Cowfish in Peril

[Inconservatory]

I'm pretty sure that I know the answers to the questions below, but it helps to hear it from other sources.


I awoke to find my cowfish laying on the substrate. This is quite uncommon for this 2" fish, who usually sleep near the surface, and is never one to remain still in one place. Rousing him with the feeding stick, he sluggishly staggered about the tank, a far cry from the directed fluttering he's so keen on. What's worse is that this little garbage disposal would not eat. He didn't even register that there was food in the water column.

While he did not die through the day, I fear for the worst. My only QT tank is a 40 gal with cycling live rock. The tank's params boast a nitrate concentration of about 20ppm, where the ammonia and nitrites are at a 0. However, I use conditioned tap water for this tank, as opposed to the RO water used for my fish-only setup he comes from.

I'm acclimating him to my reef tank. This.... seems like a terrible idea. However, this would be the healthiest tank to add him to. If there's a great shot, it would be here. At best, he could dine on feather dusters and get some strength back. At worst... well, let's just say that I've got some carbon running in the sump.


I suppose I'm looking less for answers to a question, but more for advice or reprimands.

The original tank has dipped down to 76f over the last few days, as the house becomes colder and is more apparent that a 200w marineland heater can't compare with a well-oxygenated sump.


Well... if I can get him to eat, do you think there's hope?

Thanks.

 

[Inconservatory]

I'm thinking it's a buoyancy issue. He may be able to make a comeback if I can keep him well fed and not stressed... Good thing we're coming up on a weekend!

 

[leebca]

Sorry to hear of this. You don't tell much about your system nor how long you've had this fish. So some of what I have is gueeswork.

If the fish was fed properly and properly nourished it could last a couple of weeks without eating. However, its loss of energy must be stopped. From the description you've given, the fish is doing worse then just not eating, it has some other problem -- losing energy from one or more condition.

The greatest probability is that it is not acclimating to captive life. Such acclimation can take up to a year in captivity. There is also a chance of disease or infection or any number of problems not readily evident but just the symptoms you've pointed out. Temperature control is important and the fish will spend a lot of energy trying to adjust to an external temperature change. Not likely to kill a fish, but it does drain extra energy from the fish which may be used to mend itself. Same can be said of transfering the fish to another tank -- just more energy spent to adjust.

In short, there isn't a lot that can be done when the fish isn't swimming.