Lion fish won't eat

[imsrizzuti]

I feel so bad because I have a lion that I've had for @ 6 months and he's grown really big but he hasn't eaten in 2 weeks and I think he's going to die. I've only fed him krill, about 3 or 4 every other day or so and from everything I've read looks like that's the reason he's not doing so well. I read that he may have an intestinal blockage because of only eating the krill.

It is so weird though because whenever the rest of the fish are fed, he acts all ravinous like he's going to jump out of the water to get some food and when you put anything in front of him he doesn't even open his mouth to try to eat it but keeps acting like he wants to eat whenever food is put into the tank.

We have a 150 reef tank and our water has been tested and the quality is excellent, he does not have any cloudy eyes and he has never had to compete for food in the tank, up until 2 weeks ago he would chomp down the krill no problem and I do have a lunar wrasse that is kind of a pain in the butt always trying to get the krill but it always backed down to the lion and never took it from him. He still swims all around the tank and never bothers any of the other fish and no other fish ever go near him. We even have a fuzzy dwarf and they even seem to stick together.

I really feel bad thinking he is just going to starve to death.
Can anyone tell me if how I can determine what's wrong with him and if there is anything I can do?

 

[reefnetworth]

what you read is true. he is probably constipated and its possible for poisons/toxins to leach back into their system.
(lion fish have a very slow digestive process, i have read and been told)
im not a fish Dr. so i cant tell you how to relieve him, but i would wait a day or so and try one small Silverside (thawed) and see if he is interested. just make sure its at room temp. when its fed.
sorry, i cant offer better advice. hopefully he will be OK in a day or so!

 

[welsher7]

I would try feeding something else. My lion got sick of eating krill and stopped eating. So i switched to silversildes, and he ate them like crazy. Mix up the diet.

 

[Jason1520]

Silversides are great, mine goes crazy. also go to your grocery store and try squid, that is one of their favorites! If he doesn't eat silversides or the Squid, you have trouble. Sorry to put it that way, but it could be a problem.

 

[imsrizzuti]

Thanks to all who responded, we'll try some silversides and see if he's interested. We're hoping for the best.

 

[jamison74]

please keep us posted, i had a lion that acted the exact same way a couple of months ago, would act like he wanted to eat, but never did, tried everything, varied diet, water was great just nothing helped. this sadly went on for a month until he passed away. i truly wish you the best.

 

[Jason1520]

A good friend had the same exact ptoblem. His lasted about a month and a half before passing. Dont know why this happens so often!? The only consistent thing is the regular feeding of Krill. I think Krill is good once in a while, but a variety, mostly including silversides and squid is the answer.

 

[LisaD]

Have you tried offering live food, like ghost shrimp?

 

[imsrizzuti]

We've tried live food, and he acts all interested but the fish go right in his face and nothing. I'm so confused as to why he keeps acting like he's so hungry but won't even open his mouth to eat. I do see him open his mouth a little bit though at night when he's perched on his rock. It's been over 2 weeks, I see other people say it went on for 1 to 1 1/2 months before they died, it just seems like that would mean he's suffering by starving to death... We are going to try some silversides today and if he doesn't eat that I give up... I feel selfish but I just can't bring myself to taking him out and putting him to death because I keep thinking he'll get better, what does everyone think??

 

[AquaKnight]

Could it be lock jaw?

 

[imsrizzuti]

Don't know much about lockjaw? Can anyone tell me about it and what you can do if anything?

 

[AquaKnight]

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/lionfdgfaqs.htm

I wouldn't worry too much. As it mentions in there, lions could go a month or 2 without eating. Remember aquaria fish are cold blooded and a lion would have far less a metabolism then say a lunare wrasse....

 

[JBrown]

not to bring you down but my lion did the same thing I had him for 3.5 years. He was eating great he was active and then all of the sudden one day he started refusing food and kept up that behavior for 2 months until he passed away. I hope you have better luck with yours

 

[imsrizzuti]

I'm just going to try to keep positive and hope for the best, if we do lose him I certainly won't make the same feeding mistakes I did this time and thanks to everyone for all their advice, I've read up on everything now and will be better prepared next time.

 

[agreeive?fish]

Mine did the same...stopped eatting for no apparent reason....LION started eating again after about 3 weeks ...i converted various colors and sizes of mollies to salt water..after a time the mollies stated to dis a peare especially the smaller ones ..then he started to eat "dead foods" again ...good luck

 

[jamison74]

dont give up, i wouldnt put him to sleep, just try all options, the mollie suggestion is a good one.