Stonefish (first time owner) any tips to get him eating?

[HAAAAAAAA]

Seems like there isn't much information online.

it's been about 6 days since I've gotten him and i am starting to get worried (even tried live mollies) i was quite confident that mollies would do the trick, but it seems like I was wrong.

How long can they go without food?

Would praziquantel and metronidazole be alright for them? (I'll be using pure powder)

 

[KrisReef]

Ambush predator would probably prefer eating at night.

If it is healthy it will eat when it feels comfortable and hungry. It may have gorged at the LFS, or it may have been caught with cyanide and it’s not ever going to eat?

Picture to examine its condition?

Probably could eat once a month and survive in captivity?

 

[HAAAAAAAA]

Ambush predator would probably prefer eating at night.

If it is healthy it will eat when it feels comfortable and hungry. It may have gorged at the LFS, or it may have been caught with cyanide and it’s not ever going to eat?

Picture to examine its condition?

Probably could eat once a month and survive in captivity?

I'll definitely send a picture once i am home.

I'll try to feed him in the morning at 4am to see if he will eat, so far I've tried live mollies, though i did hear positive results with live shrimp.

I'll update on how it goes

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Seems like there isn't much information online.

it's been about 6 days since I've gotten him and i am starting to get worried (even tried live mollies) i was quite confident that mollies would do the trick, but it seems like I was wrong.

How long can they go without food?

Would praziquantel and metronidazole be alright for them? (I'll be using pure powder)

These typically are no problem to get to feed, there may be an underlying issue with yours. Try a live black molly impaled on a long broom straw or really heavy monofilament line. Get near the fish's mouth, but don't touch it with the fish. See if it takes it that way. Obviously, this requires you putting your hand in the tank, unless the feeding stick is very long. I always keep antivenin on hand when I have these. I also use the "two person" method where we don't access the tank unless a back up person is present.

Overfeeding and obesity (fatty liver) is a bigger problem with these than is under feeding. They can go at least a month with no food if in good condition.

You can treat them with prazi and/or metro, but I'm not sure what you would be treating for that would keep it from eating.

I don't have an exact breathing rate for these, but if you post a video, I can tell you if yours is breathing faster than normal for this species.

Here is some good information on first aid for stings from these fish:

https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/poison/stonefish-sting
Soak the wound with hot water. The water should be around 100°F to 113°F (40°C to 45°C) or as hot as can be comfortably tolerated. Soak for 30 to 90 minutes, periodically checking to make sure the water is still warm. Soaking in hot water helps to inactivate the venom and relieve pain. After soaking, gently wash the wound with mild soap and clean water to remove any dirt, debris, or venom that may be present.

 

[HAAAAAAAA]

These typically are no problem to get to feed, there may be an underlying issue with yours. Try a live black molly impaled on a long broom straw or really heavy monofilament line. Get near the fish's mouth, but don't touch it with the fish. See if it takes it that way. Obviously, this requires you putting your hand in the tank, unless the feeding stick is very long. I always keep antivenin on hand when I have these. I also use the "two person" method where we don't access the tank unless a back up person is present.

Overfeeding and obesity (fatty liver) is a bigger problem with these than is under feeding. They can go at least a month with no food if in good condition.

You can treat them with prazi and/or metro, but I'm not sure what you would be treating for that would keep it from eating.

I don't have an exact breathing rate for these, but if you post a video, I can tell you if yours is breathing faster than normal for this species.

Here is some good information on first aid for stings from these fish:

https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/poison/stonefish-sting
Soak the wound with hot water. The water should be around 100°F to 113°F (40°C to 45°C) or as hot as can be comfortably tolerated. Soak for 30 to 90 minutes, periodically checking to make sure the water is still warm. Soaking in hot water helps to inactivate the venom and relieve pain. After soaking, gently wash the wound with mild soap and clean water to remove any dirt, debris, or venom that may be present.

ill definitely try that out!

I thought of using prazi and metro to get rid of any internal worms which could hinder the fish from eating, i already found this successful with eels, but ofcourse this guy isn't an eel


I appreciate the information since they are ofcourse one of the most venomous guys I've seen yet

 

[HAAAAAAAA]

These typically are no problem to get to feed, there may be an underlying issue with yours. Try a live black molly impaled on a long broom straw or really heavy monofilament line. Get near the fish's mouth, but don't touch it with the fish. See if it takes it that way. Obviously, this requires you putting your hand in the tank, unless the feeding stick is very long. I always keep antivenin on hand when I have these. I also use the "two person" method where we don't access the tank unless a back up person is present.

Overfeeding and obesity (fatty liver) is a bigger problem with these than is under feeding. They can go at least a month with no food if in good condition.

You can treat them with prazi and/or metro, but I'm not sure what you would be treating for that would keep it from eating.

I don't have an exact breathing rate for these, but if you post a video, I can tell you if yours is breathing faster than normal for this species.

Here is some good information on first aid for stings from these fish:

https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/poison/stonefish-sting
Soak the wound with hot water. The water should be around 100°F to 113°F (40°C to 45°C) or as hot as can be comfortably tolerated. Soak for 30 to 90 minutes, periodically checking to make sure the water is still warm. Soaking in hot water helps to inactivate the venom and relieve pain. After soaking, gently wash the wound with mild soap and clean water to remove any dirt, debris, or venom that may be present.

Moved him to a 10 gallon to see if it will be easier to feed him there, i do wonder something, can they release a certain amount of venom in the water?

Here's a video of him to see if there is any underlying disease

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Moved him to a 10 gallon to see if it will be easier to feed him there, i do wonder something, can they release a certain amount of venom in the water?

Here's a video of him to see if there is any underlying disease

This fish is breathing too fast; either from low oxygen, a water quality problem or a gill parasite. They do not release venom into the water.

Also, are you sure it is a true stonefish? It just doesn't look like a Synanceia to me, the head seems too small and the dorsal spines too short. It is still a scorpionfish, so is venomous.

Jay

 

[HAAAAAAAA]

This fish is breathing too fast; either from low oxygen, a water quality problem or a gill parasite. They do not release venom into the water.

Also, are you sure it is a true stonefish? It just doesn't look like a Synanceia to me, the head seems too small and the dorsal spines too short. It is still a scorpionfish, so is venomous.

Jay

Seems like the lfs was wrong about it being a stonefish.

I did just move him to the 10 gallon and took a video 30 minutes after which might've stressed him out quite a bit, I'll send another video tomorrow which i believe will confirm it

 

[HAAAAAAAA]

This fish is breathing too fast; either from low oxygen, a water quality problem or a gill parasite. They do not release venom into the water.

Also, are you sure it is a true stonefish? It just doesn't look like a Synanceia to me, the head seems too small and the dorsal spines too short. It is still a scorpionfish, so is venomous.

Jay

i really appreciate the help!

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

i really appreciate the help!

Sorry - the video just isn't very clear - I can't even tell if it is still breathing fast.

 

[HAAAAAAAA]

Sorry - the video just isn't very clear - I can't even tell if it is still breathing fast.

When i had gone to take another video i unfortunately found him lying upside down with his mouth open, but i did find him opening his mouth quite a bit.

though i believe that he has expired.

Seems like I just picked up an unhealthy specimen.

I still appreciate the help, is there a safe way to dispose him?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

When i had gone to take another video i unfortunately found him lying upside down with his mouth open, but i did find him opening his mouth quite a bit.

though i believe that he has expired.

Seems like I just picked up an unhealthy specimen.

I still appreciate the help, is there a safe way to dispose him?

Sorry to hear.

Don't handle it barehanded - some scorpionfish have spines on their cheeks and other fins. I'd use a pair of tongs and drop it into a box and tape it up - like you would for a box of broken glass/

 

[Should I]

have u got it to eat yet?

edit: dang didn't read the comment above thats a gutter

 

[Gumbies R Us]

When i had gone to take another video i unfortunately found him lying upside down with his mouth open, but i did find him opening his mouth quite a bit.

though i believe that he has expired.

Seems like I just picked up an unhealthy specimen.

I still appreciate the help, is there a safe way to dispose him?

So sorry about your loss