Long-Nosed Butterfly not eating

[bruckmeier]

I'm relatively new to the hobby. Started Oct 05. I have had this butterfly for about a month. For the past few days it has not been able to eat. Whenever it tries to grab a shrimp, it falls about an inch short, almost like its depth perception is off. I also think I see ich on its fins...little white dots. Could this be clouding an eye? I can't see anything wrong, but that doesn't necessarily mean anything. His color is also very dull. He shares a 55 gal with a yellow tang, 2 perc clowns and 12 snails. How long can he go with no food? And is there a way (or need) to force feed him?

 

[TippyToeX]

bruckmeier
[welcome]

Can you list your water quality please? Also, do you think you could put this butterfly into quarantine to help him out more of needed?

What have you been trying to feed him up to this point?

 

[bertoni]

I think you'll want to start setting up a hospital tank. Marine ich can't be treated in a display tank.

 

[bruckmeier]

Thanks for the replies.

Water quality is good. Ph 8.2, ammonia and nitrites 0, nitrates 20. I have been feeding mysis shrimp, thawed in sea water before feeding.

Even if I put the butterfly in a hospital tank, don't I still need to treat the main tank for the ich?

 

[bertoni]

You'll need to move all the fish to the hospital tank and leave the main tank fish-free for 8 weeks or so. Or just hope the ich goes away on its own.