after 1 bite he left it alone. The Copperband was the one who kept picking at the clam. The CB doesn't really bully the Regal but for some reason he avoids the CB. In any case, I dosed Prazi last night and today the Regal seems less interested in food. Maybe it's the Prazi suppressing his appetite. Will give it a few days again. I tried catching the Regal last night too but was not successful. I'll let him relax today and not stress him again. Again, thanks for the help.

 

[brwaldbaum]

Do you have access to a microscope? A fecal smear would be informative.

 

[Nilo]

Just wanted to update this.

My Regal appears back to normal now. It is again the most aggressive feeder when it comes to pellets and flakes. Still doesn't care for any frozen food but does try live blackworms that I've been feeding my Copperband. Keeping my fingers crossed that nothing else changes. I know dry foods are not the healthiest but as long as it's eating them I'm good with that. I'm just not sure if these will fatten him though. Any one with pictures of fat angels that are fed dry food exclusively?

On a side note, my pocilloporas didn't like the Prazipro and have stayed pretty much closed the past 2 weeks. Acros and montis did ok. Hopefully I won't need to treat again anytime soon. Not planning to add more fish at this time. Again, thanks everyone for the help

 

[Phlynamjax]

I know this is an old thread, but I am having a same issue. I had one of my yellow-belly regal angel for about 4 months. He was very aggressive eater and the largest fish in the tank. He stopped eating about 5 days ago and hiding or staying at the same spot. He used to swim front of the tank waiting for food, but now he hides when I stand front of the tank. He is about 5 inches and I treated him with copper and prazi during his QT. I fresh water dipped him and one other fish for 5 mins to rule out the fluke. Every other fishes in the tank are doing very well. I recently added a butterfly fish. I QTed him for 8 weeks and treated him with copper and prazi and doing very all. I am not sure what to do at this point. He is visually perfect.

 

[Marine_Addict]

I know this is an old thread, but I am having a same issue. I had one of my yellow-belly regal angel for about 4 months. He was very aggressive eater and the largest fish in the tank. He stopped eating about 5 days ago and hiding or staying at the same spot. He used to swim front of the tank waiting for food, but now he hides when I stand front of the tank. He is about 5 inches and I treated him with copper and prazi during his QT. I fresh water dipped him and one other fish for 5 mins to rule out the fluke. Every other fishes in the tank are doing very well. I recently added a butterfly fish. I QTed him for 8 weeks and treated him with copper and prazi and doing very all. I am not sure what to do at this point. He is visually perfect.

How is your regal now ? any update?