Twitching Dottyback

[bellebelle]

Over the last couple of days I have noticed that my bicolar dottyback hasn't been eating as much. Today I just saw him and he seemed to be twiching while he was swimming. The eating thing worries me he has always been a pig. My tank is a 75 gallon, 100lbs live sand, 110 pounds of live rock. The water is great. All perfect I have checked. no nitrates, nitrites or ammonia use ro water. sp 1.026 temp 77. No new changes with the water either. My other fish are eating well even my new tang. The dottyback's color looks great too. no discolaration and he is still very bright. I was just wondering if anybody has even seen this before. I 'm trying to see if we have a problem before it becomes really obvious. Thanks in advance !

 

[beth]

Try looking at him up close using a magnifying glass to see if you can detect any problems that the

[hr]
eye won't pick up on. Also, notice any harassment going on? How long have you had this fish, and are there any new additions to the tank?
What are you feeding the fish?

 

[bellebelle]

no harressment by anyone else... he comes out and swims then goes back into his hiding spot. I have had the dottyback for 3 mths at least he eats marine flakes some frozen food but not for several days. Today the food went right by them with him not even making an attempt to get it. It all started before the new additions. yesterday i added a blue tang and 4 green chromis. i am upgradeing to a 210 gallon tank and the fish came with it...my new tank won't be set up till our new house is complete (putting it in the wall) i looked with a magnifying glass and don't see anything. maybe i should buy them a cleaner shrimp since he ate my last one. I am just concerned about him.

 

[beth]

Try offering some fresh foods and using a turkey baster to target feed, to see if you can coax him to eat. There is a fresh food receipe in the FAQ Thread, at the top of this forum.

 

[sepulatian]

Did he hide that much before the addition of the other fish? As Beth stated, try a variety of fresh foods. You may want to also soak it in fresh garlic to entice his eating.

 

[bellebelle]

not really, but the new fish aren't paying him any attention. I am going in the morning to the store to get some frozen shrimp and stuff to make some food. All the other fish are doing great and all eating well. Can I use minced garlic ? How much to I add Beth ?

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by bellebelle
not really, but the new fish aren't paying him any attention. I am going in the morning to the store to get some frozen shrimp and stuff to make some food. All the other fish are doing great and all eating well. Can I use minced garlic ? How much to I add Beth ?
She has detailed info on making your own garlic and how much to use in her common treatments FAQ at the top of this forum.

 

[beth]

There is a bag of frozen food in the freezer section of most stores that offers a variety of seafoods. You do need to food process the food if you want to try to make a month's worth of food. Its pretty cheap.

 

[hot883]

Does he only twitch in the same area of the tank?
I hada yellow tang that would only twitch in one spot in the tank. I added a grounding probe and it went away instantly. Just a try. Barry

 

[sepulatian]

I hope you can get him eating again, but what exactly do you mean by twitching? If it is the twitching of the dorsal fin, they do that all of the time. It is normal for a firefish. They tweek it out of annoyance, or just in general.

 

[bellebelle]

He seems to be doing better...started eating again today !!! :cheer:

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by bellebelle
He seems to be doing better...started eating again today !!! :cheer:
That is wonderfull!! I am very happy for you and your fish!!!