Flame Angel in OT, nibbling food, barely eating

[Mark9]

Long story short, I got a flame angel that i'm unsure if I really want.
Anyways, he's in the observation tank.
Around 2", he's a small guy.
Today is day 7.
I have never seen him eat more than 2 bites of anything I've fed him, Mostly just watches the food float around him.
Have tried so far
- pe mysis, takes a bite or 2
- spirulina, takes a nibble or 2 at most
- omega one, maybe a nibble
- larry's reef frenzy, won't eat it

What else should I be trying?
Liveaquaria says he should be practically snorting this stuff.
Any other fish i've had, when he starts eating, he never stops.
This guy is barely eating anything.
The tank is old and established.

 

[OrionN]

My flame angel pair pick the rock all day. Their main food are the custaseans on the rock. The also eat anything I feed the tank, which is mainly flakes, mysis or Ocean plankton.
I think once your angel get use to his new situation, he will be fine, and eat everything. I also have another flame angel in my 65 g reef. I had a fat manarin in for many years, but as soon as I add the flame angel, the mandarin get thinner and thiner. I have to remove him.

 

[Marshall O]

I would get some live rock in the QT tank for it to pick at if you can. This will help it until it will except foods. Once they are acclimated and eating they are quite hardy. Getting them to that point can be difficult though. Mine eats absolutely everything, including other fishes waste...

 

[sreefs]

I would do a large water change, then dose with Prazi pro. Or you could do a fresh water dip for 10 minutes, make sure temp. and PH are the same as QT. I have found many times fish have flukes and this keeps them from eating.

 

[Marshall O]

I won't treat Prazi until a fish is eating personally. It can and will suppress appetites. Either way I would confirm it has flukes before treating if it is not eating as you suggested.

 

[Mark9]

It's an observation tank, so there is plenty of live rock, couple small corals, couple snails, a bit of algae.
He comes to the front of the tank when i get close, but still barely eating anything.
He just doesn't like anything i give him.
Ordered some new life spectrum pellets, gets here tomorrow, we'll see how he does with that.

 

[Mark9]

Day 10, still eating small amounts.
Did a 20% WC today, going to do another tomorrow.
Did not like the new life pellets.
Picked up some bloodworms, he nibbled on that.

 

[Newsmyrna80]

When I first got my flame I had a hard time getting him to eat. After a few days I gave him a FW dip and he had flukes. He ate like a pig after the dip and even during the Prazi treatment.

 

[sreefs]

It is hard to tell by the picture, but he looks very thin behind the eyes. By 10 days he should be eating aggressively by now. I would do a fresh water dip and PraziPro soon.

 

[ca1ore]

Not sure what you meant buy 'spirulina', but if you haven't, try the spirulina brine. I've had success getting finicky fish to begin eating. It's bacon for fish - and who doesn't like bacon? Flames can be problematic, and you may ultimately not be able to get it to eat. I definitely would NOT begin any meds until/if you can get it eating.

 

[Mark9]

Not sure what you meant buy 'spirulina', but if you haven't, try the spirulina brine. I've had success getting finicky fish to begin eating. It's bacon for fish - and who doesn't like bacon? Flames can be problematic, and you may ultimately not be able to get it to eat. I definitely would NOT begin any meds until/if you can get it eating.

This is what I mean by Spirulina, mysis spirulina.
Got it for a real good price on amazon, didn't realize the jar was a 10 year supply, it was HUGE, 1/2 pound.
Dang, that picture came out crazy big.

 

[Mark9]

Continuing my new tradition of buying every fish food know to man, got this today.
He seems to like it.
Also did a 20% WC.

 

[Mark9]

I'm positive the oceanic eggs are what has turned the tide.
He absolutely loves eating these eggs.
Then i threw in some Larry's Reef Frenzy with the eggs, and he's eating that, a lot.
Last night he even ate the Spirulina flakes.
Now when he sees me, he comes to the front glass begging for food.
Day 15, all is well.

 

[Mark9]

Flame is doing fintastic!

 

[indyjaco]

My flame was similar. He would only pick at rocks and eat the pellets out of the BZA food they make. He wouldn't eat spectrum pellets just the BZA ones.

A year later is he a total fatty.

Great fish with tons if personality, mine always knows where I am in the room.