Damsel fish acting weird

[jackandrocco]

I just finished setting up and cycling my new 40 gallon by using the filter sponge and rock from a 6 month established tank all parameters are good and temp is 76. But my damsel is the only fish in there rn hoping to add more as well as possibly my first coral. Anyways he is acting weird and just sitting in this corner by the heater and dosnt move all day and he used to eat right out the tongs and dosnt do that anymore I just drop the food in front of him and he dosnt eat in front of me but he is eating cuz he’s alive. So is her scared or depressed idk any ideas are appreciated.

 

[Mebbid]

Specifically, what are your parameters? Salinity? Ammonia? What are you using to test them?
How did you acclimate the fish?

If the fish isn't eating in front of you, then the fish probably isnt eating at all tbh.

 

[jackandrocco]

Salinity is at 1.025 ammonia is below point 5 and with ammonia neutralizer in the water as of this morning and I drip acclimated him for an hour in a bowl of the old water. He hasnt been eating infront of me for months he used to be in my 10 gallon so he’s gotta be eating at some point

 

[jackandrocco]

I used a Hannah ammonia tester while cycling and got it below .5 then used just an api kit for about three days and it hasn’t gone above the lowest color which is less than .5 and using a atc refracto meter for salinity

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

What is the nitrate level? That rock looks all new, how much of it was from the established tank? I'm thinking the tank is not cycled.

 

[jackandrocco]

What is the nitrate level? That rock looks all new, how much of it was from the established tank? I'm thinking the tank is not cycled.

About half the rocks are from the old tank I’m testing nitrate now

 

[jackandrocco]

What is the nitrate level? That rock looks all new, how much of it was from the established tank? I'm thinking the tank is not cycled.

This is the nitrate it definitely looks darker on the photo I think it’s in between 0 and 5

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

This is the nitrate it definitely looks darker on the photo I think it’s in between 0 and 5

ok I was just double checking, in this case it goes beyond what a normal hobbyist can help with, the #fishmedics will be able to help evaluate your fish, good luck

 

[W31Olds]

How long have you had him? Can you post a video? He's too far away to tell much.

 

[jackandrocco]

How long have you had him? Can you post a video? He's too far away to tell much.

I’ve had him for maybe a year now I had him in a 1” gallon with a mantis shrimp and they were like best buds and he was active and ate right off the tongs then after the mantis passed maybe 4 months ago he just hid in the mantis’s cave and wouldn’t eat infront of me and now we’re at this point.

In the video he has now of this morning gotten out of that corner from my original post and has kinda chose this spot in the rocks to the right of him you can see the whole but I tried to feed him earlier and he still didn’t eat

 

[jackandrocco]

I’ve had him for maybe a year now I had him in a 1” gallon with a mantis shrimp and they were like best buds and he was active and ate right off the tongs then after the mantis passed maybe 4 months ago he just hid in the mantis’s cave and wouldn’t eat infront of me and now we’re at this point.

In the video he has now of this morning gotten out of that corner from my original post and has kinda chose this spot in the rocks to the right of him you can see the whole but I tried to feed him earlier and he still didn’t eat

But he is just sticking to this little area now still not swimming around

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I’ve had him for maybe a year now I had him in a 1” gallon with a mantis shrimp and they were like best buds and he was active and ate right off the tongs then after the mantis passed maybe 4 months ago he just hid in the mantis’s cave and wouldn’t eat infront of me and now we’re at this point.

In the video he has now of this morning gotten out of that corner from my original post and has kinda chose this spot in the rocks to the right of him you can see the whole but I tried to feed him earlier and he still didn’t eat

It sounds from your description that the lethargy and not eating started in the 10 gallon tank about three months ago? That would tend to rule out an issue with the new tank.

 

[jackandrocco]

It sounds from your description that the lethargy and not eating started in the 10 gallon tank about three months ago? That would tend to rule out an issue with the new tank.

Yes I would agree. Don’t know what’s wrong