Schooling bannerfish not swimming

[mpatterson42]

I added a Schooling Bannerfish to my tank (180 gallon) on Feb 11 from Dr. Reef along with a snowflake eel they were the first fish I added. He's always been very social, swimming around the tank, following anyone who walks by. On Feb 21 I moved a blue spotted puffer from my 40G tank to the 180G. On March 2 I noticed the dorsal fin on the bannerfish was nipped off. I'm not sure if it was the puffer or the eel, I've never seen aggression from either, the puffer and bannerfish regularly swim together and I usually on see the eel during feeding time. I'm feeding the eel silversides every other day. On March 5 I added 3 more fish from Dr. Reef, a foxface, yellow goatfish, and a big eye black bar soldierfish.

Today I found the bannerfish at the bottom of the tank, he's moving around a little bit but not a lot. Other than the damage to the dorsal fin I don't see any other damage on him.

None of the other fish appear to be having any issues.

Salinity is 1.025, Nitrate is 8.6, Phosphate 0.17.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I added a Schooling Bannerfish to my tank (180 gallon) on Feb 11 from Dr. Reef along with a snowflake eel they were the first fish I added. He's always been very social, swimming around the tank, following anyone who walks by. On Feb 21 I moved a blue spotted puffer from my 40G tank to the 180G. On March 2 I noticed the dorsal fin on the bannerfish was nipped off. I'm not sure if it was the puffer or the eel, I've never seen aggression from either, the puffer and bannerfish regularly swim together and I usually on see the eel during feeding time. I'm feeding the eel silversides every other day. On March 5 I added 3 more fish from Dr. Reef, a foxface, yellow goatfish, and a big eye black bar soldierfish.

Today I found the bannerfish at the bottom of the tank, he's moving around a little bit but not a lot. Other than the damage to the dorsal fin I don't see any other damage on him.

None of the other fish appear to be having any issues.

Salinity is 1.025, Nitrate is 8.6, Phosphate 0.17.

This fish appears to be a victim of aggression. In addition, the fish is thin and becoming moribund, in which it may or may not swim and eat normal going forward. Isolation in a tank with airstone may offer best chances

 

[mpatterson42]

This fish appears to be a victim of aggression. In addition, the fish is thin and becoming moribund, in which it may or may not swim and eat normal going forward. Isolation in a tank with airstone may offer best chances

Thanks, I just moved him to my 10 gallon observation tank. He's sitting at the bottom right now. I had a Tidal 55 on there but the suction on the intake was too strong so I turned it off and put in an airstone.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Thanks, I just moved him to my 10 gallon observation tank. He's sitting at the bottom right now. I had a Tidal 55 on there but the suction on the intake was too strong so I turned it off and put in an airstone.

How is the fish this morning?

It looked REALLY thin in the video. When was the last time you saw it eat and what were you feeding it?

 

[mpatterson42]

How is the fish this morning?

It looked REALLY thin in the video. When was the last time you saw it eat and what were you feeding it?

Sadly he did not make it. When I went to bed last night his gills were moving very fast. I put some PVC elbows in there in case he wanted to try and prop himself up like he was doing when I first found him. This morning he was lying on his side and his gills were no longer moving.

He eats every day. I either feed PE mysis flakes with TDO pellets, frozen mysis shrimp, or LRS nano frenzy. I add in baby brine shrimp occasionally as well. He doesn't have much food competition, really just the puffer until I added the new fish a few days ago (who are rather shy anyway), but I always see both of them eat when I put food in.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Sadly he did not make it. When I went to bed last night his gills were moving very fast. I put some PVC elbows in there in case he wanted to try and prop himself up like he was doing when I first found him. This morning he was lying on his side and his gills were no longer moving.

He eats every day. I either feed PE mysis flakes with TDO pellets, frozen mysis shrimp, or LRS nano frenzy. I add in baby brine shrimp occasionally as well. He doesn't have much food competition, really just the puffer until I added the new fish a few days ago (who are rather shy anyway), but I always see both of them eat when I put food in.

Sorry to hear.

It must have had some food malabsorption issue. A fish that is feeding well won’t get emaciated like that bless something is keeping it from converting the food into body mass. Internal parasites can do that, as well as cyanide capture issues (but this species isn’t usually caught with cyanide).

 

[mpatterson42]

Thanks. I guess most of the bannerfish I had seen were pretty skinny so it wasn't even on my radar, plus like I said he ate all the time.

Here's a video from last Wednesday when I first noticed his dorsal fin was nipped. He was hanging out around the eel's lair which had me a little worried.

 

[W31Olds]

Question, what are you feeding, how many times a day, and how much?

 

[mpatterson42]

Question, what are you feeding, how many times a day, and how much?

Once a day I either feed a pinch of PE mysis flakes with about 10 TDO pellets, frozen mysis shrimp (1/3 cube), or LRS nano frenzy (about the same size as the 1/3 mysis cube). I add in baby brine shrimp occasionally as well.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Once a day I either feed a pinch of PE mysis flakes with about 10 TDO pellets, frozen mysis shrimp (1/3 cube), or LRS nano frenzy (about the same size as the 1/3 mysis cube). I add in baby brine shrimp occasionally as well.

You should always feed your fish “on demand”. Avoid feeding set amounts of food - let the fish dictate how often and how much to feed: add some food in the morning, as they eat all that, add a bit more. Continue that for about 3 to 5 minutes. Repeat the process in the PM. Smaller fish do better with a third or even fourth feeding each day.

 

[W31Olds]

That doesn't seem like much. I would probably feed more, no BB Shrimp, probably some Nori, and adult Brine.

 

[sgdnycct]

That doesn't seem like much. I would probably feed more, no BB Shrimp, probably some Nori, and adult Brine.

Definitely not enough food. Should feed 2+ times a day.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Once a day I either feed a pinch of PE mysis flakes with about 10 TDO pellets, frozen mysis shrimp (1/3 cube), or LRS nano frenzy (about the same size as the 1/3 mysis cube). I add in baby brine shrimp occasionally as well.

Add in the future plankton, chopped krill and regular brine shrimp at 2-3 times a day

 

[JumboShrimp]

If your fish made it to my Butterfly tank he'd think he just got invited to King Henry's Feast! I feed them multiple times a day, and they quickly consume it all; like Jay said, sometimes I'll add to it almost immediately. (Of course, not enough to float to the bottom/go down the weir and foul the water.) But I am sorry for your loss!

 

[sgdnycct]

That doesn't seem like much. I would probably feed more, no BB Shrimp, probably some Nori, and adult Brine.

Definitely not enough food. Should feed 2+ times a day.

Just want to clarify a few things.

First, I’m sorry for your loss.

Second I don’t know if I sufficient feeding was the problem, but I suspect it could be a contributing factor.

My gut tells me the root problem was aggression. IME aggression’s biggest problem is the amount of stress it causes. I’ve seen a perfectly healthy fish go from active to failing in 24 hrs. Where food could impact is that if the fish isn’t getting enough nutrition and right calories it will be less able to recover from stress and injury. In addition, insufficient feeding could increase aggression.

I recommend looking at your feeding methodology and increase frequency, quantity and variety.