Lionfish question

[saltman23]

I've had this lion for about 6 months. He has always been a good eater but lately he has been very shy around food, eating very little. When he does get a piece, he seems to choke or gasp on it as he sits on the sand. The pieces aren't large either. Parameters check out too. Any Ideas?
Thanks.

 

[saxman]

what have you been feeding the fish, and how often?
have you made any changes to the tank or added any fish?
what species of lion do you have?

 

[saltman23]

I've been feeding him mysis & krill 3-4 times a week.
No changes have been made, the only tankmate is a snowflake which was in there before him. It is a Volitan.

 

[srfisher17]

IME, it is not at all unusual for Volitans to stop feeding for a while; but his behavior suggests a bigger problem and it just may be diet related.
I do think this fish needs meatier foods, more variety, and added vitamins. Chunks of raw shrimp, scallops, squid, sw fish flesh, silversides are all good. Soak in Selcon, or a similar vitamin as well. A 6 month old Volitan should be a large fish and needs large food items. Mysis is, IMO, not suited for a fish this size and There has been info around concerning a steady diet of krill. I can't remember what it was, but someone will.

 

[cranberry]

It's be implicated in lockjaw.

 

[fmarini]

and chronic anorexia-- which sadly reads like your problem.
If you cant entice the fish to eat live foods over the next 2-3 weeks- i would consider tube feeding this fish(do a google search for tubefeeding and lionfish).
However you still have plenty of time, so try to ensure everything is perfect; water quality to tankmates, and try to get this fish feeding again. tubefeeding is the last resort

 

[srfisher17]

Any way you can post a pic of this fish? How big is he and how big is the tank? This info will help get you some suggestions on what to feed in order to get him eating. Volitans can go a long time without eating; but I have a feeling that this fish needs food ASAP. Usually, FW feeders are not a good food for lions, but may be needed now. Mollies or ghost shrimp would be best. Tube feeding, as stated above by FMarini, may be needed. It saved a big, stubborn Lion for me once.

 

[saltman23]

Thanks for all the replies. I picked up some frozen silversides yesterday. I cut them in half and he took to them right away. I will post some pics soon anyways.

 

[srfisher17]

Good! He needs a variety of foods about that size and vitamins. (a Volitan 6months+ should easily eat a whole silverside in one gulp, and then look for more.)

 

[saltman23]

As promised...

 

[fmarini]

Cool tank-- he sure it little. The Volitans will easily be double that size in 8 months

 

[jstdv8]

if you continue with krill he will likley get lockjaw. That may be the problem allready. You need to feed him silversides or something along those lines