Shedding Scorpaena plumieri

[chris hayes]

Sooo about 4 days ago he shed his body.. his eyes are still cloudy and layered , but won't eat..is this normal?

 

[Lionfish Lair]

Shedding is normal. Cloudy eyes are not. The little bit of cloudiness that goes along with shedding is very transient. One flick and it's gone. What have you tried to feed him? Are you offering live? If you are only offering dead, then yes, it very well may be normal. Depending on how long you've had him, even not eating live may be normal. If you've had him for over a week and he's not eating live AND he has cloudy eyes, he's sick. This fish is a big eater and it doesn't take much to convince them to eat. How big of a tank is he in?

Can you post some of pictures, like maybe where his dorsal spines are erect and his tail is expanded?

Was that first paragraph confusing? LOL! Lemme sum it up.... I think he's sick (or possibly the environment if his tank is too small).

 

[rayn]

Gotta say, I don't ever think mine shed. Cloudy eyes are a sign of being sick though. With what is the question. On a fish with multiple colors and a lot of white it is harder to see certain diseases.


What size tank is he in?

 

[chris hayes]

It's a 75g.. and he's been eating raw shrimp and silvers.. then out of nowhere he quit.. I'll try to get a good pic of his fins and tail here in a little bit. .

 

[chris hayes]

.

 

[chris hayes]

I also did a water change yesterday..hoping that will help..

 

[Naiad]

He didn't shed all the way that is for sure. There is algea growing on him. I know very little about them so I am tagging along to learn.

 

[rayn]

They generally don't let algae grow on them, not that type of scorp.

Eyes are way cloudy. They have a small sense of smell, but eat more by sight. He probably isn't seeing to eat. Try feeding on a stick right in front of his face, maybe soak it in garlic too. I would start a QT tank and consider either one of the three ways to treat ich...copper, hypo, or TTM. TTM will be the hardest with this guy though.

 

[chris hayes]

I don't think it's ick.. and his eyes are peeling.. that's why I brought up shedding. . But it's been this way for a few days now.. the only other thing in there with him besides rock , is a coral banded shrimp. .maybe he got stressed from the shipping. .just worried about him

 

[chris hayes]

Best I could do..

 

[Lionfish Lair]

If he were mine, I'd FW dip and use some Prazipro.

 

[chris hayes]

Hahaha not sure how I'm gonna catch him.. but I was thinking the same man..

 

[rayn]

@Lionfish Lair remember that mombasae I had that had white eyes? You predicted ich and you were right, just off the eyes. Never found a spot on him till after he died.

@chris hayes its easiest to catch him by draining the water down to his level. There's no where for him to dart off to that way.

 

[Lionfish Lair]

@chris hayes its easiest to catch him by draining the water down to his level. There's no where for him to dart off to that way.

And swearing.... don't forget the mandatory swearing. Be careful. Nice and easy. Don't take chances.

 

[chris hayes]

Hahaha love the swearing end of it.. seems to fit the bill.. just forgot the beer..with beer.. anything is possible! Thanks yall

 

[chris hayes]

Update.. I think he was just shedding.. looking alot better today..

 

[Lionfish Lair]

That was more than just shedding, but whatever it was, hopefully he's recovering. These are hardy fish. He looks SO much better!!

 

[chris hayes]

I agree.. just can't figure it out.. hahaha not like just pulling a tang out of the tank and checking him out.. but my love for him made this happen.. and he tried to eat this morning. . I will try again in a little bit.. he HAS to be starving! Thanks for all the help.. MUCH appreciated!