Fish Eating Like A Pig ! / Black spots on body

[blackpuma]

My 5 inch scribbled anglel (Chaetodontoplus dubolayi) which is still in QT , eats 8 to 10 pellets of Hikari A per feeding. I feed him 3 times daily which equates to 24 to 30 pellets but he still paces along the tank asking for more whenever I approach the tank.

He was starting to loose weight when I first got him from the LFS. After one month, with the above regimen, I could see the pinched area behind the eyes filling up and he is in reasonable shape now.

Is there anything I should worried about and is he suffering from internal parasites ?

Second question. I see a few black spots on the fish but they disappear a few hours later and reappear again at random. The spots are about 0.5 to 0.7 mm. Are they flukes? I plan to do a 7min freshwater dip with methylene blue on the fish to rid him of the spots. Can this species tolerate methylene blue well?

Thanks for reading my post.

[leebca]

WELCOME TO REEFLAND!

Thanks for posting.

First I wish to congratulate you on using a quarantine system. It shows foresight and true caring of not only the fish recently acquired, but of the fishes that are or might be in the display tank now. There are several sticky posts in this Forum on Acclimation, Quarantine, Fresh Water Dip with Methylene Blue, and such topics you might want to review.

Almost all reef fish can and do well with Methylene Blue. That isn't a concern for this Angelfish.

A photo of these spots would be the best means to show us what it is you're seeing. The description doesn't help me much.

Pellets are not a 'feed-all-the-time' kind of food. You need to vary this fish's diet with proper nutrition. The fish is pacing and eating like a pig because it's starving. See this:
Does Your Fish Eat Like a Pig? - Not so Good?

Most satiated Angelfish will be reclusive. Even when their 'feeder/owner' appears, they still are very cautious and won't hesitate to skip a meal if they just plane don't think things 'feel right.'

Follow the recommendations for the omnivore in this post as far as choice of foods, feeding regime, and supplements:
Feeding Marine Fish and Fish Nutrition

Especially read in the above reference what is written about pellets. Read the ingredient list of the food being offered/fed the fish.

During this 'mystery' phase with the black spots, I would suggest that immune boosters be added to the foods:
Fish Immune Boosters

As far as internal parasites are concerned, I eliminate any worry about these on all newly acquired fishes. I de-worm the fish which is easy to do. There is always a chance (some estimate over 30%) the fish is carrying worms.

Keep in mind some simple axioms:
Eating fishes do not equal healthy fishes
Fat fishes do not equal healthy fishes

[blackpuma]

Dear Lee,
Thanks for your reply and help, I am glad to report that my scribble angel has gained weight and the spots did not appear again since my last post.

It is still in QT under observation for another few weeks until I am completely satisfied that it is disease free before I release it into the the show tank.

Once again thanks for the reply and it has contributed tremendously to the good health of my fishy friends