How do you get a blind fish to eat?

[cr8signs]

My zebra damsel was poisened by high nitrates, he became blind and has not
eaten since first week of oct. 2006. I have tried everything, even hanging shrimp on fishing line in front of him. When I put flake food in the tank he goes
a little wild with his mouth, as if he is tasting it, but he never tries to eat it
or even peck at the ground. He is still alive and it is now Jan. 22, 2007. Sounds impossible, but I watch him all the time, and he has never shown any
signs of having the desire to eat, anything. I have had him for 5 years
now, he used to be the party of the tank, now he is in a 10 gallon by himself,
for fear of the other fish will pick on him, and of course, eat all the food.

 

[Herefishyfishy]

A once sighted fish that becomes blinded is a lost cause. They might survive in a rich refugium, but only time and it's belly will tell. Sorry for the loss.

 

[steve-s]

You can wedge a gel bound food into some sort of clip so it's stationary but other than that there's not too much you can do. Reducing the salinity some (20-21.5 ppt) and adding some vitamin B12 will help. The fish must be eating something though, the damsel could not possibly last 3-4 months without regular sustenance.

Your only other option would be euthanasia.

 

[cr8signs]

I am not ready to give up on him/her, is there any type of food that is large enough to put on a fishing line(maybe soaked in something) that ALL fish find
absolutely irresistible? Or is there a food that is highly concentrated, like maybe some kind of food you would feed to corals that can be shot through a
syringe in front of him? Any suggestions on this order?

 

[steve-s]

That would actually add to the problem, not help solve it. You do not want strong scent items used nor enticement items like garlic or fish/crustacean juices. This would only serve to confuse the fish further and make it harder for it to "zone in" on the food type. Keeping the source stationary and implementing the other options I mentioned would go farther in being successful.

If you took two feeders like/similar to this and gently pressed the food in between that would work nicely.

Use the suction cup to place it at the same height the fish generally swims at. This will improve the chances it will find it.