My singapore angel won't eat anything

[namlessdude]

Hey! Sorry for reposting but I haven't had any replies on my last post and i am getting more worried.

I bought a singapore angel a week ago and i havent been able to feed it anything as it won't eat anything.

I tried frozen brine shrimp, flakes, pellets, Nori, and non entices her to even try eating them. She just swims around and picks on the rocks all day. She doesn't seem to be getting thinner and she swims well and acts normal. I am worried her diet is lacking and that this isn't sustainable.

I marked this as an emergency because I am worried this can lead to the fish's death if i wait longer.

Tank is an 80 gallon tank with GSP, Bubble tip anemone, and zoa. Temp at 79 F and tank mates are 1 hippo tang, 2 clowns, 1 bow tie damsel, a second different type of damsel, and Black and White Heniochus Longfin Bannerfish.

 

[Fish Fan]

@Jay Hemdal
@vetteguy53081

Guys, is "Fish Medic" a member here or a tag?

This will get at least a couple of the experts on it. Best of luck with your Angel, beautiful fish!

 

[littlefoxx]

Hey! Sorry for reposting but I haven't had any replies on my last post and i am getting more worried.

I bought a singapore angel a week ago and i havent been able to feed it anything as it won't eat anything.

I tried frozen brine shrimp, flakes, pellets, Nori, and non entices her to even try eating them. She just swims around and picks on the rocks all day. She doesn't seem to be getting thinner and she swims well and acts normal. I am worried her diet is lacking and that this isn't sustainable.

I marked this as an emergency because I am worried this can lead to the fish's death if i wait longer.

Tank is an 80 gallon tank with GSP, Bubble tip anemone, and zoa. Temp at 79 F and tank mates are 1 hippo tang, 2 clowns, 1 bow tie damsel, a second different type of damsel, and Black and White Heniochus Longfin Bannerfish.

So shes picking, thats good! Have you tried clams on the half shell? Ive found all my angels love them! Gets picky angels like regals to eat too! They cant resist the clam. I also soak them in garlic to initially get their attention with the smell in the water and they usually will start eating it!

 

[namlessdude]

So shes picking, thats good! Have you tried clams on the half shell? Ive found all my angels love them! Gets picky angels like regals to eat too! They cant resist the clam. I also soak them in garlic to initially get their attention with the smell in the water and they usually will start eating it!

i've never tried clams. what kind of clams are we talking? like store bought human food clams or is there a special kind for fish?

 

[littlefoxx]

i've never tried clams. what kind of clams are we talking? like store bought human food clams or is there a special kind for fish?

I buy them from my LFS, hikiri brand I believe. But Im pretty sure clams on a half shell from a store would work too! Im land locked and we dont get a whole bunch of clams here lol so I order them from saltwater aquarium usually!

 

[namlessdude]

I buy them from my LFS, hikiri brand I believe. But Im pretty sure clams on a half shell from a store would work too! Im land locked and we dont get a whole bunch of clams here lol so I order them from saltwater aquarium usuall

My LFS doesn't have any clams. Do you think this would work? https://www.walmart.ca/en/ip/Ferma-baby-clams/6000188743592?from=/search

 

[code4]

you can buy live fresh ones at some grocery stores. Even mussels. freeze first to kill any nasties. then thaw partially and open. leave it on the shell and drop in tank. not ontop of the angel. that tends to just scare them.

good luck. for future put delicate fish into fully cycled tanks until eating well. always has helped me.

 

[namlessdude]

you can buy live fresh ones at some grocery stores. Even mussels. freeze first to kill any nasties. then thaw partially and open. leave it on the shell and drop in tank. not ontop of the angel. that tends to just scare them.

good luck. for future put delicate fish into fully cycled tanks until eating well. always has helped me.

are those canned ones not okay? it is significantly more expensive to buy live ones.

 

[littlefoxx]

are those canned ones not okay? it is significantly more expensive to buy live ones.

I wouldnt feed them canned ones. I would look for a pack of frozen clams to be honest, there are so many preservatives in canned stuff cant think thats good for fish! Its not even good for humans lol

 

[namlessdude]

I wouldnt feed them canned ones. I would look for a pack of frozen clams to be honest, there are so many preservatives in canned stuff cant think thats good for fish! Its not even good for humans lol

I will spend more time looking tomorrow but so far mt major stores don't carry any! My only option is live clams so I will try that tomorrow and if she eats it then ill do more research for more affordable clams.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Theyre not big on clams nor are they with Nori. These fish eat sponge, and a good enticer is live blackworms. The bigger concern while it is picking on rocks is that it may be feeding off its liver especially if the method of capture is cyanide or similar. Other would be live brine and if there are other active feeders, they will often beat the fish to the punch for food. If eating, a good food is LRS fish frenzy, frozen tubifex and even plankton.
Is fish breathing normal or labored?

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Hey! Sorry for reposting but I haven't had any replies on my last post and i am getting more worried.

I bought a singapore angel a week ago and i havent been able to feed it anything as it won't eat anything.

I tried frozen brine shrimp, flakes, pellets, Nori, and non entices her to even try eating them. She just swims around and picks on the rocks all day. She doesn't seem to be getting thinner and she swims well and acts normal. I am worried her diet is lacking and that this isn't sustainable.

I marked this as an emergency because I am worried this can lead to the fish's death if i wait longer.

Tank is an 80 gallon tank with GSP, Bubble tip anemone, and zoa. Temp at 79 F and tank mates are 1 hippo tang, 2 clowns, 1 bow tie damsel, a second different type of damsel, and Black and White Heniochus Longfin Bannerfish.

I'm really sorry, but there most likely isn't anything you will be able to do for this fish. The fish is already very thin and probably hasn't been eating since it was in the ocean, before it was collected.

Back in the 1970's, these were considered "cut flowers" in that they never really survived more than a month or two. The reasons are that they eat sponges and other encrusting invertebrates, but also, because they were usually collected with cyanide, and that left them unable to feed. We called them "Grade B" fish - we wouldn't order them, but the shippers would substitute them in our orders anyway.

50 years later - there are a few short supply chain net caught fish coming in that do better, but I still see evidence that cyanide is still in use.

 

[namlessdude]

I'm really sorry, but there most likely isn't anything you will be able to do for this fish. The fish is already very thin and probably hasn't been eating since it was in the ocean, before it was collected.

Back in the 1970's, these were considered "cut flowers" in that they never really survived more than a month or two. The reasons are that they eat sponges and other encrusting invertebrates, but also, because they were usually collected with cyanide, and that left them unable to feed. We called them "Grade B" fish - we wouldn't order them, but the shippers would substitute them in our orders anyway.

50 years later - there are a few short supply chain net caught fish coming in that do better, but I still see evidence that cyanide is still in use.

So are you saying I should just give up now and let it die and not attempt anything?

 

[namlessdude]

Theyre not big on clams nor are they with Nori. These fish eat sponge, and a good enticer is live blackworms. The bigger concern while it is picking on rocks is that it may be feeding off its liver especially if the method of capture is cyanide or similar. Other would be live brine and if there are other active feeders, they will often beat the fish to the punch for food. If eating, a good food is LRS fish frenzy, frozen tubifex and even plankton.
Is fish breathing normal or labored?

Would things like triggers pods be a good solution?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Would things like triggers pods be a good solution?

Likely not but when you have a fish that shuts down from feeding - You have nothing to lose

 

[Dom]

but I still see evidence that cyanide is still in use.

@Jay Hemdal

What does evidence of cyanide collection look like?

 

[Jay Hemdal]

@Jay Hemdal

What does evidence of cyanide collection look like?

It starts with a suspicion, based on the species involved and the country of origin. Indonesia and the Philippines are common sources for this species and where they are frequently collected with cyanide.

Then - you look for symptoms; excessive shyness or boldness, not showing interest in food, or eating lightly, but losing weight….in the absence of any disease symptoms.

 

[namlessdude]

I'm really sorry, but there most likely isn't anything you will be able to do for this fish. The fish is already very thin and probably hasn't been eating since it was in the ocean, before it was collected.

Back in the 1970's, these were considered "cut flowers" in that they never really survived more than a month or two. The reasons are that they eat sponges and other encrusting invertebrates, but also, because they were usually collected with cyanide, and that left them unable to feed. We called them "Grade B" fish - we wouldn't order them, but the shippers would substitute them in our orders anyway.

50 years later - there are a few short supply chain net caught fish coming in that do better, but I still see evidence that cyanide is still in use.

Out of curiosity, what tells you when it is too late for a fish? Or that it is too thin to survive? I am trying to learn the signs to be as proactive in the future as possible.

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Out of curiosity, what tells you when it is too late for a fish? Or that it is too thin to survive? I am trying to learn the signs to be as proactive in the future as possible.

It isn’t a certainty of course, but I’ve seen dozens of these die this way: the thinness of this fish indicates it hasn’t eaten for many weeks, possibly a month. What happens when they get that thin is that they use their livers for food energy. Once that happens, even if they do by some chance,start to feed again, the liver is too degraded for the fish to survive.

The best thing to do is have the store feed the fish while you watch. If it doesn’t eat well for them, take a pass on it.
They likely already know it isn’t eating, so they might give you some song and dance about how they only feed their fish before they open, etc. Just find a better store that will show you a fish eating before you buy it. Kind of like test driving a used car!

 

[TomTheSeagull]

I had a similar issue with my angel. Finally found the San Francisco Bay frozen food for Angels. It has sponge in it and when I put it in the tank (after 2 weeks of not eating) my angel hit it straight away. Since getting him eating this, he now eats heartily at anything I put in the tank.

Frozen Angels & Butterfly Formula Fish Food (30 cubes, 3.5 oz) - San Francisco Bay Brand

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