Sick Fuzzy dwarf

[mling]

I have a sick Fuzzy Dwarf Lion fish.  At least I think it is sick. It did have one eye partly cloudy about 2 weeks ago, treated that we Epsom salt, has been ok for the last week. Problem is that it usually begs for food when someone approaches the tank when it has not been fed for over 1 day.  We try our best not to feed it more than once in 2 days as I read that is it not good to keep feeding them daily.  Now it is just hanging at the bottom of the tank and clearly not as active.  It normally only behaves this way when it has just been fed.

 

 

It looks ok, i.e. fins extended, eyes no longer cloudy.

Any idea what might be causing this behavior ?  Advise appreciated.

 

We have had it for almost 2 years.

[Sharkey18]

I think any major change in behavior is not a good sign. 

 

If it doesn't perk up by tonight or tomorrow you should consider removing it and treating it in a hospital tank. 

[mling]

I think any major change in behavior is not a good sign. 

 

If it doesn't perk up by tonight or tomorrow you should consider removing it and treating it in a hospital tank. 

 

Treat it for what ?

[reeferindc]

What are you feeding it? Is it getting enough to eat when you do feed it?

[YHSublime]

What are you feeding? What does your water chemistry look like? Salinity, temp, nitrates? What else is in the tank?

[mling]

There is a yellow tang in this 55G and it is behaving normally.  Other critters are large snails, BTAs and urchins, all ok.

Being a fish only tank with no corals, I don't pay attention to water parameters as closely,  I should check them tonight.

 

This Lion gets enough to eat, it knows to stop when it is full -> usually 1 or 2 small pieces ( small enough for it to inhale it whole) of chopped up shrimp would do that.  It also gets frozen krill and mysis.   Fed no more than once in 2 days.

[Sharkey18]

How is it doing? 

 

If it were me I would try treating with some of the broad spectrum medications. It could have an intestinal parasite. Could have a bacterial infection. Since you don't know what it has, you'll have to guess and see if something works. 

 

Are lion fish prone to any particular illnesses? I'd start there. 

 

Does anyone have a link to that diagnosis and treatment flow chart that was passed around a few years ago? 

[Sharkey18]

I think I might also start feeding it daily. 

[reeferindc]

I think I might also start feeding it daily. 

Yeah I would try this and maybe lower the amount you're feeding since you would be changing the feeding pattern to everyday versus every other day.IMO

[mling]

Thanks for all the responses.

It is still alive but clearly not doing well. It just stays at the bottom and has no interest in feeding.  When healthy, will be begging for food when not fed for 1 day. This morning it was leaning against a rock I would be surprised if it makes it.

 

When you research feeding of lion fishes, there is the line of thought that suggest that if you feed it too much it will just stop feeding one day.  Almost sounds just like what is happening to mine.  The premise for this is that Lion are predators in the wild that only hunt once a week for food. Some suggest for this reason they should not be fed more than once a week. Constant feeding makes it lose this instinct and ....   don't know if I buy it .

[Sharkey18]

So sorry to hear that! It definitely doesn't sound good. I don't buy that it has anything to do with you feeding schedule.

 

 

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