clown fish not eating

[jaded]

well... thats not exactly true. I got 2 true percs 6 days ago from fin-addics. One is about 1", the other is quite a bit larger. The small clown is a healthy eater while the large clown will "taste" everything but spit most right back out. I feed a random assortment of foods like pellet formula 1, frozen formula 1, frozen formula 2, flake, frozen brine, frozen mysis...

The larger clown has eaten a small amount of the flake, frozen F1 & F2 which I feed to my sun coral and even a few pellets so I dont think there is any need to panic, but I was wondering if this is normal for clowns? I've always had them begin eating immediately even if they do take weeks to find the anemone :)

[jaded]

Just an update

Yesterday was the fisrt time I saw her really eat... its been about 2 weeks now and she's pretty skinny, but its a good sign that she's eating mysis now.

Her lower lip has had a white bump since picking her up. I thought it would have dried up and droped off by now, but it hasn't. It is looking better, after nearly going away and then coming back even bigger than it first was.

[Thunderkat]

Put a little medina in your glass and the clownfish will eat real quick. :lol

Seriously though, a little vitamin B6 had my cleaner wrasse eating flake food. Maybe it can help your little clown fish get hungry and eat.


Vitamin B6 - pyrixodine, is one of the essential water-soluble vitamin that helps in the formation of red blood cells, maintain normal nerve function, and convert energy required by the body. It also supply nutrients to the brain and control your mood, behavior and appetite.

Also I have read that wild caught clownfish can sometimes come with inestinal parasites. A belly full of parasites can make the fish think it is full and not want to eat.

[CD]

Yesterday was the fisrt time I saw her really eat... its been about 2 weeks now and she's pretty skinny, but its a good sign that she's eating mysis now.


I never saw the original post inre your clown, Jade - but I'm glad it's eating now! The Trues from FA are generally on the younger/smaller side, and a little more difficult to get them eating, however it sounds as if you've accomplished the hardest part. I would try putting some frozen cyclopeeze in the mix also - IME clowns of all sizes enjoy these tidbits, even though the particles are small. Also, what brand of mysis are you using? I like the P.E. mysis for our larger/more mature fish, and the Hikari frozen mysis cubes are excellent for smaller/young fishies as the shrimp are not quite as large, and easier for them to get into their tiny mouths. I also think the Garlic Xtreme helps increase appetite.

As far as the white bump...it's really hard to say without seeing a picture of it, but it could have been an injury from shipping. Maybe try some antibiotics? Is there any way you could post a pic? Is it bigger or smaller now than it was when you picked her up?

W. :)

[jaded]

Thanks for the comments Wendy
Was that a 'funky cold madins" reset TK??? WOW... goin' ole skool on me!!! LOL



The Trues from FA are generally on the younger/smaller side

I got 1 med and 1 small so they would pair up easier. The small is about an inch and I would consider very young and small... The larger is at least double that size. Remarkably its the bigger that has been fineky



what brand of mysis are you using?

I use the P.E. mysis... the individual shrimp are pretty large, but that little guy eats until I think he's going to bust. He's the quickest little clown I've ever seen warble through the water



I would try putting some frozen cyclopeeze in the mix

I have looked for this at a couple of LFS but havent found it. I need to get some



As far as the white bump...it's really hard to say without seeing a picture of it, but it could have been an injury from shipping. Maybe try some antibiotics? Is there any way you could post a pic? Is it bigger or smaller now than it was when you picked her up?

I'm going to let it run its course... It almost disappeared when she started to eat about a week ago, then she stopped eating again and it seemes to slowly increase in size again. Now she's eating again I'm going to see what happens. I've taken several pics, but I've been so busy lately its been tough to get any time on the computer for anything but work... I'll try to get something posted tonight :)

[CD]

Remarkably its the bigger that has been fineky


That is odd...usually it's the other way around. :roll
I think it's just the stress these little creatures go through during the shipping process that gets them off their chow for awhile. If you think about it...happy and safe in the breeder tank, get ripped out of that happy place to get stuck in a small bag, THEN get stuck in a dark/jostling box for shipment, then acclimation to the LFSs tanks - getting stuck in there with things they've never seen before, having these huge creatures (us) staring at them through the glass, THEN back into a baggie - go home with the new owner, acclimation to yet another tank, new tankmates, etc... Personally, I think it's amazing they survive all this in the first place. Sounds like you are doing a great job making your new babies happy though. ;)



I use the P.E. mysis... the individual shrimp are pretty large, but that little guy eats until I think he's going to bust. He's the quickest little clown I've ever seen warble through the water


LOL...WOW - the little one can stuff the P.E. mysis down? Impressive! Yep - I've often wondered if a fish could actually eat until it pops. We've got this Palani Tang that eats until her belly looks like she's hiding a golf ball or something. Anything that goes in the tank is fair game, and she is particularly fond of nori.



I have looked for this at a couple of LFS but havent found it. I need to get some


It is much harder to find the frozen "bricks", but in my opinion, it is much healthier that way...I've seen the freeze dried and the wafers (dried flake actually), and I wasn't all that impressed. The frozen smells better, looks better, and is also wonderful for feeding some of your corals (LPSs, some zoas, etc.). The cyclopeeze in the squirt bottle is expensive...I just don't see the money value here...the frozen brick is the best option (in both taste and price). One brick (at aprox. $10. each) will last for about 6+ months, and I put it in with all the daily feedings AND use it for the spot feedings. Here in Austin, there are two places that I've found that carry it - AquaDome and Austin Aquariums. The Dome *always* has in stock (S.Austin), and AA has it on occasion. You could always ask your favorite LFS to order some for you.



I'll try to get something posted tonight


I'll keep an eye out for it

W. :)

[jaded]

this is the best pic I could get... it doesnt show the white color because I had to use the flash, but you can see the size of the "bump"

[schoeplein]

*GASP* Where's the acne medication!?

[jaded]

I tried "zit-away" and "blackhead-b-gone" but they didn't work :D

[CD]

Jade - how is your clownfish doing? Has the bump gone away? :unsure

W.

[Thunderkat]

I had a clown that started with a little lump like that and it spread. It died of brooklynosis :(

[jaded]

The bump is still there... no change. She's eating frozen mysis only and she does that very lazily. If it’s not directly in front of her she wont turn to get it. She seems to have no taste for anything else.

other that being finicky, lazy and having a huge zit she seems to be in good health.

I'm not as worried as I was since she is eating something, but I'm still watching closely.

On the brighter side, my purple fire fish is begining to spend much more time out in the light!!! I love that fish and I'm so glad that it made it!!!

[CD]

Certainly glad to hear your firefish is getting more sociable!

As far as the clown though...is she getting more lethargic, or is her "lazy" behavior about the same as when you brought her home? I'm wondering if maybe she got stung or bitten by something, or has an infection of some sort... :unsure

You may want to try something like an antibiotic...? I'm just worried that since it (the bump) hasn't diminished or gone away yet, that it may get worse unless treated. There are also supposed to be medications to help with a fish's natural "coating" like Amquel or Stresscoat, but I've never used either one - you may want to talk to Richard and see what he thinks would be a good product for you to use. I guess you could try lowering the SG of the water too - that is most often helpful with infectious diseases. Keep us posted?

W.