Lemonpeel wasting away...

[b0bab0ey]

First, a little background. I got a Lemonpeel Angel in from LA, and QT'd it for about 8 weeks. It was prophylactically treated for a month with Chloroquine Phosphate and then two rounds of PraziPro. In my 30+ yrs of s/w fishkeeping, I don't think I've ever seen a better looking Lemonpeel. It was always very active in QT and a voracious eater. After 8 weeks in QT, my only hesitation in transferring it over to my DT was whether or not it would eat my corals.

Exactly one week ago today, I put it in the DT. It had a rough few days at first, being bullied by a CB Angel. It also stopped eating. I attributed that to the stress from fighting with the CB. All of the aggression has stopped now, but a week later, the Lemonpeel still refuses to eat. And I've tried everything. He does hide a lot, mostly staying behind the rock work. When he does come out he'll sometimes swim right up to me, and I've been able to look him over carefully... still looks flawless. No ripped fins, no cuts/bruises, no heavy breathing, no scratching.

Any thoughts? Suggestions? All of the other fish are acting/eating fine.

 

[MrTuskfish]

I hope you don't lose this guy; a healthy Lemonpeel is stunning. Maybe try the peace & quiet of the QT again? I'm sure you've thought of that, so I'm just guessing. If you can corner Kevin at LA, he may have an idea. He usually responds to phone calls or email if he's around. Losing a fish, once in a while, is normal; but knowing you did everything right and not seeing anything wrong, is really frustrating. I seldom suggest a string of new foods as any cure; but I Have an African Flameback that acted like this for about 10 days (I'm guessing, my journal isn't on this computer.) and he gave in to Cyclops-Eeze; I'm convinced this stuff has something in its scent that is irresistible, its always my "last food" of choice.

 

[MrTuskfish]

DP, sorry. .

 

[b0bab0ey]

I hope you don't lose this guy; a healthy Lemonpeel is stunning. Maybe try the peace & quiet of the QT again? I'm sure you've thought of that, so I'm just guessing. If you can corner Kevin at LA, he may have an idea. He usually responds to phone calls or email if he's around. Losing a fish, once in a while, is normal; but knowing you did everything right and not seeing anything wrong, is really frustrating. I seldom suggest a string of new foods as any cure; but I Have an African Flameback that acted like this for about 10 days (I'm guessing, my journal isn't on this computer.) and he gave in to Cyclops-Eeze; I'm convinced this stuff has something in its scent that is irresistible, its always my "last food" of choice.

Yeah, I knew I was screwed when he refused the Cyclops. He was actually swimming around in the front today, so I got up and walked over to the tank to feed them. Unfortunately, when my PBT sees me approaching she goes into a feeding frenzy. She plowed right over the Lemonpeel, knocking him into a huge Frogspawn. He's still swimming around; still looks OK.

Many years ago, when I did aquarium maintenance, we actually got in what was described as a "Red Sea Flameback" from Quality. Looked exactly the same except it was red & black, instead of orange & purple. It never ate and died after a couple of weeks. I haven't seen another one since and was told they don't even exist. :facepalm:

 

[b0bab0ey]

Hope he survives and starts eating. Next time, I would suggest time out for the CB while the LP gets use to the tank and find some confidence before releasing the CB back into DT.

Believe me, if it were that easy then I'd probably put the LP back in QT and the CB would get traded in.

The LP has been much more active lately, swimming around and staying out in front. I turn off all the pumps now when I feed them and he'll just look at the food while everyone else is eating. I've been seeing him pick more at the rocks and the acrylic. So hopefully he's eating pods or algae or something.

The entire time he was in QT he ate mysis, brine, clams, mussels, even flake. Never would touch nori though.

I have more fish in another QT almost ready for the DT. But everything is on hold until I see what happens with the LP. I swear, if it wasn't for bad luck I wouldn't have any luck at all!

 

[laurie64]

He may just be scared of the bigger fish. Did you try nori? Is he actually getting thin or does he look good. If he isn't getting thinner I would not worry. When I first got my potters, i never saw them eat anything, but they never got thin either.

 

[b0bab0ey]

He may just be scared of the bigger fish. Did you try nori? Is he actually getting thin or does he look good. If he isn't getting thinner I would not worry. When I first got my potters, i never saw them eat anything, but they never got thin either.

Nobody is really messing with him anymore, and he doesn't look thin at all. He stays mostly out in the front now. He's been picking at the rocks and looking really long & hard at some of my corals, but I've yet to see him pick at one. I figure I've done all I can for him, so whatever happens now happens. The worst part about this whole thing is having to prolong QT for all my new fish, just because I'm that paranoid. I don't think this is contagious disease related because his QT tank mate (a Royal Gramma) is still eating fine. But I've had more improbable bad luck scenarios happen to me in the past.

P.S. He hasn't touched nori either.

 

[laurie64]

Sometimes it just takes a fish time to settle in the DT. In a qt tank they have no real threat. They usually settle pretty quick, but put them in a tank with bigger fish and they get restless. Good luck and let us know what happens.

 

[b0bab0ey]

Well, he started picking at nori yesterday and now he's eating everything (except my corals thank God). He also seems to be a lot more at ease with his surroundings and tank mates. So weird. I've never seen a fish stop eating for 2 weeks just because he was a little stressed out. I think I'll name this guy "Wuss".