25" Clown Knife Not Eating!!

[MrHarris]

I moved to a new house about 3 weeks ago, and moved my fish tanks about 2.5 weeks ago. My clown knife hasn't really been eating and has been REALLY shy/skitterish since I moved to the new house. He hides in the back of the tank where there's space for him to reside but he's almost always back there. Very rarely he will come out and if I walk by the tank or anything he will go back to his hiding spot. Honestly I haven't seen him eat once since I moved him. The tank's due for a water change I hope this will help. I really don't want him to die because he is my favorite fish. Anyone got any ideas that could help? Temp is at 75, pH 7.6-7.8, salt added and I also added melafix because he was wounded from scrapping himself on the wood during the move. Help please

 

[JardiniBoy]

My guess is he's still adjusting after the move. He looks a little beat up though ... maybe you could add some salt/melafix and up the temp a little.

IME clown knives are quite hardy, so hopefully he'll pull through..

Edit: Just remembered you've already added the salt and melafix. Maybe increase the temp a little and wait it out. Big fish can go a loooong time without food.

 

[hurricane_redbone]

Big fish can go a loooong time without food.

yea hes right, this guy could probably go for atleast 2-3 months before he starved to death

 

[Triggeraa]

Looks like an adjustment period. Offer varied food and frequent water changes. Huge knife.

 

[phoenixx]

Beautiful Knife.
When I run into similar situations I find it best not to keep dumping food into the tank. Try not feeding him for a day or two and then throw in a very very small amount of something he is used to eating. If no luck be sure to syphon it out after 24 hours. Let him go a few more days and try again. Your obviously doing something right to grow out a Knife that big. Also, as said before a fish that large will be able to go an extended time without eating. Don't get too worried just yet. Just pay close attention to your fishs habits and water conditions. good luck

 

[dodgefreak8]

first off he looks like he got the crap kicked out of him!! He might be really stressed out. Second ditch the melafix. You don't need it at all, clean water and salt are better than any "wonder" cure. Also just give him a little more time. If all else failes try offering a couple of feeder fish. Knives have a real hard time not eating live food if it's offered.

 

[darwengray]

i`d forget the salt and just keep changing water ,no chance of him/her starving to death would take months as has already been mentioned.

 

[MrHarris]

Thanks guys actually today is the 7th day on the melafix treatment anyways so tomorrow i'll start doing the water change. After tomorrow, how often should I do water changes? Every 3 days? Once a week? I usually do it every 2-3 weeks but until he's better i'm willing to do as much work needed.

 

[dodgefreak8]

I would start with a 50% and then do 25% every 3rd day. I would also KEEP the salt. It helps trust me!!!

 

[jordanlewis100]

i would also up the temp a bit to 80f as they do like it quite warm