Juvenile angel won't gain any weight- very thin

[marty9876]

I have a juvenile Goldflake angel who is really thin I can't seem to get any weight on the fish. Feeding 8-12 times a day, fish is eating well just not building any body weight. Eats at each feeding, very small pieces but the little guy is under 2" so to be expected I guess.

Menu is Cyclopeez, Spirulina Brine Shrimp soaked with Selcon, Brine Shrimp, Nori flakes (Sprung stuff), nips at Rods and flake. Mysis pieces are too big for him yet. Not much interest in Angel Formula.

History- had the fish for 2x weeks from Divers Den. Wasn't thin when he came in. Was in a dedicated 58g, after a week I treated him with Prazi as a standard precaution. This caused him to quit eating and me to freak out. I carbon/water changes the meds out after 24 hours and he began eating. Total of not eating was ~ 48 hours.

I moved him over to a 75g tied into my main system with some live rock. Behavior is good, mostly normal perhaps hiding 10% more often than I'd like but out doing what angels do. He's been in QT and now the 75G by himself, not sure if he's getting board/lonely.

Thoughts? Guy is really thin. Stomach is bulging all the time and I've seen him make a bowel movement. Head seems swelled from being so thin.

 

[rachenbrazil]

You should try more nutritious food as mysis and clams...

 

[marty9876]

I've gotten some NLS pellets and ELOS pellets in him, generally they are too big for him. I've crushed them up and gotten some into him. Same with Mysis, I've chopped some up and he's not really interested in them.

LiveAquaria stated they were feeding him this: This specimen was fed Spirulina Brine Shrimp, Hikari Mysis Shrimp, Grazing Block, and Seaweed Strips.

 

[humaguy]

minced pe mysis...fresh clams on the shell...live black worms...hope one of these works..good luck..

 

[shaka]

I'd try clam on the half shell like humaguy suggested. The angel can leisurely graze on the clam throughout the day if you just leave the shell lying on the gravel or in the rocks.

I'd also contact LA and see what they were feeding him.

 

[shaka]

Sorry, I just read that you'd already contacted Live Aquaria so you can disregard my other bit of advice.

 

[marty9876]

Got a clam in there now, no interest in the clam or nori.

 

[humaguy]

leave it in there and let her go..she may be real shy and reluctant to eat if there is movement in front of the tank...watch from a distance...

 

[HumbleFish]

I know you said this is a DD specimen and you've already treated with one round of Prazi, but you really need to rule out intestinal worms. How comfortable are you doing a f/w dip?

 

[marty9876]

Comfortable with f/w dips but I'm not sure how they would help here. If internal issue f/w won't help is my understanding. Prazi was only in the water for ~ 24 hours, not nearly the recommended dosage/duration.

 

[jnc914]

IME Goldflakes, especially juvenile and smaller adults, will take sometime to fatten up even when "healthy". I have a 3" subadult that gets fed 3 times a day and is a voracious eater. It has yet to gain a substantial amount of weight. I did two rounds of Prazi and this fish ate like a pig throughout treatment and QT. Goldflakes are also notorious for getting a mysterious bulge to the middle of its body and then eventually wasting away. There are a couple of threads that have documented experiences much like your own.


Here's a good one:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1719291&highlight=goldflake+angel

 

[HumbleFish]

Comfortable with f/w dips but I'm not sure how they would help here. If internal issue f/w won't help is my understanding. Prazi was only in the water for ~ 24 hours, not nearly the recommended dosage/duration.

On second thought, you're probably right. I must have had Flukes on my mind. However, I believe Prazipro effectively treats intestinal roundworms/nematodes which could be affecting your fish. But like with Flukes, Prazi would only kill the worms and not the eggs they leave behind. So, you'd need to do at least two rounds to kill the parents and their offspring. A five or six day interval in-between treatments is usually sufficient to zap the offspring before they can lay eggs of their own.

 

[LargeAngels]

IME if fish stop eating when treated with Prazipro then they either have internal parasites or flukes.

 

[reidcrandall]

I had a tiny majestic angel (about the size of a nickel if that), that didn't look like it was putting on weight for a while. I fed many of the same things you were, plus clams in shell. He loved clams in shell (still does, just doesn't get them every day anymore).

Where did you get the fish? Parasites could be a concern as the above poster said. But as long as they're eating nutritious foods, I wouldn't worry about whether it looks like it's gaining weight when they're small juveniles.

I've not had a goldflake though. Experiences may be different per species and per fish and per period of growth. I know my regal and majestic are both different, and changed throughout their growth.

 

[jnc914]

IME if fish stop eating when treated with Prazipro then they either have internal parasites or flukes.

Same here. I rarely ever lose a fish in QT, but when I do, it is usually during or right after a round of prazi. Typically I will then do a freshwater bath, and more times than not, flukes drop off the fish.

 

[marty9876]

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1719291&highlight=goldflake+angel

Thanks for the link, doesn't seem too encouraging. My research indicated Goldflakes were on the easier side of angels to keep, starting to think my research was not complete.

Where did you get the fish?

Divers Den- Live Aquaria

IME if fish stop eating when treated with Prazipro then they either have internal parasites or flukes.

My thoughts are in alignment with this statement. I've had other fish not like Prazipro and stop eating for a day or two. Being this one is so small I freaked worrying his fatty reserves were so limited and pulled the meds out of the water. To contradict this thinking, the fish came in healthy and seemed to have an acceptable amount of body weight. I assume Divers Den tanks these fish for a few weeks, ensures are eating and of a healthy weight before sending them out. This leads me to think it's not internal issues. Blockage has crossed my mind also but I've seen him pass small amount of waste.

 

[Allmost]

well the foods you are offering dont have much nutrition, add Mysis [chopped] and pellets to its diet. get it to eat pellets, soak it in angellix, and just kepp trying. dont give up, also try omega one pellets and NLS.

if the fish stops eating after treatment, you might have left it in for too long or too potent and have hurt the fish's liver. hope that is not the case.

 

[marty9876]

Offered chopped mysis frequently and no interest. Pellets gotten some interest but nothing substantial in him. Clam on half shell or nori no interest in yet.

I know what he's eating is poor, thinking was keeping him eating was better than not eating poor quality foods as I work better foods into the mix. No luck eating anything today.

 

[Allmost]

Offered chopped mysis frequently and no interest. Pellets gotten some interest but nothing substantial in him. Clam on half shell or nori no interest in yet.

I know what he's eating is poor, thinking was keeping him eating was better than not eating poor quality foods as I work better foods into the mix. No luck eating anything today.

what do you mean some interest on pellets and nothing special ?

all you are looking for at this point is for the fish to look at the pellets as they drop in .... then keep doing it, feed and feed and feed ... and remove left overs hours after and water change

it will eventually eat a couple, like it, and before you know it it will chase it around the tank.

mix in saw brine, with pellets and chipped mysis, feed the solution ... again, keep doing it till he eats it and gets used to it.

JMO ... but has worked well for all my angels.

 

[LargeAngels]

Thin and stomach bulging would lead me to believe it is a stomach and/or parasite problem. I'd retreat with Prazipro. If he was thin and sunken stomach I would tend to believe it is a feeding issue.