Tricky or Finicky Eater Thread

[Flame2hawk]

sounds like it could be flukes to me, appetite loss, glass surfing. I treat all fish coming into my tank now for flukes and internal parasites, its seems to be super prevalent in the supply chain lately.

He got many f/w baths as well as Prazi treatment (twice), GC in food and QT water column, then copper in case it was something not cured with prazi and recently hypo salinity for 4 weeks. If he has flukes after all that we are in deep you know what.....

 

[lion king]

He got many f/w baths as well as Prazi treatment (twice), GC in food and QT water column, then copper in case it was something not cured with prazi and recently hypo salinity for 4 weeks. If he has flukes after all that we are in deep you know what.....

While goldflakes and other angels for that matter have a high rate of internal parasites and flukes, I didn't mention this because of the length of time you had him. i loss a goldflake in qt from internal parasites, so i am very aware, I figured this was something you had already addressed.

Apolemichthys genus angels are notoriously picky and difficult to feed. After my goldflake loss i didn't want to spend another $450 and got a flagfin, which was my 1st choice but had been previously talked out of it. Apparently flagfins are even worse than goldflakes. I've had mine for a few years now, once he hit on something that he really liked, he's been a good eater ever since. Once you hit on somnething he really likes, he'll likely get more bold and start taking a number of other foods.

 

[Flame2hawk]

While goldflakes and other angels for that matter have a high rate of internal parasites and flukes, I didn't mention this because of the length of time you had him. i loss a goldflake in qt from internal parasites, so i am very aware, I figured this was something you had already addressed.

Apolemichthys genus angels are notoriously picky and difficult to feed. After my goldflake loss i didn't want to spend another $450 and got a flagfin, which was my 1st choice but had been previously talked out of it. Apparently flagfins are even worse than goldflakes. I've had mine for a few years now, once he hit on something that he really liked, he's been a good eater ever since. Once you hit on somnething he really likes, he'll likely get more bold and start taking a number of other foods.

I have a flagfin also and he eats like a champ but at first was also picky as you state but starting eating robustly within 2 weeks. GF is even picky with live brine shrimp. He eats it but again very sparingly and gingerly. Not robust at all. In the beginning he did eat robustly but now he just doesn’t. I still soak food in fenbendozole and metro because he still has stringy poop after all these treatments! Must say that in all the years of fish keeping, the GF has been the most difficult to adapt to captive life, deworm and get eating.thx.

 

[lion king]

I have a flagfin also and he eats like a champ but at first was also picky as you state but starting eating robustly within 2 weeks. GF is even picky with live brine shrimp. He eats it but again very sparingly and gingerly. Not robust at all. In the beginning he did eat robustly but now he just doesn’t. I still soak food in fenbendozole and metro because he still has stringy poop after all these treatments! Must say that in all the years of fish keeping, the GF has been the most difficult to adapt to captive life, deworm and get eating.thx.

Oh I see, he still does likely have internal parasites. They are stubborn as you know what. This may be the reason these angdls are so difficult to keep. They either get a really strong strain or are just difficult to treat. I had to do repeated treatment of metro with my flagfin, I failed with the goldflake. It took me well over a couple months with my flagfin. I figured since you had him for long he was either clear or dead. But I imagine your continued treatment has kept it at bay, but just not 100% cleared. You really need him eating enough medicated food to get the final push, if not, you may have to try some type of treatment in the water column.

Danger is others that may eat his poop.

 

[Flame2hawk]

Oh I see, he still does likely have internal parasites. They are stubborn as you know what. This may be the reason these angdls are so difficult to keep. They either get a really strong strain or are just difficult to treat. I had to do repeated treatment of metro with my flagfin, I failed with the goldflake. It took me well over a couple months with my flagfin. I figured since you had him for long he was either clear or dead. But I imagine your continued treatment has kept it at bay, but just not 100% cleared. You really need him eating enough medicated food to get the final push, if not, you may have to try some type of treatment in the water column.

Danger is others that may eat his poop.

Yeah others eating his poop is why I keep treating all food for everyone. The tip to try mussels or clams seems to have at least triggered some eating!....Only problem is if all he eats is mussels, clams, oysters etc, I won’t be able to continue to

To add meds to food.....one thing at a time as I’m happy he’s eating something!! As can be seen he/she is quite beautiful and worth all the effort to save.....

 

[lion king]

Yeah others eating his poop is why I keep treating all food for everyone. The tip to try mussels or clams seems to have at least triggered some eating!....Only problem is if all he eats is mussels, clams, oysters etc, I won’t be able to continue to

To add meds to food.....one thing at a time as I’m happy he’s eating something!! As can be seen he/she is quite beautiful and worth all the effort to save.....

Definitely a beautiful collection!!! i was heartbroken when I loss my goldflake. Eating is good, that I am happy about. If you have something you can use to inject, you can mix your meds in water and inject it into the clam and mussel flesh. I've used diabetes needles or you can an injector of any type, like the ones in aiptasia x.

 

[Flame2hawk]

After feeding mussels, clams and oysters, I have gone back to frozen mega angel formula w/ sponge, mysis, pellets....Gold flake angel just looks at them and swims away....refuses to eat anything except a bit of fresh clams, etc.....ugh....

 

[chicago]

I am in same boat.. my conspicuous. Just stopped eating all of a sudden.. body is losing mass. Just dosed my tank with prazipro hoping things change.. he literally looks at all the food but does not eat.. come out of the rock during feeding time with all the other fish.. but nothing..

 

[Flame2hawk]

My GF is still not eating and yes beginning to lose body mass. I’m using General Cure in the water column to see if whatever is inside, likely parasitic, can be cured....if he starts eating a bit I will use GC and f’bendezole in food. GOOD LUICK CHICAGO...we both have beautiful angels but not its really a bummer if we cant get them to eat and thrive!...its very sad actually...

 

[lion king]

I am in same boat.. my conspicuous. Just stopped eating all of a sudden.. body is losing mass. Just dosed my tank with prazipro hoping things change.. he literally looks at all the food but does not eat.. come out of the rock during feeding time with all the other fish.. but nothing..

Just a note, prazi alone may not do it, you also need the addition of metro. General cure has both but I do not believe it is reef safe. If you get him eating adding metro to the food is a good choice in a reef. But general cure in the water column is the better choice.

 

[Flame2hawk]

I should add that he has been in this cure regimen before GC in water column and with food with F’denezole/and GC. He did start eating. I put him back in DT and he stopped again. Tried everything to get him to eat again and he wouldn’t for weeks. So I fished him out a couple of days ago and he’s back in QT tanks with GC in column treatment. Hopefully he starts eating again as he’s wasting away now....just tried live brine soaked in sponge vitamins and selcon...he just looked at it and swam away...live claim yesterday drew no interest either.

 

[lion king]

I should add that he has been in this cure regimen before GC in water column and with food with F’denezole/and GC. He did start eating. I put him back in DT and he stopped again. Tried everything to get him to eat again and he wouldn’t for weeks. So I fished him out a couple of days ago and he’s back in QT tanks with GC in column treatment. Hopefully he starts eating again as he’s wasting away now....just tried live brine soaked in sponge vitamins and selcon...he just looked at it and swam away...live claim yesterday drew no interest either.

I feel for you. People don't really get how stubborn some of these parasites can be, until you see it for yourself.

 

[chicago]

Yep... thinking about pulling my Conspic out today and putting in the 55 gallon QT.. one problem.. i have a few wrasses in the QT with copper right now... I QT everything now due to issues with ICK wipe out twice over the past 20 years.. story for another day.. I forget does copper have any effect on intestinal worms ... ?? I am thinking of water change in QT so he has some clean water in the QT... no copper to surpress eating and then perhaps General Cure... and maybe in the QT alone he will eat.. my guys is so skiinny not sure he will come back.. Been three days now in prozi in the DT.... all other fish eating like crazy.. fat and overfeed...

 

[Flame2hawk]

Copper does not effectively treat internal parasites. I have heard and found that GC might be best and yes alone in QT if u can pull it off.

I feel for you too buddy as conspic angel is an absolute beautiful fish. Hopefully the fish gods will cut us a break as we are doing all we can to save these beautiful creatures. “Flakey” continues in 55g QT and still not eating. Added another full dose of GC today since 48 hrs since first dose. Last time I did this he started eating on the 4th day....If that happens I will keep him medicated for another 2 weeks to make sure its all gone and he bulks up real well....fingers crossed for both of us....keep us posted....

 

[chicago]

Still not eating today.. but every fish in my tank is so fat.. its insane.. they look like bumble bees.... all except my conspic.. did not nip at shrimp, red nori or scallops... He comes to the top looking for food when the pumps go off and make bump bump sound as the check valve falls down.. Wondering if the Prazi is hurting more than help... thinking prazi in DT for 4 days is good enough and ready to turn skimmer on and see if cleaning up the water helps.. if not next step is to the QT... QT currently has Copper in there.. That then again might be a bad idea and will need to change that and clean that up.. These guys are so hard to find now adays.. really bummed..

 

[Flame2hawk]

So sorry. May want to try QT with no copper and clean water for a day or 2. If he doesn’t eat then go with full dosage GC treatment and hope for best. Flakey still not eating and looking weaker today....i think I’m losing this battle. This is 2nd time I’ve tried a Goldflake. The first one didn’t make it out of QT. If Flakey doesn’t make it, there will be no more Goldflake’s in my future... I still have hope for your beautiful Conspic....

 

[chicago]

I might GC the DT next. Not sure. If I can get him easy I will do theQT. So he has no one around him going for the food.

This guy still comes up for food with the rest of the pack but does not eat. So fraustratkng.

 

[Flame2hawk]

I might GC the DT next. Not sure. If I can get him easy I will do theQT. So he has no one around him going for the food.

This guy still comes up for food with the rest of the pack but does not eat. So fraustratkng.

Flakey was doing the same thing prior to fishing him out into the QT...he would approach enthusiastically with all the rest but not eat....looking weaker by the day....

 

[lion king]

Flakey was doing the same thing prior to fishing him out into the QT...he would approach enthusiastically with all the rest but not eat....looking weaker by the day....

Have you guys tried live black worms or live mysid shrimp if you access to them, sounds like they are not intertested in what you are feeding more than internal parasites. You may have to start from the beginning, pods, some masstick or do you have some sponge growing in your sump. Just throwing out ideas, i would hate to see you guys lose either of those fish.

 

[Flame2hawk]

Have you guys tried live black worms or live mysid shrimp if you access to them, sounds like they are not intertested in what you are feeding more than internal parasites. You may have to start from the beginning, pods, some masstick or do you have some sponge growing in your sump. Just throwing out ideas, i would hate to see you guys lose either of those fish.

Thank you for your suggestions. I’ve tried all on multiple occasions except live mysis. In fact I’m currently trying a HPD paste on a spoon trying to spoon feed him. He has eaten out of the spoon in the past. Also put in a rock that has some nice live algae and what appears to be some sponge. Just looked at it and swam away. Unfortunately he’s not interested in anything....