Sick lion fish

Dustin1231 · 05/14/2012, 03:20 PM

I have had a dwarf lion fish in my 120 tank for about 8 months now. I have been feeding him the freeze dried krill by hand. In the last week or so he stopped eating. When i put the food in the water he races towards it, but then stops short, or will barley take a bite. It almost looks like it hurts him to open his mouth.
Today i noticed that he seamed like he had trouble breathing. I was wondering if anyone had any ideas on what to do..

Thanks
Dustin

randomfishguy85 · 05/14/2012, 04:29 PM

freeze dried krill causes lock jaw if fed exclusively. look up lock jaw and see if you find a cure

jarrod13 · 05/14/2012, 04:33 PM

^ +1. Freeze dried krill is the devil! Try some fresh shrimp or fish. If that doesn't work get some live guppies or ghost shrimp just to get him eating

namxas · 05/14/2012, 04:38 PM

Besides lockjaw, a diet high in krill, esp. FD krill is very poor, nutritionally speaking, and can lead to anorexia (cessation of feeding). Your fish may also be "hooked" on FD krill and may refuse all other foods.

As mentioned, try some live ghosties or guppies to see if you can get the fish eating. I'd also try dosing the tank with some vitamin C and B12, both of which stimulate the appetite.

namxas · 05/14/2012, 04:38 PM

double post...

Dustin1231 · 05/14/2012, 04:49 PM

thank you guys!!! on my way to the pet store now.

snorvich · 05/14/2012, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jarrod13

^ +1. Freeze dried krill is the devil! Try some fresh shrimp or fish. If that doesn't work get some live guppies or ghost shrimp just to get him eating

Yes, not a good food. I agree with the above.

Dustin1231 · 05/14/2012, 05:47 PM

I got some ghost shrimp and frozen shrimp. He didn't even go after the frozen stuff and i think the ghost are too big for him.... sad.

namxas · 05/15/2012, 11:12 PM

If you can't find small ghosties, use small guppies. Just gutload them with a good quality marine flake food. They'll be OK for a bit, but don't use them long term.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

GrendelPrime76 · 05/16/2012, 07:01 AM

hows your lion doing?

nirvanaandtool · 05/16/2012, 10:30 AM

If the ghosts are too big, gutload them and freeze them. Then stick feed him the head + gut portion and toss the tail.
This worked for feeding my small Wartskin angler.

Dustin1231 · 05/22/2012, 05:12 PM

I tried the cut loading, and he still wont go after any food....

nirvanaandtool · 05/23/2012, 10:51 AM

Not good. Try to find small guppies. Maybe that will be the trick

namxas · 05/24/2012, 04:56 PM

You'll want to try and boost the fish's appetite. As I previously mentioned, at the very least, dose the tank with some vitamin C, as it's water soluble and can be taken in thru the fish's gill structures.

We use a liquid vitamin C preparation, but you can use Vita-Chem in a pinch.

05/14/2012, 03:20 PM	#1
Dustin1231 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Wichita Kansas Posts: 260	Sick lion fish I have had a dwarf lion fish in my 120 tank for about 8 months now. I have been feeding him the freeze dried krill by hand. In the last week or so he stopped eating. When i put the food in the water he races towards it, but then stops short, or will barley take a bite. It almost looks like it hurts him to open his mouth. Today i noticed that he seamed like he had trouble breathing. I was wondering if anyone had any ideas on what to do.. Thanks Dustin __________________ WOW, never thought id spend more money on a fish tank then a motorcycle... Current Tank Info: a 12 nano and 120 mixed started on June 16 2007

05/14/2012, 04:38 PM	#4
namxas Things With Stings R Us! Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Carson, CA Posts: 4,575	Besides lockjaw, a diet high in krill, esp. FD krill is very poor, nutritionally speaking, and can lead to anorexia (cessation of feeding). Your fish may also be "hooked" on FD krill and may refuse all other foods. As mentioned, try some live ghosties or guppies to see if you can get the fish eating. I'd also try dosing the tank with some vitamin C and B12, both of which stimulate the appetite. __________________ Greg Current Tank Info: too many to describe, but i think the count is up to "lucky 13"!

05/14/2012, 04:38 PM	#5
namxas Things With Stings R Us! Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Carson, CA Posts: 4,575	double post... __________________ Greg Current Tank Info: too many to describe, but i think the count is up to "lucky 13"!

05/14/2012, 04:49 PM	#6
Dustin1231 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Wichita Kansas Posts: 260	thank you guys!!! on my way to the pet store now. __________________ WOW, never thought id spend more money on a fish tank then a motorcycle... Current Tank Info: a 12 nano and 120 mixed started on June 16 2007

05/14/2012, 05:47 PM	#8
Dustin1231 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Wichita Kansas Posts: 260	I got some ghost shrimp and frozen shrimp. He didn't even go after the frozen stuff and i think the ghost are too big for him.... sad. __________________ WOW, never thought id spend more money on a fish tank then a motorcycle... Current Tank Info: a 12 nano and 120 mixed started on June 16 2007

05/14/2012, 04:29 PM	#2
randomfishguy85 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Ajax, Ontario Posts: 382	freeze dried krill causes lock jaw if fed exclusively. look up lock jaw and see if you find a cure

05/14/2012, 04:33 PM	#3
jarrod13 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: jacksonville florida Posts: 1,031	^ +1. Freeze dried krill is the devil! Try some fresh shrimp or fish. If that doesn't work get some live guppies or ghost shrimp just to get him eating

05/15/2012, 11:12 PM	#9
namxas Things With Stings R Us! Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Carson, CA Posts: 4,575	If you can't find small ghosties, use small guppies. Just gutload them with a good quality marine flake food. They'll be OK for a bit, but don't use them long term. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD __________________ Greg Current Tank Info: too many to describe, but i think the count is up to "lucky 13"!

05/16/2012, 07:01 AM	#10
GrendelPrime76 Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: OrangeCounty NY Posts: 301	hows your lion doing?

05/16/2012, 10:30 AM	#11
nirvanaandtool Frakking Toasters! Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 630	If the ghosts are too big, gutload them and freeze them. Then stick feed him the head + gut portion and toss the tail. This worked for feeding my small Wartskin angler. __________________ -Ralph Anglers, Scorps, & Mantis Shrimp, Oh My!

05/22/2012, 05:12 PM	#12
Dustin1231 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Wichita Kansas Posts: 260	I tried the cut loading, and he still wont go after any food.... __________________ WOW, never thought id spend more money on a fish tank then a motorcycle... Current Tank Info: a 12 nano and 120 mixed started on June 16 2007

05/23/2012, 10:51 AM	#13
nirvanaandtool Frakking Toasters! Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 630	Not good. Try to find small guppies. Maybe that will be the trick __________________ -Ralph Anglers, Scorps, & Mantis Shrimp, Oh My!

05/24/2012, 04:56 PM	#14
namxas Things With Stings R Us! Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Carson, CA Posts: 4,575	You'll want to try and boost the fish's appetite. As I previously mentioned, at the very least, dose the tank with some vitamin C, as it's water soluble and can be taken in thru the fish's gill structures. We use a liquid vitamin C preparation, but you can use Vita-Chem in a pinch. __________________ Greg Current Tank Info: too many to describe, but i think the count is up to "lucky 13"!