fathead anthias diet

[FishN00b83]

so I have a 125 and I thought it was time to buy some new additions. I went to the LFS when they opened and saw 3 fathead that looked good and healthy. after talking with one of they guys at the store they've had them for about a month. I asked him to throw some pellets in the tank and he said idk if they'll eat them. one went for them and ate the other two wanted no part. the guy said they might not eat them for a while if ever. so I said whatever and bought the 3.

I went home put them in the QT and let them get settled in. this morning I just put a few pellets in along with some mysis soaked in garlic and vitamins. one went for the mysis but the other 2 wanted no part. what can I try to feed them?

 

[SDguy]

My experience with this species is limited, but I would not expect them to ever eat pellets. Frozen meaty foods like PE Mysis is your best bet.

 

[FishN00b83]

yeah I tried those this morning. I'll try some formula one in a bit and see if that works.

 

[nonimmigrant]

yeah I tried those this morning. I'll try some formula one in a bit and see if that works.

Mine are pigs and I've never had an issue with flatheads eating. I doubt, though, that they were at the LFS "a month" if they're not yet eating. I'd stay with mysis and even cyclopese. Get the others nibbling if possible and then add back in pellet food. Are they over an inch in length yet?

 

[FishN00b83]

yeah I'd say they are around 2-2.5 inches. one has eaten but the other two still have not. I went back to the LFS and told the guy that I was a little concerned that they haven't eaten yet. he said they haven't been in the QT tank for 24 hours (at the time, which was true). he said to give them a few days before you try anything crazy. it will be 2 days that I've had them this afternoon, so maybe I just need to give them a little time before I try anything drastic?

 

[Aquarick]

I've had good success with cyclopeeze (loose form, not the flakes) with sunbursts. After some time I mixed it with other small frozen foods (brine, hikari mysis) and they eventually took to that. I've noticed better success when feeding at or near lights out.

 

[eatbreakfast]

Also if you put the food in some flow this oftn gets a feeding response. It is as if they cant help but chase it, which is letting their instinct help get them feeding.

 

[degibson84]

Also if you put the food in some flow this oftn gets a feeding response. It is as if they cant help but chase it, which is letting their instinct help get them feeding.

This+++


My anthias never ate with pumps off. I dumped the dozen right into the flow of a power head and he went nuts

 

[FishN00b83]

I've had good success with cyclopeeze (loose form, not the flakes) with sunbursts. After some time I mixed it with other small frozen foods (brine, hikari mysis) and they eventually took to that. I've noticed better success when feeding at or near lights out.

2 of the 3 are eating mysis now, hopefully the 3rd starts to eat. I've heard from someone else about the cyclopeeze, maybe I'll pick some up and see what happens.

Also if you put the food in some flow this oftn gets a feeding response. It is as if they cant help but chase it, which is letting their instinct help get them feeding.

I realized this just now when I tried to feed them. I usually turn the pumps off when I feed in the QT just to see how they react. I tried with the pumps on for the hell of it and 2 started eating right away.

This+++





My anthias never ate with pumps off. I dumped the dozen right into the flow of a power head and he went nuts

hopefully I can get them to eat like the rest of the tank eventually. they'll be in QT for a long time. I'm going to try to get them to eat NLS pellets with the pumps off so they can be on the same schedule as the rest of the DT.

 

[Aquarick]

Good luck. Let us know how things work out.

 

[SKCK2011]

ours loved our home made food. It did contain mysis and cyclops and we had better feeding right before lights out.

 

[FishN00b83]

Good luck. Let us know how things work out.

I definitely will. I just stopped home for a minute and for the first time all 3 of them are swimming around the tank. I guess that's a good sign.

ours loved our home made food. It did contain mysis and cyclops and we had better feeding right before lights out.

I guess I'll try feeding them before I turn the QT lights off tonight and see what happens. thanks!

 

[BeanMachine]

Mine intially only ate mysis and cyclops, now it eats everything including pellets. I've had it about a year.

 

[FishN00b83]

all 3 are eating mysis now! it definitely helps to let the food go in a high flow area before the lights go out too. they started tank transfer now.