Coral Beauty

[Reefer421]

Do coral beauty's eat pods? I want a dragface pipefish and they need all the pods they can get. I see my coral beauty picking at the rocks, and he does not eat prepared food, so I assume he gets all nutrients from the algae and pods.

 

[Reefer421]

I mean dragonface pipefish!!

 

[Crusty Old Shellback]

They are grazers and may eat some pods. Of all the ones I've had, I've always gotten them to eat foods I fed them.

 

[Reefer421]

Do you have any suggestions on how I can get it to eat prepared foods? I soak it in garlic and Zoe.

 

[Reefer421]

I even got some raw scallops, clams, shrimp, and mussels and made a mixture and froze it in cubes and tried feeding it that.

 

[ACBlinky]

How long have you had the CB? If it's refusing to eat prepared foods, unless you've got a huge tank with loads of LR I'd be worried. Try feeding him live mussels in the shell - crack one open, drop it in, and see if he goes for it.

 

[Bax]

My CB eats any thing every thing and is still hungry.

I feed mysids daily, frozen prime reef couple of times a week and formula one pellets here and there just to watchem go crazy. The CB picks at the LR non-stop. I have seen it eat baby snails, pods, algea, fish poop ... you name it he'll taste it!

 

[Reefer421]

I have had him for a week on Friday. I am worried too.

 

[chocolates mom]

I got a Coral Beauty last Saturday. He is pecking at the bottom of the tank and the live rock but he hasn't eaten any food yet. I have some Nori in the tank and I think he has nibbled at that but I am starting to get worried too.

 

[ACBlinky]

Unfortunately, angels are known for their hunger strikes. I've had some bad experiences and now I won't buy one unless it's bold, fat and eating in the LFS tank. IME a shy, hiding angel that won't eat is already on the way out. Some that pick at sand/rockwork can be convinced to take prepared foods, but not always. Feeding a fresh mussel in the shell can work really well - angels aren't used to taking food out of the water column, they'd rather pick at something stationary. Some people find that once they're taking mussels, they'll eat nearly anything out of the mussel shell. From there, it's all downhill.

 

[chocolates mom]

Well he was eating at the LFS and is nice and plump. He is fairly active and hasn't been hiding. I will go pick up a mussel and some more goodies after work and see if that works, hate to lose him he is so pretty and is getting along with the other fish. PS my tank is now over 6 months old.

 

[Reefer421]

Mine is not hiding either, He is active and even chasing my little bar gobies. He is still fat, but I have noticed my pod count has gone down tremendously. I think I am going to take him back. He was not eating at the LFS, but they just got him the day before and said he may eat when he got in my reef tank where he would be more comfortable because there was rockwork for him to hide in.
I have heard that if they are harvested using cyanide, it can cause digestive problems. Do you think this could be the case here?

 

[Mish]

Just thought I would add, I didn't see mine eat prepared foods for 3 weeks. Then one day he ate like a pig. Same goes for the nori, never touched the stuff, then one day ate the whole sheet. Strange little fish.

Just keep an eye on him, I hope he comes around for you.

 

[Crusty Old Shellback]

Don't give up yet as it's only been a week. I've had some hid efor weeks, never seeing them and then one day, they are out and eating with everyone else. You can also try some live brine just to entice him to eat. Their not very nutrious but it may get him to eat something. Then you can work on other foods.

 

[chocolates mom]

Thanks everyone for the replies and encouragement. I will keep you posted.

 

[Reefer421]

I tried the brine first. I am going and getting some Nori tonight. He is never hiding...always just roaming around the tank picking at the rock and algae. He likes to scare my little bar gobies when ever they come out of their rock. I will keep trying. Should I try the opened mussel? I don't want to start something so he will only eat out of a mussel shell, but I guess it is better then nothing.

 

[cowboy87]

I just got a coral beauty and he wouldn't eat for a while either. He would pick at the rock but eventually would try some flakes i put in. If they don't eat for awhile its ok...if they get hungry enough they will eat.

 

[chocolates mom]

Well it's official, my Coral Beauty is eating! He has been snacking on his Nori for a few days now and this morning he was out there eating with all the other fish.