My 1.5 inch false perc clown has been in the QT (20 tall) 6 days now. He goes after food, but always seems to spit it out. I've fed 2 types of flake (1 protein type, 1 vegie type), and even rho eggs (goldenpearls?), all with the same result. I've soaked them in garlic or Selcon, or nothing. Same result.
In the last 24 hours, I've noticed him keeping his pectoral fins and first dorsal fin clamped, and a whitish string is coming from his anus. The string is kind of frayed, and tapers, and has been there this morning, and again this evening (don't know if it's the same one). I added an airstone last night, just in case.
His 2 tankmates, a 2 inch false perc and a cleanershrimp all are eating and behaving fine. The cleaner just molted today.
Water chemistry is:
Ph 8.0-8.2
amm = 0
nitrite = 0
sal = 1.025
temp = 80
Filter is a small canister filter that sat in my sump for a week before I added it to the QT tank. Outflow is aimed at surface to cause ripples. PVC and fake plants in the QT. Water in QT was taken from main tank.
From what I gather, the fish were only fed rho eggs at LFS. I don't know if either/both are tank raised or wild caught.
No signs of ick. I gave both fish a 5-10 minute freshwater dip/bath 24 hours after adding to QT (too tired to do it initially, at 2 a.m. when they were added to the QT). No signs of stress during this experience.
Is the white string just poop or something worse?
What can I do to get this fish to eat?
In the last 24 hours, I've noticed him keeping his pectoral fins and first dorsal fin clamped, and a whitish string is coming from his anus. The string is kind of frayed, and tapers, and has been there this morning, and again this evening (don't know if it's the same one). I added an airstone last night, just in case.
His 2 tankmates, a 2 inch false perc and a cleanershrimp all are eating and behaving fine. The cleaner just molted today.
Water chemistry is:
Ph 8.0-8.2
amm = 0
nitrite = 0
sal = 1.025
temp = 80
Filter is a small canister filter that sat in my sump for a week before I added it to the QT tank. Outflow is aimed at surface to cause ripples. PVC and fake plants in the QT. Water in QT was taken from main tank.
From what I gather, the fish were only fed rho eggs at LFS. I don't know if either/both are tank raised or wild caught.
No signs of ick. I gave both fish a 5-10 minute freshwater dip/bath 24 hours after adding to QT (too tired to do it initially, at 2 a.m. when they were added to the QT). No signs of stress during this experience.
Is the white string just poop or something worse?
What can I do to get this fish to eat?