Naso Tang Not Eating

Pakman2 · Sep 21, 2018

We purchased small Naso Tang exactly one week ago. He went directly into our QT. In that tank are other fish. 2 small clown, coral beauty, yellow tang and a blue hippo tang.

There was slight aggression from the yellow tang for the first few hours but no aggression since. We feed the fish 2-3 times a day and we always have green seaweed hanging on a clip all day long. We feed the fish pellets, mysis and brine shrimp.

The Naso has a huge appetite. He hasn’t missed a meal. If anything, he eats the most from the group of fish that I mentioned. Last evening I noticed that he didn’t touch any of the food or the nori. Same goes for today. 3 meals served and he acts like there isn’t any food present. Everyone else is eating but he doesnt even bother looking at it or attempting to eat it. Any suggestions or recommendations?

JasonK84 · Sep 21, 2018

Any medications being dosed?

Any new addition to a QT also restarts the clock on every fish in QT.

GoldeneyeRet · Sep 21, 2018

How big is the qt?

Pakman2 · Sep 21, 2018

Coppersafe is being used in the tank. And the QT is 29 gallons.

JasonK84 · Sep 21, 2018

Not eating a few days will be okay if he appears healthy. I would stay the QT course and not add any more to QT so they can make to a DT away from mess that suppress appetite.

Good luck and keep us posted on his progress.

JasonK84 · Sep 21, 2018

Meds not mess

ca1ore · Sep 21, 2018

You say nothing about the condition and/or appearance of the Naso (I assume you mean liturgis?). Is it thin? Showing any ragged fins? Copper certainly can suppress appetite. Could also be some delayed collection stress. Naso, particularly the blonde, can be temperamental eaters. Generally it is not a good sign when a fish that had been eating well suddenly stops. Sometimes they start up again. Sometimes bacterial infections can set in. Been seeing and hearing of quite a lot of gram negative infections, along with velvet and uronema lately.

Pakman2 · Sep 22, 2018

The naso (lituratus) appears extremely healthy. He isn’t think. His fins appear fine and normal. He is not a blonde. As far as bacterial infections go, I don’t have any experience with that so I wouldn’t know what to look for. As far their appetite being suppressed, the other fish are eating perfectly fine. It’s just the naso that stopped.

Should I stop the copper QT and start another med for bacterial infections? And then go back to the copper cycle afterwards?

4FordFamily · Sep 22, 2018

Juvenile naso are quite fragile. Can you post a photo of the fish in question?

Pakman2 · Sep 22, 2018

ReefTeacher · Sep 23, 2018

Over the course of years, I have had this same problem with a couple of Nasos. I have never had one make it to the main tank. Wish I had the solution.

Pakman2 · Sep 23, 2018

So I went to a local fish and coral show today. I spoke to a LFS owner who has a masters degree in zoology. I told him of my issue. He said that he thinks that it could be either some type internal parasite or an intestinal blockage. So he suggested Prazipro for the parasites and suggested to feed the Naso frozen peas and crush them before putting them in the tank. I guess the peas will help flush out the intestines. My question is can I use Prazipro along side with coppersafe?

ReefTeacher · Sep 23, 2018

Peas are very good for flushing out the intestines of fish. They are used heavily in freshwater culture, particularly with short bodied goldfish which are prone to constipation. But peas are not useful if a fish is not eating.