Getting fish to eat food-soaked API General Cure!

[Reefahholic]

Some will eat it, but others won’t touch it. I used to worm my dogs and they were the same way. I had some that would devour it, but a few that would get one sniff and poke their nose in the air.

Right now, I have a yellow tang that eats like a pig, but will not touch the food-socked with API GC regardless of having used Entice or Garlic guard. He swims up, smells it, and turns his head.

Anybody having luck with a particular food or method that I can incorporate into my book of knowledge? I sure would like to have a tool in my toolbox that was a sure way to get the fish to eat.

Right now I’ve been thinking about injecting the food to send it straight into the gut. The downfalls with this would be inconvenience and stress on the fish. Two things I’d like to avoid if possible.

Anybody have any tricks up their sleeve?

 

[The Reefing Scotsman]

Try soaking the mixture in squid oil. If you can't find that then any smelly fish oil would be worth a try. This kind of thing is often sold as a bait additive for fishing. Try and buy one that claims to be made from only natural ingredients.

 

[Reefahholic]

Try soaking the mixture in squid oil. If you can't find that then any smelly fish oil would be worth a try. This kind of thing is often sold as a bait additive for fishing. Try and buy one that claims to be made from only natural ingredients.

That might be worth a try. I think I will do it. If it's natural it shouldn't affect the water much. Although I would only use it in a QT.

 

[Louis Z]

Metronidazole has an extremely bitter taste . Often unpalatable to people . That’s why it is in coated tablets for humans . What is it that you are trying to target ? Are your fish showing signs of protozoan infection? Or are you trying for deworming in general? I understand the importance of metro but if it’s stopping the fish from getting dewormed then I would eliminate it and just use prazi. I normally use the general cure with the garlic mixed with dry pelleted food that absorbs the medication then I add some of my regular frozen food again as to mask the taste . There is also cod liver oil (haven’t tried it) Yes I do have some fish that refuse to eat it regardless of what I do .

 

[Reefahholic]

Metronidazole has an extremely bitter taste . Often unpalatable to people . That’s why it is in coated tablets for humans . What is it that you are trying to target ? Are your fish showing signs of protozoan infection? Or are you trying for deworming in general? I understand the importance of metro but if it’s stopping the fish from getting dewormed then I would eliminate it and just use prazi. I normally use the general cure with the garlic mixed with dry pelleted food that absorbs the medication then I add some of my regular frozen food again as to mask the taste . There is also cod liver oil (haven’t tried it) Yes I do have some fish that refuse to eat it regardless of what I do .

LZ, for me it's more of a preventative treatment for fish like Clowns and Chromis. The General Cure can clear the gut (deworm) and also target internal protozoan's as you know. I scoped some fish a while back and boy where they full of eggs. Not to mention I found Uronema internally. This was after a lot of dips and different medicated treatments. After seeing that...I'll always deworm and treat the fish internally that I suspect may have Uronema.

The problem is that when fish get sick...they don't want to eat anyway. Then when you add something like General Cure...it's near impossible to get them to eat. At least certain species anyway. This is why I've been talking to Vets and also Doctors and Nurses at my hospital about injecting straight into the gut or IM injections. When Uroneam is in full blown attack mode...fish will drop like flies.

However, I would like to feed those fish who might eat. I really appreciate all of the suggestions from you guys as I haven't been very successful at getting some fish to eat when the infection is really bad. Maybe the suggested Cod Liver Oil will help. I will definitely give that a try.

If you'd like to see my findings of those fish that I scoped...check out the video below:

 

[Louis Z]

I agree . I had some Banggai Cardinals that had white stringy poop . Used general cure in the water yet didn’t stop them from perishing . I needed them to eat it but once they went down that road they weren’t eating anything . So now my new acquisition protocol involves treating with general cure both in the water and in the food as soon as they come in. The other thing I might suggest is metroplex and the focus . Can’t say they will eat that version but it’s worth a try . I have been wanting a microscope for awhile to see what things are rather than guessing .

 

[The Reefing Scotsman]

It's worth trying to source squid oil imo. This was recommended on another forum by a scientist that specialises in fish health.

I recently sent some to a friend who's fish had stopped eating under chloroquine treatment. They immediately ate frozen food soaked in a squid and cuttlefish bait oil additive. Krill oil would be the next best appetite stimulant.

 

[Reefahholic]

I agree . I had some Banggai Cardinals that had white stringy poop . Used general cure in the water yet didn’t stop them from perishing . I needed them to eat it but once they went down that road they weren’t eating anything . So now my new acquisition protocol involves treating with general cure both in the water and in the food as soon as they come in. The other thing I might suggest is metroplex and the focus . Can’t say they will eat that version but it’s worth a try . I have been wanting a microscope for awhile to see what things are rather than guessing .

Yeah, I've tried both. I just like the API GC because is contains 500 mg Metronidazole and 150 mg Praziquantel per teaspoon and targets a few things that I want to eliminate. Metroplex's only active ingredient is 70% Metronidazole. Does anybody know what 70% of Metronidazole is in mg's? I wonder if that is stronger or weaker than the dose in API GC?

 

[Reefahholic]

It's worth trying to source squid oil imo. This was recommended on another forum by a scientist that specialises in fish health.

I recently sent some to a friend who's fish had stopped eating under chloroquine treatment. They immediately ate frozen food soaked in a squid and cuttlefish bait oil additive. Krill oil would be the next best appetite stimulant.

Wow, sounds promising! Any idea where we could score a bottle of this good oil?

 

[The Reefing Scotsman]

Wow, sounds promising! Any idea where we could score a bottle of this good oil?

I got it from eBay, but I'm in the UK. I'm sure someone in the US must be selling something similar. Search Calamari oil as well. I've heard that Chinese supermarkets may sell it too.

 

[Louis Z]

I will try a health food store . I am unsure about the bait attractants. Quality and purity , I use them for fishing but don’t want to chance it by giving it to my fish . It’s labeled as calamarine oil .

 

[mmw64]

Wow, sounds promising! Any idea where we could score a bottle of this good oil?

Wondering that myself.