so...regal update...he has starting going after prepared foods in the water column!! this is really a good sign. he's not exactly eating voraciously yet but he is eating from the water column so this is a big step i think. also, and i know i'm going to flamed for this, but against recomendations i put him in the DT. i do think this helped him start eating though, i thought that he would get freaked out being in a new environment but within hours(not days!) he started picking at food from the water column with the other fish at feeding time. i know this presents a problems if he starts to show signs of parasites or other illness but so far i havent noticed anything to indicate that yet(i did a freshwater dip after he was initially acclimated and saw nothing falling off, he also hasnt really shown any sort of odd or erratic movements). I do plan to start feeding a medicated food once he is eating aggressively so i HOPE that will take care of anything he may have internally if there is somthing present. keeping my fingers crossed.