Thin Fish

[Coralgurl]

Been watching my fish over the past while and noticing a couple are getting thin. I typically feed a mix of frozen food, occasionally pellets and nori.

No, I'm not a newb but this is the first time I'm seeing this happen. All the fish are aggressive eaters and no one seems to go without. I watch the ones that seem a bit thin and they are all eating. How do I get these guys to fatten back up? Ones I'm concerned about is an anthia, lubbocks wrasse and my sailfin tang. The others are all fat and look great. No diseases that I can see.

For frozen, I mix cyclopeeze, Mysis, Pacifica Plankton and occasionally others (no brine) just to mix things up for them. I generally feed once per day, in the evenings as they aren't all up when I leave for work in the mornings.

I drop food until they are no longer hanging around at the surface, seems that's about the time they lose interest or have had enough, plus there's food in the water column.

Should I add an auto feeder for pellets during the day and frozen at night?

[hillegom]

Seems like they all eat their fill, if food is still in the water column and they start to lose interest.
So some are fat and some are not. Even though they all eat.
Only thing I could think of is maybe some have internal worms/parasites?
I think prazipro works for that in the display tank. Research it though as I have never used it in the DT, just in the QT
And you are right in assuming they will do better with more feedings throughout the day, but smaller portions.

[tim the toolman]

I think that once a day feeding is not enough personally. I know a lot of people on here say they only feed once a day but in my experience a couple to three feedings a day is best.

I usually feed frozen once a day. Pellet and flake once a day. And nori/marine grazers every day as well.

Skimmer runs thick but I would rather have a bit of algae and happy fish than clean glass to watch thin fish through.

And yes an auto feeder is nice to add if you can get a good one that can be programmed.

[matt_C]

for thicking up fish. that really sounds weird.
Pacifica Plankton, and New life Spectrum pellet. i find fatten your fish!

i only feed my tank once a day in the morning.
i roughly add 100-120 grams of pellets every morning.
what is a lot.

[Coralgurl]

Thanks for the suggestions. I am not sure if there's a worm or parasite which could be causing this. I will read up on the symptoms. I believe I have Prazipro at home as well, will have to check to make sure its still good.

Regarding feeding. I have always fed my fish 1 time per day. The fish affected are not new to the tank and have been there for quite while - min 6 months each. I will bump up once I adjust my lighting schedule to ensure they are all awake in the morning.

[Magickiwi]

Originally Posted by Coralgurl

Been watching my fish over the past while and noticing a couple are getting thin. I typically feed a mix of frozen food, occasionally pellets and nori.

No, I'm not a newb but this is the first time I'm seeing this happen. All the fish are aggressive eaters and no one seems to go without. I watch the ones that seem a bit thin and they are all eating. How do I get these guys to fatten back up? Ones I'm concerned about is an anthia, lubbocks wrasse and my sailfin tang. The others are all fat and look great. No diseases that I can see.

For frozen, I mix cyclopeeze, Mysis, Pacifica Plankton and occasionally others (no brine) just to mix things up for them. I generally feed once per day, in the evenings as they aren't all up when I leave for work in the mornings.

I drop food until they are no longer hanging around at the surface, seems that's about the time they lose interest or have had enough, plus there's food in the water column.

Should I add an auto feeder for pellets during the day and frozen at night?

I watch the waistlines of my fish too. I like them fat and happy

How do you get your fish to lose interest in food though? lol Whenever there is food in the water column mine go ape-sh*t making sure they eat as much as possible.

[Coralgurl]

Originally Posted by Magickiwi

I watch the waistlines of my fish too. I like them fat and happy

How do you get your fish to lose interest in food though? lol Whenever there is food in the water column mine go ape-sh*t making sure they eat as much as possible.

They haven't lost interest, they eat, just getting thin. I was out this aft for work, so stopped by Concept and picked up more pellets and pacifica plankton. Gonna double feed for a while and see if they fatten back up!

[Magickiwi]

Originally Posted by Coralgurl

They haven't lost interest, they eat, just getting thin. I was out this aft for work, so stopped by Concept and picked up more pellets and pacifica plankton. Gonna double feed for a while and see if they fatten back up!

The only thing I might be thinking is parasite. See anything else that could indicate that? Maybe some garlic pellets to see if it helps?

[Coralgurl]

Originally Posted by Magickiwi

The only thing I might be thinking is parasite. See anything else that could indicate that? Maybe some garlic pellets to see if it helps?

I haven't seen anything noticeable on them. Could be a worm or something internal. I fed the pellets and frozen tonight, all are eating but noticed the anthia wouldn't touch the pellets.

I have seachem para guard on hand, will read if reef safe.

[hillegom]

My bottle of prazipro says its ok in reef systems. But it will kill flatworms of the order POLYCLADIDA
I'm not sure, but I think that would kill feather dusters.