Paraluteres prionurus mimic filefisch

[L_beni]

Hello!
I have a Paraluteres prionurus in my thank since a half year.
It ate all kind of food and lives in a 150g tank.
It is known that this file fish bites into corals for sleeping but since 3 days it is staying in this position without a break. after several hours it sometimes changes the stone but it is not swimming or eating. Does anybody know if this is a normal behave? There are no visible things like parasites but I am afraid that it will die from hunger.

Thanks very much for your help!


Greetings Beni

 

[treylane]

It's not normal at all. When the lights are on, the filefish should be cruising the tank and investigating the rocks. If your fish was well fed before his recent hunger strike, he'll survive at least a week without food - but the key point here is to figure out what's wrong with him and get him eating again.

Do you have other large fish that are bothering him?

 

[namxas]

1. Has anything changed in the tank (flow, photoperiod, decor, tankmates, equipment, etc.)?
2. How is the water quality/temp ("fine" or "OK" isn't a good response...please post values)?
3. Has the activity/traffic in the room around the tank increased?

 

[L_beni]

Hello


@treylane
yes ther are other large fishes, but tey do not bother him

@namxas
Nitrate: 25mg/L
Nitrite: 0mg/L
Amonia: not tested
PO4: not tested
temp: 24.5°C
pH: 8.2
Salinity 33 ppt

no activity increase around the tank!



Greetings Beni
Tank is runig since 2 Years, every week 10% water change. no new fishes.

 

[L_beni]

Hello

I separated the fish in a 35G Tank were he is alone. but his conditions still did not change!



Greetings Beni

 

[treylane]

Has he shown no interest at all in food? If he's at least watching the food, you could try adding a small, non-threatening fish to his tank that might stimulate him to compete for food.

I'm at a loss unfortunately. I've never seen even a stressed mimic filefish hide or go into "sleep" position during the day for more than a few minutes.

 

[L_beni]

He is not at all interested, He dos not move from his place!

He was swiming around for a few minuts after the tank change, but then he immetiately was looking for a sleepingplace.

Is it possible that he becoms blind, becaus he did not react on movments in front of the aquarium, normaly he was very shy!



Greetings Beni

 

[treylane]

Blindness would probably explain this, you can test for it by moving him from his perch and seeing whether he avoids obstacles.