Finicky Conspic...

[BlueMac92]

I feel like I'm about out of options, so open to suggestions. I purchased a Conspic a little while ago, and it has been a bit of a pain from the get-go. She came in, around 5", looking great. Put her into my 40b QT for observation. Very curious, always in my face and inspecting my work, BUT, wouldn't eat anything. Always seemed interested, but never committed.

I finally had her eating live little neck clams, and that was going great. It's all she would eat, but she picked them clean. I treated her with two rounds of CP and a round of prazi, handled it like a champ. Eating her clams as we went. About a week after medication, she stopped eating once again. Took a couple nips at live mussels, and that was it. I left her in QT for another two weeks, and then put her in the DT,(standard 240), Hoping the added space would spring her appetite once again. I let her be for 36 hours with no light, and then presumed with only heavy blues on. Shes the only fish in the tank currently.

That was a week ago. Ive tried every food trick I can think of:

LRS (both the new blend of fish frenzy and reef)
Spir. brine shrimp
PE mysis
NLS pellets
Little neck clams
Live mussels
Large rock clams
Oysters
Dr. G's medicated fish eggs
Scallops
Prawns
Ghost Shrimp
Two Brands of nori

I've had friends tell me to introduce timid, schooling fish to make her feel more comfortable. I have a small group of cardinals and chromis coming out of QT Saturday. I was told the bigger tank would be the answer, not the case either. I had a guy try to convince me the solution was to buy one from him, lol, and have it teach her how to eat. Shes still got a nice belly on her, but definitely has lost weight since purchased. What bugs me the most is she doesn't graze. Still the same wildly curious fish, exploring her new home. Just little interest in anything i have to offer. :headwally:

Suggestions?

 

[cFloor]

That's gotta be stressful with a fish like that. I wish you the best of luck. Can you get your hands on any live blackworms? Sometimes finicky fish will be interested in those.

 

[BlueMac92]

That's gotta be stressful with a fish like that. I wish you the best of luck. Can you get your hands on any live blackworms? Sometimes finicky fish will be interested in those.

Haven't found a reliable source. Any suggestions? Ive been seeking out local cichlid breeders around here for brown worms, no luck yet.

I've dealt with rare angels who didn't want to eat before, but none this stubborn...
I sold my two bandits when i moved, both weren't eating when they came into my care. Both left eating pellets.
I know larger conspic will go on hunger strikes, but this is a little much. I had a golden Arothron that did the same, but never to this extent...

 

[WayneL333]

Was there maybe a temperature difference between your qt and dt? Maybe try turning up the temp a degree or two.

 

[BlueMac92]

Was there maybe a temperature difference between your qt and dt? Maybe try turning up the temp a degree or two.

Both at 77.... I wish it were that simple. Salinity was 1.023 in both as well. That's the thing though, she quit eating before the DT.

 

[Dmorty217]

You can purchase black worms off the net pretty easily. I know there are no sources for them around me either. What about live brine? I know my stress level would be extremely high if I was in your shoes.

 

[o2manyfish]

Do you have a local fish store where you can get live brine and live black worms. With the Brine, don't try to load them, spike them, add to them, just add some live ones to the tank.

Live black worms, make most fish pretty happy. Not sure where you are located but most LFS get fresh live foods before the weekend. Find one and get some live fresh foods for her.

Dave B

 

[RDtrack]

Wish I could help. I know this is kind after the fact but I had a friend tell me that has had experience with in the past to do observation Qt with them only. Only treat if something presents itself for the exact reason your having. He's got them to eat great only to stop when he proactively treated.

That's what I've done and my little lady is doing great and eating great. She's on week 7 of 10 in qt.

 

[murdock84]

Where are you located? Maybe someone on here know of a shop somewhere around that has black worms. I recently had some guys come over to my place to buy some corals that I had and I told them about a shop and none of them knew anything about it. They have black worms that I'll try for some of my fish once I get more in the tank.

 

[BlueMac92]

You can purchase black worms off the net pretty easily. I know there are no sources for them around me either. What about live brine? I know my stress level would be extremely high if I was in your shoes.

Dmorty, she stopped eating shortly after we spoke. How was Brian's?


A little background on myself: I've set up the saltwater departments in two of the three shops in my immediate area. My weekends, at one point, were fully dedicated to helping them develop their saltwater systems. I had a falling out with one, but still consult for the other. I know both the owners very well. Neither of them carry live foods outside of the typical FW feeders. The one I still work with I speak with her wholesalers directly and oversee her weekly orders. We were just hand picking coral yesterday in fact. I'll call Q&M tomorrow and see if they offer live brine. She'll be doing an order with them come next week. I know of a wholesaler close to us who offers black worms, but they are....junk to keep it PG.

I know most of the shops in my extended area. Reefwise and Old Town are the heavy hitters. I know Brian doesn't carry live foods, unsure of Old Town.

 

[george915]

NVM. was going to suggest fresh water fish stores. Beautiful fish. Good luck!

 

[Dmorty217]

Dmorty, she stopped eating shortly after we spoke. How was Brian's?


A little background on myself: I've set up the saltwater departments in two of the three shops in my immediate area. My weekends, at one point, were fully dedicated to helping them develop their saltwater systems. I had a falling out with one, but still consult for the other. I know both the owners very well. Neither of them carry live foods outside of the typical FW feeders. The one I still work with I speak with her wholesalers directly and oversee her weekly orders. We were just hand picking coral yesterday in fact. I'll call Q&M tomorrow and see if they offer live brine. She'll be doing an order with them come next week. I know of a wholesaler close to us who offers black worms, but they are....junk to keep it PG.

I know most of the shops in my extended area. Reefwise and Old Town are the heavy hitters. I know Brian doesn't carry live foods, unsure of Old Town.

That seems to be the norm with most LFS (not carrying live foods for whatever reason) not sure I understand it but that's how it is. I haven't made it to Brian's yet, this house building thing is taking up a lot of my free time at the moment. Have to keep reminding my wife we aren't millionaires... How long has it been since the last time you saw her eat?

 

[ajherrera2]

if you google california black worms there's a website that sells them direct to consumer.

 

[cFloor]

Haven't found a reliable source. Any suggestions? Ive been seeking out local cichlid breeders around here for brown worms, no luck yet.

I've dealt with rare angels who didn't want to eat before, but none this stubborn...
I sold my two bandits when i moved, both weren't eating when they came into my care. Both left eating pellets.
I know larger conspic will go on hunger strikes, but this is a little much. I had a golden Arothron that did the same, but never to this extent...

I believe there is a place online that sells them, but I've never ordered from them. I get them from a fresh water fish store in SF. Best of luck

 

[BlueMac92]

That seems to be the norm with most LFS (not carrying live foods for whatever reason) not sure I understand it but that's how it is. I haven't made it to Brian's yet, this house building thing is taking up a lot of my free time at the moment. Have to keep reminding my wife we aren't millionaires... How long has it been since the last time you saw her eat?

Over two weeks. Closer to 3. Force feeding is my last option. I've helped with bonnets, smooth hound and blue dots. With species outside of sharks and Rays though, I've found its done more harm than good. She's still got some girth on her. Pods, blackworms, and brown worms (pending I can find a source) will be on the menu come Monday.

if you google california black worms there's a website that sells them direct to consumer.

I did find that site and will be placing an order shortly


I've been talking to our salesmen, who is going above and beyond to help, about possible options. I also have a local coral wholesaler who has tunicates (spelling?) from that region that I will be trying.

 

[Dmorty217]

Yeah I don't think I would be trying to force feed her, a lot of risk involved depending on how many times you have done it. If push comes to shove it may be a last ditch effort. Can you get your hands on some brine shrimp eggs? You could hatch them and have live ones in a few days.

 

[jmicky41]

OTA does (or at least used to) sell live blood worms.

 

[BlueMac92]

Yeah I don't think I would be trying to force feed her, a lot of risk involved depending on how many times you have done it. If push comes to shove it may be a last ditch effort. Can you get your hands on some brine shrimp eggs? You could hatch them and have live ones in a few days.

I have no experience doing it with smaller fish. When I was talking with Brian he said he's tried it with a few conspics before and it's never worked. Q&M should have live brine. Our rep called me yesterday and we spoke briefly about it. If not, I know our dry goods supplier does and I'll go that route.

OTA does (or at least used to) sell live blood worms.

Didn't even think of blood worms. Might have to give them a try...

 

[jmicky41]

Oops, I was thinking of black worms, not blood worms.

 

[BlueMac92]

On a positive note, I guess, she's acting just like an angel. Put some anthias and cardinals in today and she went straight to tail slapping. Still very curious, maybe they'll teach her how to eat.