Rocket Garfish Problems

[James-EG]

I think this is the right section of the forum....anyway, yesterday I bought a rocket garfish, I have noticed that hie mouth doesn't look too good, looks like some kind of fungus, the water is fine and the tank is a 6 foot community setup. The fish has eaaten a few bloodworm, but not much, and it's about 3-4 inches long.

the picture isn't very good, that light wasn't great, but I hope you can see roughly what I am talking about. The upper part of his tail is deformed, and looks shrunken, but it doesn't seem to affect swimming, just a bit unfortunate.

Would you suggest some anti-fungal stuff just in case?

 

[nmonks]

Yes, I'd treat. These fish aren't delicate, but newly imported specimens can damage their snouts when alarmed, typically by bumping into the glass walls of the aquarium. I suspect that's what happened here. Bear in mind they seem happiest in small groups, and they won't do well kept with aggressive or territorial tankmates.

Cheers, Neale

 

[James-EG]

I put in some anti fungal treatment, and checked on the gar about half an hour ago, and he looks almost back to normal already, I'm not sure if it was the anti fungal stuff or not, it seems way too fast, it's strange...

 

[James-EG]

One last thought, what is best to feed these fish? I was thinking live bloodworm and brine shrimp, but what is best in your opinion?

James

 

[thereverendturtle]

Often they will take floating pellets, which is a good diet, with frozen foods given once or twice a week.

 

[James-EG]

Often they will take floating pellets, which is a good diet, with frozen foods given once or twice a week.

Thanks, I just fed my fish some bloodworm and a few cichlid pellets, but the gar didn't eat anything, although he's looking a lot more active, so could I try live bloodworm and brine shrimp?

 

[thereverendturtle]

Often they will take floating pellets, which is a good diet, with frozen foods given once or twice a week.

Thanks, I just fed my fish some bloodworm and a few cichlid pellets, but the gar didn't eat anything, although he's looking a lot more active, so could I try live bloodworm and brine shrimp?

Try everything you can to get him eating. It might take a bit before he goes for dead food.

 

[James-EG]

Try everything you can to get him eating. It might take a bit before he goes for dead food.

OK thanks

 

[nmonks]

Oh, this species should take food very readily. Use long forceps to dangle an enticing bit of fish meat or prawn into the current. Wiggle around a bit. Usually this species quickly catches on, sneaking towards the food before snapping it up in an extremely sudden lunge. There's a video of mine feeding on the TFH Magazine YouTube channel, here.

Cheers, Neale

 

[James-EG]

Oh, this species should take food very readily. Use long forceps to dangle an enticing bit of fish meat or prawn into the current. Wiggle around a bit. Usually this species quickly catches on, sneaking towards the food before snapping it up in an extremely sudden lunge. There's a video of mine feeding on the TFH Magazine YouTube channel, here.

Cheers, Neale

Thanks for the tip, will have to try and do that, and a good video!

 

[James-EG]

UPDATE: The garfish is fine now, eating bloodworm, cichlid pellets and cockles (whick I cut into smaller peices), he even took a couple of the pellets out of my hand, so he's doing very well now!

 

[nmonks]

Glad all worked out well!

This is a great species. I wrote about it in this months PFK -- it's one of my favourite fish, and probably the very best oddball predator out there. Hardy, peaceful, sociable and easy to feed.

Cheers, Neale

UPDATE: The garfish is fine now, eating bloodworm, cichlid pellets and cockles (whick I cut into smaller peices), he even took a couple of the pellets out of my hand, so he's doing very well now!

 

[Squidward]

Glad all worked out well!

This is a great species. I wrote about it in this months PFK -- it's one of my favourite fish, and probably the very best oddball predator out there. Hardy, peaceful, sociable and easy to feed.

Cheers, Neale

UPDATE: The garfish is fine now, eating bloodworm, cichlid pellets and cockles (whick I cut into smaller peices), he even took a couple of the pellets out of my hand, so he's doing very well now!

Neale,
Fantastic video.
Do the Puffers not nip the other fish?
What else is in the tank with them?

 

[nmonks]

No, they are very well behaved. Note that not everyone reports the same good results with this species as me. But I do believe that with the right tankmates, C. irrubesco is about as trustworthy as a puffer is every likely to be.

Other fish included glassfish, a cherry-fin loach, a Garra and a few catfish of various sorts.

Cheers, Neale

Neale,
Fantastic video.
Do the Puffers not nip the other fish?
What else is in the tank with them?