Urgent- Longhorn Cowfish Sick?

[MSB123]

I have a small ( about 1.5" or so) longhorn cowfish. When I came downstairs to feed him, he was stuck to the overflow and couldn't get off. I removed him, but he kept swimming up to it and getting stuck. None of my other fish (except my mandarinfish who can get off) do this. I also observed my 12" snowflake eel go up with his mouth open at the cowfish when he was stuck. I quickly moved the cowfish away from the overflow and turned off the pump for now. So, any cowfish owners, what should I do? It is night time and he was sleeping. He also swims with one horn higher than the other.

 

[Tahoe61]

I have not had a Cow Fish in years, you do know that when stressed or dying this fish release a toxin?
Cover the powerhead with a mesh cover, foam cover.

 

[keddre]

I never had a cowfish, but it sounds like you might want to put a buffer around it so that he can't get stuck. Plus one to the foam cover

 

[MSB123]

It's not on the powerhead, it's on the overflow it looks like this. How would I cover that?

 

[nautical_nathaniel]

I would build a hospital tank and put it in there as soon as you can. You definitely don't want the cowfish to die in your display tank, the little guy can cause a lot of damage if it releases the toxins in its skin. The hospital tank will also allow it the chance to heal up and regain it's strength. The eel may be targeting it because the eel sees it as a weak or injured fish and instinct kicks in after that.

 

[MSB123]

I put it in a 15-gallon fowlr tank for now

 

[nautical_nathaniel]

I put it in a 15-gallon fowlr tank for now

Good luck with it! Feed him some tasty stuff treated with amino acids and vitamin supplement. Something like Reef Frenzy or Rods Food will do the trick or you can mix up your own stuff!

 

[MSB123]

Will do!

 

[MSB123]

I'm also getting rid of the eel, he just stresses everyone out too much!

 

[nautical_nathaniel]

I'm also getting rid of the eel, he just stresses everyone out too much!

Make sure the new owner knows they need a lid. Friend of mine got one from someone else because he kept jumping out of the tank. They really didn't know much about eels and just bought him because he was cute at the fish store.

 

[MSB123]

Make sure the new owner knows they need a lid. Friend of mine got one from someone else because he kept jumping out of the tank. They really didn't know much about eels and just bought him because he was cute at the fish store.

Yes they do! I found mine in my sump after he was missing for two weeks!

 

[MSB123]

Thanks for the help

 

[harryball69]

get him out. they release a toxin when highly stressed or dieing. save the rest of your tank.