 sick filefish (harlequin)
I just joined this site today to try to get some help with this little fish. I am new to all of this so I will try to give the basic info that I see everyone giving/asking for.
The place came and set everything up back in March(everything being one of those nano cubes- 28 gal) and mid April we were ready for a fish or two but the kids had spring break so we waited and upon return all we added was a cleaner shrimp (my 7 yr. olds choice) 2 snails which the store recommended as a "clean-up crew" and a baby percula. (As a side note the 2 snails are the worst custodians ever. But, that is hardly the issue.) The next addition was about week later and it was a flame firefish. It has been in the tank for several weeks now and only comes out to eat every once in a while but I think that is normal??? Okay here's the problem...9 days later we got the harlequin filefish. After about a week I called and said I was worried she wasn't eating---of course they said "don't worry"
another week went by and I went in to the store and said her stomach was all "sucked in" and she was not really swimming anymore but rather she would sort of "perch" on her long nose/snout and the only thing that would move would be the tiniest little flicker of her eyes. I was feeding either the mysis or I have these spectrum thera pellets which are the smaller size. She is not at all interested in the mysis even if I chop it up even smaller. I am very worried about this fish, I feel like if I were more educated about this situation I could do more. There is also an anemone in the tank. As I type this, she has herself wedged in between some rocks, tail in the air, stomach concave, and although she is still the same color, there is a charcoal cast to it. What am I to do? I truly think this little fish is quite possibly starving herself. I am open to all comments, guidance and constructive criticism....please be kind; I am new to this and I would never intentionally harm anything.  | 
05-29-2009, 02:57 PM
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