emperor fish will not eat

Crazy One · #1 09/19/2007, 01:07 AM

I have a 8"+ emperor and he has been eating great for the last 6 months untill about 4 to 5 days ago. Now he sits at the bottom of the tank hiding, and will not eat, I have tried to get him to eat everything from rods food to krill and shrimp.
He is not gasping for oxygen, and has no type of external parasites anywhere. I have dosed my tank with tetracycline, and erythromycin, and doesn't seem to have an effect on him. I also tuned off the protein skimmer from extrating any medication, and performed a 25 gallon water change as of tonight. I have checked all my (ammonia,nitrite,ph,nitrate,levels and everything is perfect. All my other fish are eating very well and seems to have no effects like my angel fish does.
There seems to be no bloating but I can tell hes getting skinny from not eating. I have a cleaner wrase I and caught him lastnight picking at the gills.
Could this be dropsy ? or maybe an internal parasite?
Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.

bignick · #2 09/19/2007, 09:37 AM

Have you tried using garlic on the food? It could entice the fish to eat.

Crazy One · #3 09/19/2007, 10:40 AM

No I havn't but I'll try that today. Thanks

anjhof · #4 09/19/2007, 03:10 PM

If the cleaner wrasse was picking at his gills, maybe he was getting cleaned. Unless he was hurting the angel, I would put him back in there.

What size of tank do you have him in? Any other changes? Temp, salinity, flow, new fish? Where did you get him from?
Could this be a result of how he was captured? I am just asking - as I don't know the answer.

Crazy One · #5 09/20/2007, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by bignick
Have you tried using garlic on the food? It could entice the fish to eat.

Thanks Nick I got this fish to eat some krill again that I soaked in some garlic. It seems to be coming around and having some color again.

Crazy One · #6 09/20/2007, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by anjhof
If the cleaner wrasse was picking at his gills, maybe he was getting cleaned. Unless he was hurting the angel, I would put him back in there.

What size of tank do you have him in? Any other changes? Temp, salinity, flow, new fish? Where did you get him from?
Could this be a result of how he was captured? I am just asking - as I don't know the answer.

hes in a 125 my temp is 80.0 salinity 1.022 No nitries or nitrates,and ammonia was 0 as well . I bought this fish in romeoville at Reefs edge and got a great deal last winter around December and he has been eating very well since last week. As for the cleaner wrasse I never took that out. I've heard it's difficult to keep a cleaner wrasse after all the parasites are gone but it eats krill and other food as well, so I guess I'm one of the lucky ones.

bignick · #7 09/20/2007, 12:06 PM

Do a water change and try adding selcon to the food too. The selcon will give the fish vitamins and nutrients to get it back up to Par. Once the fish is eating normally again then you can either continue or quit the selcon. I usually use it once every two weeks to keep the fish healthy. Also try feeding spectrum pellets. I've had great luck and color with that food.

I'm glad i could help!

Depending on where your located i have some frozen fresh squid that i use to feed my big fish. I no longer have my big fish so the squid is going to go to waste. Its not a whole lot but i cleaned it and stored it in little sandwich baggies. One baggie would usually last me 2-3 feedings.

hoosierpat · #8 09/20/2007, 05:07 PM

I assume you're talking about an emporer angel. If so I would try feeding it some clams as well. You can get short neck clams at the grocery store. H20 Life also has a great clam product. They are baby clams on the half shell and there is a lot more meat per clam than the ones you get at the store.

Crazy One · #9 09/21/2007, 11:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bignick
Do a water change and try adding selcon to the food too. The selcon will give the fish vitamins and nutrients to get it back up to Par. Once the fish is eating normally again then you can either continue or quit the selcon. I usually use it once every two weeks to keep the fish healthy. Also try feeding spectrum pellets. I've had great luck and color with that food.

I'm glad i could help!

Depending on where your located i have some frozen fresh squid that i use to feed my big fish. I no longer have my big fish so the squid is going to go to waste. Its not a whole lot but i cleaned it and stored it in little sandwich baggies. One baggie would usually last me 2-3 feedings.

Thanks bignick but I'm all the way down in the joliet plainfield area. I've been doing partial water changes every 2 days and then keep adding medicine the day after that. The emperor angel has been starting to come around a little more. I tried to get him to eat some frozen angel and butterfly cubes (by Sally's) tonight thay I picked up from Scotts Pet shop after work tonight.

Thanks for all the help. CE

Crazy One · #10 09/21/2007, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by hoosierpat
I assume you're talking about an emporer angel. If so I would try feeding it some clams as well. You can get short neck clams at the grocery store. H20 Life also has a great clam product. They are baby clams on the half shell and there is a lot more meat per clam than the ones you get at the store.

Yeah it's an emperor angel, I'll hit up the grocery store tommorow and try some clams. Thanks for the input.