CBB eating but getting thin.

[Giovanni]

The problem I have is my CBB is getting skinny even though he eats (mysis) like a pig. I even have a small HOB filter with no media that I put a chunk of frozen mysis in and have a timer turn it on, middle of the day so it feeds him when I am not home. He is in a bare bottom 40G QT with a cleaner wrasse and orange spot blenny.

Again he is eating mysis like a pig but loosing weight. Any ideas?

 

[goreef170]

Have you tried any other foods ?

 

[Giovanni]

PE enriched brine, but he does not like it.

 

[Giovanni]

Also he was very fond of a maxima I had in QT with him. Had to protect the clam to keep the CBB off of it. LOL For this reason I am skeptical the CBB will ever go in my DT.

 

[goreef170]

Hmmmm sounds like he won't be reef safe especially with clams.
I wouldn't put him in the D.T at least until you can find some other foods he will eat...

 

[Giovanni]

I prize my clams way more than the CBB. I do have a very good fish trap so he would not be hard to catch, however until he is fat, he will not leave the QT. I always thought mysis provided a good diet for most all carnivores to fatten up on.

Any idea why the CBB is loosing weight on mysis?

 

[Eldredge]

In my limited experience, a growing CBB needs to be fed 3 times a day, and a mature one needs to be fed twice a day to gain weight. They seem to have a very fast metabolism.

 

[goreef170]

I prize my clams way more than the CBB. I do have a very good fish trap so he would not be hard to catch, however until he is fat, he will not leave the QT. I always thought mysis provided a good diet for most all carnivores to fatten up on.

Any idea why the CBB is loosing weight on mysis?

If he already showed interest in the clam in you qt. There is no way I would try and add him to your dt. sorry....

 

[Giovanni]

I am feeding 4 times a day. Just tried him on shredded raw shrimp and he eats it very well also.

 

[ca1ore]

I have had a few fish over the years that ate enthusiastically yet lost weight. Sorry to say that they all ultimately perished (most recently a male Bipartitus wrasse). I never did any kind of 'autopsy' but in all cases I suspected internal parasites and or worms. Consequently since the fish is in QT, you might try soaking the mysis in metro.

 

[Giovanni]

I have had a few fish over the years that ate enthusiastically yet lost weight. Sorry to say that they all ultimately perished (most recently a male Bipartitus wrasse). I never did any kind of 'autopsy' but in all cases I suspected internal parasites and or worms. Consequently since the fish is in QT, you might try soaking the mysis in metro.

Thanks for the tip. I will try it. Even though I may never place in DT. I want to see this fish thrive in someone else's tank eventually.

 

[thenewguy997]

If you ever visit PA ill take the cbb off your hands!

 

[SwampyBill]

Try soaking food in Selcon or Vita-Chem.

 

[ChrisKirkland]

Try soaking food in Selcon or Vita-Chem.

+1 here. I do this every feeding. Mine is eating scallops, PE Mysis, clams, and raw shrimp.

 

[Dr Colliebreath]

Fish that eat but waste away frequently have worms/flukes/parasites or were captured using cyanide. I suggest you treat the QT with 2 rounds of PraziPro and see if the fish starts putting on weight.

If the CBB is eating mysis 4x per day (eating a bunch, and not just picking at it and spitting some out), it should be doing ok. Keep adding the chopped shrimp and scallop.

If it was caught using cyanide, nothing is going to help and the fish will die within 90 days (typically sooner).

 

[thenewguy997]

I wouldnt prazi it my fish dont eat when prazi is in the tank

 

[suta4242]

Also he was very fond of a maxima I had in QT with him.....

When he was eating the clam was he putting on weight?

Although there have been some good points raised about treating with praziquantel, I would try to fatten him up first. Most of their diet in the wild is worms eg feather dusters. Have you tried live blackworms?

I realise they can be addictive but I'd worry about that later, and I think frozen mysis will take quite some time to fatten him up unless you feed several times a day.

HTH and good luck!

 

[Giovanni]

Fish that eat but waste away frequently have worms/flukes/parasites or were captured using cyanide. I suggest you treat the QT with 2 rounds of PraziPro and see if the fish starts putting on weight.

If the CBB is eating mysis 4x per day (eating a bunch, and not just picking at it and spitting some out), it should be doing ok. Keep adding the chopped shrimp and scallop.

If it was caught using cyanide, nothing is going to help and the fish will die within 90 days (typically sooner).

It is a DD fish advertised as being net caught Philippines fish.

It is eating like a horse and comes to the surface when he sees me coming. It is the most interactive CBB I have ever seen. Great personality! I have had this fish since 6/27/14, so he has been with me around 45 days.

When he was eating the clam was he putting on weight?

I never let him have too much of the maxima.
I have started mixing mysis or chopped raw shrimp with Metro+ at every feeding. He continues to eat well but stops eating a little sooner. Lets say he stops in 7 minutes instead of 10.

I will start treating the QT with Prazipro in 7-10 days when the Metro+ is done, if he is not putting on wt by then.

 

[lagatbezan]

Fish that eat but waste away frequently have worms/flukes/parasites or were captured using cyanide. I suggest you treat the QT with 2 rounds of PraziPro and see if the fish starts putting on weight. .

Agree with the prazi. I treat all my fish with at least two rounds of it.
You could also maybe do a fresh water dip and see if any flukes drop off. Is there any white stringy poop or shaking of the head?
I see you mentioned using metro. I would feed metro only once a day since it could be really harsh on the fish.

 

[Nanighan]

How is the CBB doing. Try blackworms to make him fat.