Dottyback not eating

djryan2000 · 04/06/2020, 06:32 PM

Two days ago my neon dottyback found a way into the box I drilled holes into to grow chateau. I walked in and found him pinned against the back of the powerhead. I immediately unplugged it and set him loose. He laid on the bottom for a few minutes and then started swimming. By the next hour he was swimming like normal and darting at my clownfish.

Now he’s swimming normal but doesn’t seem to be eating. Whenever I add food he darts at it very quickly and then doesn’t eat it. He just swims away. I’ve tried pellets, flakes, and frozen. The only visible injury was a tear to his upper fin in the back of his body.

Is there anything I can do to try to save him or am I just stuck watching his slow demise?

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AlSimmons · 04/06/2020, 07:07 PM

Waiting it out is really all you can do at this point. The fish is probably still all shook up from that whole powerhead ordeal. Just stick to your normal routine and hopefully the fish will start eating again.

Sk8r · 04/06/2020, 09:39 PM

Mouth may be injured. Not too much you can do, except maybe tempt with some small light food like frozen mysis.

djryan2000 · 04/12/2020, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlSimmons

Waiting it out is really all you can do at this point. The fish is probably still all shook up from that whole powerhead ordeal. Just stick to your normal routine and hopefully the fish will start eating again.

As of yesterday he’s eating again!! Lol good thing he had a fat stomach before this all happened

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djryan2000 · 04/12/2020, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sk8r

Mouth may be injured. Not too much you can do, except maybe tempt with some small light food like frozen mysis.

Thank you! I had tiny Mysis shrimp in my freezer from before I switched to a different food with more variety. He started taking a piece and as of yesterday he’s eating like normal again.

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Sk8r · 04/12/2020, 11:03 PM

Yay! sometimes you win one!

drs2140 · 04/23/2020, 08:50 PM

Glad he started eating. That’s always the best feeling when a new one starts eating

04/06/2020, 06:32 PM	#1
djryan2000 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2019 Posts: 441	Dottyback not eating Two days ago my neon dottyback found a way into the box I drilled holes into to grow chateau. I walked in and found him pinned against the back of the powerhead. I immediately unplugged it and set him loose. He laid on the bottom for a few minutes and then started swimming. By the next hour he was swimming like normal and darting at my clownfish. Now he’s swimming normal but doesn’t seem to be eating. Whenever I add food he darts at it very quickly and then doesn’t eat it. He just swims away. I’ve tried pellets, flakes, and frozen. The only visible injury was a tear to his upper fin in the back of his body. Is there anything I can do to try to save him or am I just stuck watching his slow demise? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

04/06/2020, 07:07 PM	#2
AlSimmons Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: California Posts: 2,482	Waiting it out is really all you can do at this point. The fish is probably still all shook up from that whole powerhead ordeal. Just stick to your normal routine and hopefully the fish will start eating again. Last edited by AlSimmons; 04/07/2020 at 09:30 AM.

04/06/2020, 09:39 PM	#3
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Mouth may be injured. Not too much you can do, except maybe tempt with some small light food like frozen mysis. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

04/12/2020, 11:03 PM	#6
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Yay! sometimes you win one! __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

04/23/2020, 08:50 PM	#7
drs2140 Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 51	Glad he started eating. That’s always the best feeling when a new one starts eating