BSJF in a 29? Pressing my luck.

[30x30]

So i added a second pump to up the flow for SPS corals, and that seems to be like a nail in the coffin for my BSJF. Since this adventure he's stopped eating almost completely, I'm getting one pellet per day. I was suspcious of what was going on with him after he was missing a peice of his pectoral fin, but that has since cleared. Other possible symptoms are: irritating sand (he seems to cough when he tried to eat), his feces have been variable (i've seen strings and solids that seems difficult to pass - but i'd expect this with mysis and formula 1/2), and he's loosing color on his head the brilliant yellow is getting pale...more white. I don't see body spots but i'm not getting great looks at him. Today I haven't gotten him to eat a pellet and offered him live sw prawns, no dice he actually seems upset that they are interested in his hole. We're about three weeks into this the only addition have been corals, none near his hole. Gotta do some work, but any ideas on enticing him. I did cut back to just the one pump to hopefully lessen the stress on him, the corals immediately suffered but he's more expensive.

[30x30]

After he got upset I cut back to just the one pump he was originally comfortable with.

[Dentoid]

Sorry to hear of this 30x30. These guys seem to be prone to intestinal parasites, we think, from the wild. Stringy feces seems to be an indicator. Was he treated with deworming before bringing him home? Was this the one that was at the LFS for several weeks? Mine have always had hardy appetites. Try fresh, thawed mysis soaked in garlic. Flow has not been an issue with mine.

[30x30]

Yeah I'm not going to invest in another if this one dies inside of a month. He's had a little of both types from what i've seen, though it's hard to tell what's going on with him cause he does stay inside his burrow quite a bit. I've seen him roam around the tank once. I'll shoot an email off to the bluezoo guys to make sure he was dewormed.

[Dentoid]

They tend to be reclusive at first, then once they become accustomed to the tank they get more outgoing.

[30x30]

It all coincided so I really haven't the foggiest what specifically was contributory. I really kicked up a cyclone, and he really didn't seem to have trouble grabbing food out of the water column or swimming, but I believe it contributed to his stress level.

When you say fresh thawed mysis you mean thawed frozen mysis right? I'll give this a shot but i have little hope. He seems to notice the food, and even be interested in striking it but just doesn't. For example with the live grass shrimp he came entirely out of his burrow to follow it but gave up on striking. When he does eat it looks like a struggle to keep it in his belly, coughing is the only way I can describe it.

[Dentoid]

Could the pieces of food be too large and he can't get them down. That scenario looks a lot like coughing.

Yes, fresh frozen or fresh thawed, they were fresh when they were frozen, so fresh thawed is frozen thawed. I don't know who is on third!

[30x30]

No the formula 1/2 pellets are pretty tiny, I think they are the small size - whatever petco stocks. I will get some fresh garlic and we will make some garlic shrimp tonight, I think I have about 2-3 more days before he's a goner.

[BarbMazz]

Sorry to hear of your troubles, 30 x 30.

I'm just a newb, so take this with a grain of salt, and I'm sure someone will correct me if this isn't a good idea.

If you think your fish may have parasites, could he be fed treated food to hopefully get rid of the parasites? I understand he's not eating well, but I wonder if it could be worth a try?

[Nervoustime]

I don't think that flow is the problem with him not eating. My Bluespot seems to love the current. As Scott mentioned, I would try mysis soaked in garlic. I lost three Bluespots before my new guy, whom has been with me for over four months now. I wish you all the luck!!!

[michael_cb_125]

I so sorry 30X30.
That sucks terribly. I dont think that the extra current caused the problem. Jose (my BSJF) LOVES current, he actually swims directly at the return all the time. It sound like a parisitic problem to me. Ill keep my fingers crossed.
~Michael

[30x30]

I got a partial reply back about this fella from blue zoo, where they would suspect that the gas exchange could have been effected which is possible. I think it's more systemic I'm seeing a some STN on a frag too, which would support their theory. One of their fish people is supposed to contact me later for advice. If the fish lives he gets a name, and fwiw I see 2 maybe three white spots on his head. Would ick be enough to stop him from eating?

[panmanmatt]

Sorry to hear of your troubles. I wish you the best with him.

Originally Posted by Dentoid

Sorry to hear of this 30x30. These guys seem to be prone to intestinal parasites, we think, from the wild. Stringy feces seems to be an indicator.

I just wanted to comment on this statement. Stringy feces is also a sign of undernourishment. If the fish isn't getting enough to eat, the body uses the small amount of food which results in little to no solid waste to produce. The stringy feces is the result.

[30x30]

The garlic mysis failed, it raised interest but still just smoke no fire. His spots are fading, the bumps are gone now maybe it was just sand. Maybe by some strange luck allicin from the garlic will magically cure him anyway.

[Craig Manoukian]

Good luck. Just from my observations, the 29 may make yours feel cramped and add to the stress. Make sure the mysis is high in protein, some are realy low and thus not very nutritiuos.

Good luck, I hope yours pulls through.