Lion Fish not eating (read other post regarding this issue) PLS HELP

Quote:
Originally Posted by silverado61 http:///t/397202/lion-fish-not-eating-read-other-post-regarding-this-issue-pls-help/20#post_3540320
Nope. You can buy then at any pet store that sells fish. Small black digital readout box that's battery powered and has a 3ft cord with a probe at the other end that goes in your tank with a suction cup. Put it at the opposite end of the tank from the heater which should be at the bottom at the other end.


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I probe I
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I I
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I heater I
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Sorry. That's the best I can do with graphics. lol
Can one really put these water heaters in bottom of tank?? I always leave them hanging from the top by their suction cups. I saw them in pet store in the water just was afraid to do that. I do have two heaters both r for 70 gallon tanks. I don't think my store, near me, has those digital ones, I will check of course, if not might b able to order online. I appreciate your help.

My anemone, bubble one, has decided to move around to the back and bottom of this rock. Has been very active lately, well I can't feed him/her/it where it is, should I just move the rock so I can see it and feed it????? thks or should I post this in another question????
 
I heard lion fish can go blind from bright lights. So wondering how to handle the fact that my anemone likes bright lights. The anemone is hanging under, well in between some rocks. I would love to move it up closer to the lights, but not sure if I should mess with it. It moved to that location and seems happy there. So what do u all think and thks
 

silverado61

Well-Known Member
That's where I put all my heaters. Everything I've heard recommends that. Just keep it about 2 inches above and horizontal to the sand. With good water flow it keeps the temp more consistent throughout the tank. In your case, put one at each end at the bottom and the probe in the center at the top. You want the thermometer to show temp at potentially the coldest spot in the tank which is farthest away from the heaters. If the temp of the thermometer is the same or close to the temp you have the heaters set at, it shows you should have good water flow.

Always learning.
 
S

saxman

Guest
Quote:
Originally Posted by femmeartist51 http:///t/397202/lion-fish-not-eating-read-other-post-regarding-this-issue-pls-help/20#post_3540295
Hi had a friend watch my tank and all this has happened after I came back. I had explained water was way down in the tank, of course salt then went sky hi. So got that all adjusted,

Fish can become severely dehydrated in high salt concentrations, esp. if it happens quickly (low to high). However, in returning to lower salinity, it's not as hard on the fish.

New bio wheel filter on the back,.
Lion fish got fed all the time, when I was gone with krill and when I got back a friend was feeding it. Alot, I told him to stop but when I would get home the krill was floating in the tank. So the lion must not b hungry cause of all the food he got.

Hopefully, your fish hasn't become "addicted" to the FD krill...if it has, you may have a tuff time getting it onto nutritious foods. I've seen fishes totally refuse anything else after a steady diet of FD krill.

I will in a week try again to entice him to eat. Also every time I went by the tank one of my heaters where turned off. Got two new ones. My water went down to 60. Why it was unplugged I don't know, maybe they where trying to kill my fish.

While 60* F is pretty chilly, if you raised the temp up slowly, your fish should be OK.

Eyes are not cloudy, look like he has a blue eyelid. Do fish have eyelids?? He is a volitan. Got two new heaters so temp should increase again. Usually in the green area of the thermometer.

Fish don't have eyelids, altho Scorpaeniformes have a cuticle that does cover its entire body as well as its eyes. This cuticle becomes cloudy prior to the fish shedding the cuticle, which is done on a regular basis to remove any algae, debris, or parasites that may settle onto the fish (think of a lizard shedding). The greenish cast you see in your fish's eyes is the retinal tapetum lucidum, which is a menbrane on the retina of the fish's eyes that makes the most out of low-light conditions, since lionfishes are crepuscular hunters.

Don't know about cuticle what is it on a fish.

See my comment above. You may or may not have noticed a milky, diaphanous substance floating in the tank from time to time...this is a cast-off cuticle. Lionfishes shed this cuticle on a regular basis, altho repeated shedding of the cuticle often indicates that the fish is either trying to rid itself of a parasite or poor conditions in the aquarium.

No new changes at all, just put in a new filter, after he decided on his hunger strike

Did you simply swap the filter out or did you allow the new filter to populate with bacteria before removing the old one?

I've kept lionfishes in reef tanks with no troubles, altho if the fish has no place to rest where the lighting isn't super bright, it won't do as well for you. I suppose if the fish is subjected to a lot of UV of the wrong type (such as an unfiltered HQI MH lamp) it could have issues, but I've never seen one go blind due to lighting in over 20 years of keeping them.

It sounds like your fish has been subjected to a lot of abuse, and really needs to return to stable conditions
. I'm not surprised it's having issues, to be honest.

HTH
 

jay0705

Well-Known Member
Its actually As good idea to use 2 smaller heaters bc if one over heats it shouldnt get hot enough to cook the tank.
 
The abuse the lion fish was exposed to was leaving my tank in someones care. He was a fine healthy lionfish when I left. My tank was in great condition. I thought I left it with someone who maybe knows what they where doing, guess not. He is doi ng better, although doesn't c the fish dropping in the tank.. So hand feeding him every few days.
 
Fish don't have eyelids, altho Scorpaeniformes have a cuticle that does cover its entire body as well as its eyes. This cuticle becomes cloudy prior to the fish shedding the cuticle, which is done on a regular basis to remove any algae, debris, or parasites that may settle onto the fish (think of a lizard shedding). The greenish cast you see in your fish's eyes is the retinal tapetum lucidum, which is a menbrane on the retina of the fish's eyes that makes the most out of low-light conditions, since lionfishes are crepuscular hunters.

So how long does it take for this membrane to leave the fish. Is it a long process. He still does not eat unless I put food in front of him, then he will eat a few pcs. Oh my water chems r

ph 8.2-8.4
A 0.25
Nitrite 0
Nitrate looks around 10
 
My lion fish eyes now completely covered by that film. Will he shed it and how long will that take. Or is my fish a goner, I was feeding him by hand and he grabbed at he food. now he doesn't even do that, he doesn't swim around prob cause he can't see thru the film over his eyes

PH 8.2-8.5
Ammonia 0.25
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 10 is recently went up from 0
 

beth

Administrator
Staff member
Why are you experiencing that range of pH? It should remain at a steady rate 8.2. Are you using additives for pH? Also, you are experiencing ammonia which needs to go down to zero.

If you had an established quarantine tank, I would suggest that the fish be removed and treated with antibiotics, but without an established tank, you can't do that. All you can do, is bring the tank that he is in up to optimium conditions. However, I see you still have an ammonia problem. What is the size of your tank? Did you add additional pumps to your aquaria?
 

beth

Administrator
Staff member
Why are you experiencing that range of pH? It should remain at a steady rate 8.2. Are you using additives for pH? Also, you are experiencing ammonia which needs to go down to zero.

If you had an established quarantine tank, I would suggest that the fish be removed and treated with antibiotics, but without an established tank, you can't do that. All you can do, is bring the tank that he is in up to optimum conditions.
 
Hi Beth, did several small water changes and ammonia goes down to zero then back up to always the same 0.25. Well my PH is really 8.2, but the color almost looks like 8.4. Store sold me Kent Superbuffer dKH, said to use when I do 1/4 tank water change. I got a 90 gallon tank. I did get a new hanging bio wheel filter. I looked for a filer to use on the bottom under the sand. I might have to go online to find one. Sad thing he was a very healthy fish, until I left for a few wks. Can one use a 5 gallon bucket putting fresh salt water and an airpump?? Also not sure what to use for him. Even his fins look sick. Other fish seem to be ok. Do lion fish shed their skin or scales like a snake does. He was eating and huffing up at the other fish now he doesn't poor fish feel so sorry for him
 
Well he has lost some of his tail and his fins are thinner and some are shorter then they where. Think he is going and thks for your help, just wondering what has caused this
 

beth

Administrator
Staff member
Sorry. It sounds like he needs the medication treatments, but its not going to be available without a viable hospital tank. Stop adding the buffer since ammonia becomes more toxic with higher pH. You will be fine as long as it doesn't drop below 8. I don't understand why your tank maintains at .25.
 
Neither do I, Maybe I can setup salt water in a bucket like I said with air to the bucket. What do you think. What kind of medication, Also my ammonia always seems to go back up to .25.
 

beth

Administrator
Staff member
Absolutely NOT, femmeartist51. I sick fish must have a stable, safe environment in a hospital setting, not a makeshift bucket with salt water. If the fish does not recover on his own, then let him go in peace. Airstones are inappropriate for water circulation and needed oxygenation for salt water aquaria.

You could try and set up a quarantine with pumps, heating, hiding spots and be willing to watch and deal with cycle problems on a daily basis. If you are prepared for that, then we can suggest how to proceed. But you will have to be on top of the situation for the next several weeks every day to do water changes daily. Even with that, you don't have viable water since your display tank has ammonia and you haven't been successful in getting that under control.
 
Well for possible future issues, I will have a tank set up.. I think he is just too far gone. His fin is gone, well almost gone, very thin and tips are not there. His tail is partially gone. Not sure why, the other fish stay away from him. I wish he would go in peace. We have had him for along time. He has doubled in size. He was a cool fish. Thanks for your help, I plan on getting another one but need to work on my tank. There has to be something under a rock, possibly causing my ammonia to stay at 0.25. I will probably do a bigger water change when he is gone. Thanks again Lynda
 

beth

Administrator
Staff member
Sorry for this situation. Having a quarantine tank is one of the best things you can do for your peace of mind in this hobby. Lionfish should not go in reef tanks, so keep that in mind. Also, you will need to work on getting a more stable environment before adding new fish.
 
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