Pinched Back on Bluethroat - pics

[preef]

I bought this Bluethroat triggerfish about two months ago. It eats like a pig and appears to be very happy in his new home. It took about a week to come out of hiding but is now always front and center.

I'm concerned because his back seems to be pinched in. Any ideas what is causing this? Is this a normal triggerfish thing (thinking not)? He eats mysis, brine, rods, nori and the occasional grocery store shrimp (uncooked of course). Any ideas?

When I first got him he looked like this. No noticeable pinching.

 

[IFbettas]

That is malnutrition.

 

[Wolverine]

That is malnutrition.

I agree. He's starving.
The fact that he's eating well, and a varied diet, means he's got a parasitic infection, or he's had cyanide poisoning.

 

[RealReef7]

Try some NLS pellets THERA-A.

 

[StripestheEel]

As much as brine and mysid shrimps are great for getting fish starting to eat I would seriously consider making your own DIY foods.

Nothing beats raw foods like squids, prawns (shrimp), mussells, scallops etc. They contain natural fats and are much higher in nutrients. Throw them all in a blender and your trigger will love it. You should also see a great increase in body mass after a few weeks.

 

[preef]

Thanks for the replies all. I was afraid it was malnutrition. I'll add some chunkier food with more oils for him.

 

[Recty]

Yep, that's a hungry fish. His fat reserves are almost all burned up. That's probably why he is front and center all the time now, he is trying to get all the food he can.

 

[Kahuna Tuna]

That may very well be an internal parasite. I would give some medicated food a try. I had a doliatus rabbitfish that looked even worse than your trigger and no matter how much he ate he continued to lose weight and nothing I tried seemed to help. I decided to try one last medicated food product and the result was nothing short of amazing. The food is an anti-parasite gel food put out by Blue Lagoon, I picked up some at Premium Aquatics and within a few days of feeding on it the fish was much more active and within a week it was putting on weight again. The difference was truly astonishing, that fish was days from death and just a few feedings really perked it up and now you can hardly tell it was ever sick. Definately worth a try. I feed my fish a "tune up" of the anti-paracite gel once a month or so. The active ingredient is metronidazole. HTH

StripestheEel is right on, I also feed a homemade seafood mash that is not only healthier but is a lot cheaper than store bought fish food. I will get some fresh fish, shrimp, scallops, clams, or other meaty seafood and blend it with some vitamins, zoe, or selcon and freeze it in a baggie to make a flat, just break off a piece and thaw in some water, your fish will love it.

 

[preef]

Thanks for the info on Blue Lagoon Kahuna. I just ordered some from Aquatichouse. Premium aquatics didn't carry it. I'll give it a try in addition to making some food tomorrow.

 

[StripestheEel]

The good thing with DIY foods is that you can put all your coral foods, garlic etc in it.

My DIY mix keeps this guy happy and healthy.

 

[CorkPullerPHL]

That's a beautiful fish. Hope he makes it.

Good Luck

 

[LargeAngels]

How many times per day do you feed him and how much does he eat (roughly?)

 

[mtbiker41]

pinched

pinched

my clown trigger did the same thing.first got thin at top then all at once got thin stomach ate all the time at first then just quit and he started losing his color so I put him in qt w/ prazipro for 3 weeks his color is back and he's eating and starting to fill out a little.If I were you I'd qt and prazipro "NOW" before its to late.

 

[jnc914]

Definitely malnutrition caused by internal parasites. I had a Goldflake Angel a few years back that looked exactly like the OP's picture. It is a must to treat with Prazi and/or Metro. Good luck.

 

[preef]

Can you give me more info on treating w/ Prazi and/or Metro. Where to buy, etc.. Is it added to the entire tank, is he treated in QT, or is it added to food. Thx.

 

[preef]

How many times per day do you feed him and how much does he eat (roughly?)

I was feeding once a day. I'm up to 2 or 3 times per day now. He'll eat about half a shrimp (grocery store) before turning his nose up at it. Also goes after mysis like crazy. It's hard to say how much of a cube he is getting. Over the last week I've been feeding until he stops eating. He's not going after nori tonight like he usually does. Not a good sign.

 

[AquaKnight]

Just me, (or the pic) or are the trigger's eyes a little cloudy?

 

[preef]

May be a little cloudy. StripeTheEels trigger's eyes also look the same way. Can't tell if it is normal or not. Any difference in treatment if they are cloudy?

 

[jmaneyapanda]

Just me, (or the pic) or are the trigger's eyes a little cloudy?

Xanthichtys triggers ofetn have an iridescent sheen over the eye.

 

[jnc914]

Can you give me more info on treating w/ Prazi and/or Metro. Where to buy, etc.. Is it added to the entire tank, is he treated in QT, or is it added to food. Thx.

Prazi-Pro is added directly to the water either in QT or in a FOWLR. I wouldn't chance using it in a Reef system. You should do back to back treatments with a water change between the first and second treatment. Metro comes in diffrent brands/forms, I have personally used http://www.seachem.com/Products/product_pages/Metronidazole.html
and it has worked on several fish. Not to be a downer though, but when my Goldflake looked like your Trigger, it eventually passed.