Purple tang can't see/locate food!!! help

[cl2ysta1]

I have a bunch of fish in QT right now b/c of an outbreak of ich. The person that i got the tank off of said it was an ich free system and I believed him b/c he had the tank for 3 years. Back to the story. I decided to pull all of the fish out and treat for ich. I have a purple tang, rabbit fish, vlamingi tang, maroon clown, and dragon goby in a 40 gallon. No one had any problem eating while in main display. After a few days in QT i have noticed the purple tang looking back and forth at flake. Left side right side. and back and forth. Like he cant seem to locate it/see it. There are no marks on his eyes, or popeye or any damage I can see. If he happens to get it in his mouth he eats it. He seems very interested in the food but doesnt seem to be able to locate it. The water temp is at 79 all params are normal and they are all in hypo.


any suggestions/ideas?

 

[kevin2000]

Try changing the food source .. I think flake food is lousy and some fish just don't take to it.

Tangs and rabbit fish enjoy veggies .. might try and put some nori into the tank. Many will use live brine shrimp to help jump start fish into eating mode .. not all the nutritional but is good to stimulate feeding.

 

[tson]

I have purple tang too and I don't know why it is acting it can't see the food in front of him. I feed shrimp, pellet, and flake. he ate all but he has to move a lot until the food touch his mouth. Strange if anyone has this problem please share and let us know how to fix this. Thanks

 

[Spar]

That happened to a Trigger I used to have. Finally just came to the conclusion that he had gone blind, but looked completely normal. Try using a syringe to release some food right in front of face (to where he swims into it). I had to hand feed my trigger with a prong. When he felt the food touching him then he would eat it.

As said above, try some meatier options rather than flakes. Can even waive the Nori right in front of him.