Flame Angel not able to eat

[BTTRFLYGRL]

Hi Lee!
I have had my Flame for over a year and a half now. About two weeks ago I noticed he wasn't eating. He would go after the food but would then swim away. He sometimes tries to pick at a piece of food, but seems to miss. He also does a strange thing with his mouth, looks like he is stretching it out then he shakes his head. I also noticed that when the lights are off his lips and face sometimes seem to be very pale, almost white..
I left him in the display for awhile ,(240 gallons) he was still pretty active . But he is not the fiesty Flame he was, he runs from the other fish instead of chasing them. I was also hoping that whatever was wrong, would improve on its own. Well this past weekend I pulled him out and placed him in a qt tank. All I can come up with is that this is some kind of injury? I started him on Furan-2 in case the injury(if thats what this is) caused a bacterial infection. He is on day 2 and I don't see much difference. Any ideas on what this could be and how I could treat it?
Thanks so much!

 

[leebca]

Nothing particularly comes to mind. I know you are very good with nutrition, otherwise that would be my first suspect. A properly nourished and little-stressed fish can handle minor injuries and fend off most common bacterial infections. However, even if the fish is well nourished, there can still be a hidden parasite (internal) draining its resources/nutrients. Was the fish ever de-wormed?

Fish have been known to get bored with their food, too. Rare, especially at only 1.5 years in your system, but if you tend to keep feeding the same foods, it is possible. However, this would not account for the shift in behavior. Has this fish been eating macro or micro algae?

How is the 'shape' of the fish? Is is properly smoothly shaped compared to thin and/or bumpy in either or both the dorsal or ventral areas? How long is the fish (tip of nose to caudal peduncle)? Do you have any additional history of the fish? (Where did it come from (waters, vendor (LFS, online), etc.), previous problems, previous treatments, etc.)?

A shift in behavior is indicative of a new/recent stressor having come along. You might review everything that has been done to the system (maintenance, cleaning, new additions, replacing equipment, new equipment, etc.) just prior to or early on when the behavior was noticed, and determine if it may have had any effect on the fish. Has there been a change in your parameters -- for instance, has there been a decision to keep the temperature steady at another temperature than before? pH? etc.

If its behavior improves any while in the quarantine, you may also want to check out stray voltage or peculiarities that may have crept into the marine system.

Unfortunately, the last possibility is that the fish will not continue on with its captivity. Some advanced aquarists believe that a fish dying even after 2 years in captivity is a sign it has not acclimated to captive life. I'm unsure about this one, myself.

What to do. . .I would suggest you make daily large (50%) water changes with well aged water according to the best possible controls. I would do this for 4 days in a row, if you can. Also, try feeding some totally different heretofore unseen/untried food once a day, then two more 'usual meals.'

 

[BTTRFLYGRL]

Thanks Lee.
He tries to pick at the algae strips in the tank, but again seems to miss. Very strange.
He is an Hawaiian Flame, got him at the place I work He seems to be thinner than before but is by no means skinny (yet) As far as foods, I have so many different kinds I mix up.. and I often add new foods to the mix.
I moved a hitchhiking Longspine Urchin from my Reef to my 240 a couple of weeks before this happened. I don't suppose he may have taken a nip at it?
I have been changing 50% of the water daily and will continue to do so. I have been adding vitamins to the water since he can't eat. I will try some new foods, see if that works and I'll keep you posted!
Thanks!

 

[Herefishyfishy]

Dwarf angels when picky, often dive for frozen cyclopseze

 

[BTTRFLYGRL]

Thanks! I'll pick some up tomorrow. I haven't fed them that in awhile

 

[leebca]

That urchin is venomous. To humans it would be like a bee sting. To fish it would be a different matter. They are quite able (and usually do) point their spikes toward any fish that tries to mess with them.

Your fish may have had a 'run in' with it. The separation should allow the fish to recover if this is the case.