Feeding pair of Bluethroat triggers

[Steve Cuddeback]

I purchased a gourgeous pair of bluethroats on November 28. They are starting to come out of hiding but have not eaten anything. I have been feeding them Krill mixed with flake. They are in a well established 120 gallon reef tank that also houses a few tangs and a pair of Clarkiis. Should I be worried that they have not eaten? Should I try some other Food?

Thank you

Steve

 

[MrTuskfish]

I purchased a gourgeous pair of bluethroats on November 28. They are starting to come out of hiding but have not eaten anything. I have been feeding them Krill mixed with flake. They are in a well established 120 gallon reef tank that also houses a few tangs and a pair of Clarkiis. Should I be worried that they have not eaten? Should I try some other Food?

Thank you

Steve

These are great fish and a great choice for a reef. It is very common for them to take a while to settle in, unlike most triggers. They need meatier food, though. Raw seafood like shrimp, squid, scallops, clam, etc from the grocery are all good, cut to size. To get them eating, pop open a fresh clam from the grocery and toss it in; most fish go nuts over these. Once eating, they should eat about anything; but there is a lot of talk about krill not being a good long-term food (especially the freeze-dried). Flake food is not a good choice for triggers, IMO, pellets-maybe. There are so many good frozen foods that all fish love: mysis shrimp, Formula I & II, Marine Cusine, etc, etc. Just my opinion; but I think flakes are for very small fish and goldfish.
Almost forgot: this is a trigger that needs some algae, mine love Formula II frozen and nori sheets.

 

[candeewolf]

These guys are notorious for not eating up to even a little over a week while getting established in a new tank. If they haven't eaten after a week,or perhaps 10 days, I would start thinking about taking them out into a QT or something like that. Just make sure that the tangs or anyone else who competes for food with them isn't actively bullying them during feeding time. Also, I notice that my trigger loves mysis. Definitely try that and brine

 

[lilchris]

For the 1st week or so, I had to target feed my BT. I chopped up a piece shrimp and soaked it in garlic. I used a feeding stick to target feed him. He only ate 1 or 2 pieces for the first couple weeks. Now I have had him for about 3-1/2 wks. He eats like a champ now. I feed him PE Mysis and Hykari Mysis. Very meaty foods is what he goes after. I will continue to feed him table shrimp once or twice a week.

 

[Steve Cuddeback]

Thank you all for your advice. I purchased some mysis and both triggers are now eating. The male started on Wednesday and the female yesterday. When they decided to eat they really went to town on the food. They are also out almost constantly.

 

[sedor]

Good to hear they came around...I know how paranoid you can get when that new fish doesn't seem interested in eating.