Lionfish won't eat and is acting strangely

[davidsgateway]

Hi all,

I have a Volitans Lion Fish which I have now kept for over 2 years. He always eaten well, whether this be ghost shrimp or we have even got him onto frozen food. He is a large fish (11 inches in length).

However for the last week, he is not eating, has been swimming around in circles furiously at times and seems to have lost his control in the water. He is labouring or breathing heavily and so I am really concerned about him and wondering if he is now getting old or if something else is wrong?

Can anyone suggest anything as he is a treasured family pet?

Thanks, Dave

 

[waterfaller1]

Water parameters? Including Alk ,Ph,PO4 , etc. Any changes? Possible intestinal parasite introduced from fresh food? Are you feeding him FW feeders or?

 

[FMarini]

Doesn't sound good.
No hes not old. I had volitans live well over 5yr, probably 7-10 in the wild.
ALthou you mention hes had a great life and quality food, lions fish can have a myriad of issue due to food inadequacies.
Anyway, sounds to me like he might have some sort of infection the swimming in circles sounds like a swim bladder or an equilibrium problem. I wouldn't concern myself w/ the lack of eating yet, these fish can go on hunger strikes for weeks
frank

 

[davidsgateway]

Re:

Re:

Thanks for the replies so far, all water readings are as they should be and as they have been for the past year.

One thing I have noted tonight though, is that the salt concentration in the tank has gone up by a significant amount, this is obviously due to the hot weather and evaporation. Could this explain the lionfish's behaviour? however the other fish have had no effect.

I have been told by my LFS if there is some kind of internal parasite then I am unable to treat the fish, as anti-biotics are not available in the UK. Is this correct and is there anything I can do to 1) tell if the fish is infected categorically and/or 2) treat it?

Thanks, Dave

 

[stykthyn]

I dont think excess salt should be the cause, I have seen lions put up with water that could be sold as buoillon. if you can QT him see if you can find some maracyn 2. this stuff is great and should be available to you.

 

[Marco67]

Interesting coincidence,
I just moved a volitans into QT today for the same reason, I have had him for about 2 years also, and he is also about 11". Was eating great up until early this week then suddenly he's doing summersaults swimming in circles and could care about food, he is alert and responsive, he is also able to straighten up and fly right and does. His main diet is almost exclusively san fran bay brand frozen silversides, the only exception to this are some ruby reds and grass shrimp I give him every few months to keep him hunting. When he goes too long without live I find he gets lethargic and not as interested in food. Oh he did eat a lemon peel about a month ago.
Frank can you ? could you? expand on your post above? Is there a course worth trying?
Thanks
Marc

 

[Marco67]

Dave,
Hows your lion doing?
After a Methylene blue dip two days ago mine is much improved today. He is actually "flying straight" and is showing interest in food.