Trouble Feeding Bumblebee Goby

[Amunet]

We've had this BBG for about a year now and never had a problem feeding it frozen bloodworms before. That's the only thing we've gotten it to eat.
But now, for some reason it's just not eating it. It tries to, but spits it out right after. The worms aren't too big, I've seen this lil fish eat a worm almost the same length as it. I just don't know what else to do to get it to actually eat something though.
You can tell that it's very hungry and very skinny. I'm really worried that it will starve, It's been a little over a week since I last saw it eat something and keep it down.
Live food isn't an option. Nowhere to get any.
I pour the bloodworms in near it slowly b/c it seems to like catching them as they fall, but that's still not making it keep anything down.

Are there any other tricks I could do to get it to actually eat better?

 

[Gill]

We've had this BBG for about a year now and never had a problem feeding it frozen bloodworms before. That's the only thing we've gotten it to eat.
But now, for some reason it's just not eating it. It tries to, but spits it out right after. The worms aren't too big, I've seen this lil fish eat a worm almost the same length as it. I just don't know what else to do to get it to actually eat something though.
You can tell that it's very hungry and very skinny. I'm really worried that it will starve, It's been a little over a week since I last saw it eat something and keep it down.
Live food isn't an option. Nowhere to get any.
I pour the bloodworms in near it slowly b/c it seems to like catching them as they fall, but that's still not making it keep anything down.

Are there any other tricks I could do to get it to actually eat better?

I always find that BBG feed better in fast flows, that way the flow trickes them intothinking the worms are moving.
always works for me with fussy eater.

 

[Amunet]

The tank has a pretty good flow through it since it has 3 filters running on it. It's not strong but there's water movement enough to make the bloodworms move around some.

I just don't know what to do anymore.
Tryed the bloodworms... spat out, tryed glassworm... ignored, tryed brineshrimp.... ignored.
It wants to eat... that much is clear, but I just don't know why it keeps spitting out the bloodworms. It's the same brand I always get. Well I switch between 2.. hikari and some other one.
I got one of those big chunk of frozen bloodworms where you have to break off a piece. Those are slightly smaller than the cubed ones, but still, nada. I'm so worried that the lil guy is going to starve, but I don't know what else to do.

 

[Gill]

The tank has a pretty good flow through it since it has 3 filters running on it. It's not strong but there's water movement enough to make the bloodworms move around some.

I just don't know what to do anymore.
Tryed the bloodworms... spat out, tryed glassworm... ignored, tryed brineshrimp.... ignored.
It wants to eat... that much is clear, but I just don't know why it keeps spitting out the bloodworms. It's the same brand I always get. Well I switch between 2.. hikari and some other one.
I got one of those big chunk of frozen bloodworms where you have to break off a piece. Those are slightly smaller than the cubed ones, but still, nada. I'm so worried that the lil guy is going to starve, but I don't know what else to do.

Is the Bloodworm you are using still Bright red or has some of it gone grey. Mine won't touch the bloodworm if its not red.
just a thought.

Do you have any Mosquito larvae outside in any tubs of stagnant water, or can you get some from pond or something.

 

[Amunet]

No stagnant water that I can see anywhere. I'll check tomorrow though. Getting alot of mosquitos bites when I take the dogs out, so maybe there's something that they've laid their eggs in.

The goby didn't come out to eat today which has me extremely worried. *sigh* I don't want the lil guy to die. He's my fav fish in our big tank. Always so bold and unafraid and it just kills me to see it suffering like this.
It's little lair is inside the top of the fake root decor that's in the tank and it's been in there all day.

The big chunk of worms are slightly greying, but the cubes are still very bright red in color.


Oh god I hope it's not dead. I'm hesitant to move the decor around b/c I don't want to stress it out if it's weak.



EDIT:
Ok I was peaking around the tank w/ a flashlight when I saw it in the decor still. Went back and looked again, and the goby was swimming around on the bottom of the tank. Colors looked very faded, but most of the fish look like that when lights are out. I'm still very worried about it though. I'll search everywhere outside in our yard for some water and hope there are mosquito larvae in them.
If there are though, how should I go about feeding those to him? I'd hate to stress him out by scooping him out in to another container to make sure he gets them before the other fish do, but if that would be the best option then I'll do it.

 

[Gill]

yep find him some mozzies, they go nuts for them.
if some of the bloodworm is grey bin that bit as it will foul the water.

can i ask what his marking look like, thick black lines and yellow
or broken black and yellow. as if its broken he is the brackish species and that why he is going downhill.

 

[Amunet]

Thick black and yellow lines. Black lines go all the way around his body.
The fish place I got him from kept them in freshwater and I can only assume that's what the breeder kept them in *shrugs*
He's been healthy this entire time up to this point though. When other fish were dropping like flies around him b/c of a pH problem I had... he was swimming around as if nothing was wrong.
So yeah blahblahblah.... I don't think he's the brackish water type *shrugs*

 

[Gill]

MMMMMMMMMmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Ho wlong have you had him, cause alot of BBG shipments have been dying as they have been caught in the rapids as they are making their way to breeding grounds, so have not been lasting long.

i know of 3 stores that have lost more than 1 shipment of BBG's.

 

[dizzied]

Isn't the whole "broken/solid stripes" thing just an old myth?

If you find some mosquito larvae, perhaps you could target-feed it with a turkey baster?

 

[Saedcantas]

A fish that actively wants to eat, takes food but "spits" repeatedly and is seen wasting away is not a fussy feeder but suffering from internal infection.

I wouldnt like to speculate as to whether the problem is something like hexamita or full on intestinal worms, I dont know enough about the situation to even guess. Either way, the solution you're looking for is likely to involve medication not different foods

Lets hope Nmonks arrives with some input!?!
Best of luck with him,
Lotte*

 

[Amunet]

Only stuff I have to treat parasites is API General Cure.
Lists alot of outside parasites, but doesn't say if it treats internal. I doubt I could get the fish to eat the internal parasite pellet medication I have as well... so will this stuff be ok to use?
Will it get rid of the internal parasites if that is what is wrong?

We did add a bristlenose pleco to the tank about a month ago. It could've brought in something with it.

I dunno, I'll try anything right now.

And I did take a look outside this morning, and nada on any standing water anywhere.


And we've had the goby for hm.... 8months to a year. Not really sure how long, but we've had it for a while.

 

[Saedcantas]

What is the medicated food treated with?
API general cure suggests that it does treat Hexamita and spironucleus which are both possibles here, but as it is really only for the external part of the show, I'm not sure how effective it would be, really, it's better than nothing if you cant get hold of some Metronidazole for instance.

Do you know your water quality? most tropical fish have low levels of these kinds of things, it's poor water quality, stress or poor diet that can allow it to take hold like this

lotte*

 

[Amunet]

No idea water readings atm b/c I packed up all the tests since we're gonna begin moving this weekend.
The tank has been running for 2yrs now and since cycling it properly, has never had a problem with ammonia or nitrite lvls. It did have a pH crash a few months ago, but since then, everything has been perfect.