How long can a fish live w/o eating? It’s been over a week

[lubeck]

My flasher wrasse who I’ve had for almost 2 years has not eaten more than 3-4 flakes of food in over a week. (Not per day). he is normally a pig and eats house made fish food. I don’t normally feed flakes but trying to get him to eat anything.


The first three days he hid and didn’t come out. When he came out from hiding I noticed white stringy poop but havent seen it since. His coloration has changed to a darker color and it appears his belly looks pinched or just getting skinny He always used to occasionally scratch on the rocks. It looks like he is gasping for air occasionally and his mouth stays open.

I feel awful because I think he is starving to death and don’t know what to do.

he still swims around but will hide if you walk up to the tank.

 

[Harold999]

I have seen a clownfish not eating for 2 months, not a crumble, and no surprise he didn't make it.
If there is a complete "systemshutdown" (i like to call it that way) for more than 2 weeks, i think that no cure or medicin will ever get a fish start eating again.

So you need to act quickly.

 

[MnFish1]

wrasses live around 5 years - some more some less. It could be old age - did you happen to add anything new?

 

[lubeck]

I have seen a clownfish not eating for 2 months, not a crumble, and no surprise he didn't make it.
If there is a complete "systemshutdown" (i like to call it that way) for more than 2 weeks, i think that no cure or medicin will get a fish start eating again.

So you need to act quickly.

What should I do though?

 

[lubeck]

wrasses live around 5 years - some more some less. It could be old age - did you happen to add anything new?

No live stock other than a few frags of zoa

 

[Pickle_soup]

Was there a possibility that somehow you introduced flukes into your aquarium?

 

[lubeck]

Maybe but believe that he had symptoms of flukes for over 6 months but that never stopped him from eating like a pig.

edit. Probably more like a year. I did eventually dose some prazipro and didn’t notice much scratching until recently. A good 3-5 months without scratching

 

[Harold999]

What should I do though?

Does he produce any faeces? If you have acces to a microscope you could take a look at that.

 

[Jay Hemdal]

My flasher wrasse who I’ve had for almost 2 years has not eaten more than 3-4 flakes of food in over a week. (Not per day). he is normally a pig and eats house made fish food. I don’t normally feed flakes but trying to get him to eat anything.


The first three days he hid and didn’t come out. When he came out from hiding I noticed white stringy poop but havent seen it since. His coloration has changed to a darker color and it appears his belly looks pinched or just getting skinny He always used to occasionally scratch on the rocks. It looks like he is gasping for air occasionally and his mouth stays open.

I feel awful because I think he is starving to death and don’t know what to do.

he still swims around but will hide if you walk up to the tank.

Sorry - this seems to be an internal issue, and those are notoriously difficult to diagnose and treat. Generally, a fish that stops feeding for two to three weeks won't survive, even if you manage to solve the original problem.

Here is an article I wrote up on fish anorexia:

Chronic Anorexia in Aquarium Fishes

Don't fall into the trap of assuming the fish will begin feeding when it gets hungry enough, or conclude it must be eating something, just not when you are watching.

reefs.com

Jay

 

[lubeck]

Does he produce any faeces? If you have acces to a microscope you could take a look at that.

I haven’t seen any since last week

 

[lubeck]

Sorry - this seems to be an internal issue, and those are notoriously difficult to diagnose and treat. Generally, a fish that stops feeding for two to three weeks won't survive, even if you manage to solve the original problem.

Here is an article I wrote up on fish anorexia:

Chronic Anorexia in Aquarium Fishes

Don't fall into the trap of assuming the fish will begin feeding when it gets hungry enough, or conclude it must be eating something, just not when you are watching.

reefs.com

Jay

When is the time to decide to euthanize due to starvation ? How should it be done.

 

[Jay Hemdal]

When is the time to decide to euthanize due to starvation ? How should it be done.

Knowing when to euthanize is tough - you want to give the fish every possible chance, but you don't want it to suffer unduly.

In terms of HOW to euthanize, I had written a post on that:

Fish Euthanasia

Euthanasia Euthanasia is a word derived from two Greek words that roughly translates to “good death”. In other words, euthanasia is the painless killing of an organism. In general usage, there is also the underlying understanding that euthanasia is performed on terminal patients only. This...

www.reef2reef.com

Jay

 

[Harold999]

When is the time to decide to euthanize due to starvation ? How should it be done.

After a couple of days not eating the human body starts to produce extra endorfines which make you feel rather good. Not sure if this is the same case with animals especially fishes but chances are rather high that he won't suffer at all. Untill a certain point ofcourse.
I start euthanasia as soon as i notice they become very lethargic and start losing balance / fighting for balance because then you know for sure the end is near.

 

[Costareefer]

wrasses live around 5 years - some more some less. It could be old age - did you happen to add anything new?

I had a bluesided fairy who stopped eating and I ended up euthanizing him because I felt like he was at the end of his natural lifespan. 7 years in captivity.

 

[lubeck]

Knowing when to euthanize is tough - you want to give the fish every possible chance, but you don't want it to suffer unduly.

In terms of HOW to euthanize, I had written a post on that:

Fish Euthanasia

Euthanasia Euthanasia is a word derived from two Greek words that roughly translates to “good death”. In other words, euthanasia is the painless killing of an organism. In general usage, there is also the underlying understanding that euthanasia is performed on terminal patients only. This...

www.reef2reef.com

Jay

It seems like from your first article I’m already too late to bring him back as he still isnt eating.

im going to assess tomorrow and decide next steps. Of all the options to euthanize I feel like I would want to make it as quick as possible. most options listed seem drawn out.

 

[lubeck]

Well i haven’t been able to catch him. I noticed yesterday and today that he has white stringy poop.

I still haven’t seen him eat though. Is this normal? Any recommendations. It’s been two weeks since he stopped eating

 

[KrisReef]

Well i haven’t been able to catch him. I noticed yesterday and today that he has white stringy poop.

I still haven’t seen him eat though. Is this normal? Any recommendations. It’s been two weeks since he stopped eating

I didn’t think the wrasse looked sick or hungry. I think it is just feeding on the stuff it finds around your tank and the strings o poop are not signs of starvation.

Fish can forage and find food without eating flakes, I don’t eat flakes either.

If the fish is dying you should be able to net it easily. If that happens put the fish in a small bowl. Place the end of a club soda bottle under the surface and crack the cap open. The CO2 in the water will cause it to black out quickly and it will not know what comes next.

I don’t think the CO2 information is necessary but if it is then now you know.

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Well i haven’t been able to catch him. I noticed yesterday and today that he has white stringy poop.

I still haven’t seen him eat though. Is this normal? Any recommendations. It’s been two weeks since he stopped eating

White stringy can be mucus shed from the intestines and then an indication of starvation.
Jay

 

[lubeck]

RIP Willy. Haven’t seen him in two days.