Help with Leaf fish

[ducklady]

I just got a leaf fish and the lfs told me he was eating frozen mysis and live ghost shrimp. He won't eat either for me. He tried to catch the ghost shrimp, but couldn't. It was a pretty small ghost shrimp - maybe 1/2". The fish is about 2 to 2 1/4". Is there any other food I can try?

Thanks

 

[a1amap]

While I can't help with your main question, the fish did go after the ghost shrimp. I say start there. Either maim a small ghost shrimp of kill it and see if he eats it.

 

[mbbuna]

this fish is an ambush predator so i would only offer it live food. i would add plenty of live shrimp and let it pick them off at will

 

[coralnut99]

He's a little guy, so you may want to try small FW feeder fish. Feeder fish are often pretty well starved, so it would be worth setting up a very small tank to basically fatten them up. That may come across as pretty cruel, but there's really not too many ways around it. Fw mollies can be slowly acclimated to live in full strength SW. They woud be preferable to guppies that will die in a bout 10 minutes, and if he doesn't eat them, will just cause water quality issues. In the short term, a maimed feeder shrimp would be the quickest answer.

 

[billsreef]

It's not unusual for a fish to take a couple of days to settle in and not eat in that time period. I'd keep with the ghost shrimp, eventually they will be dinner

 

[ggk1988]

Out of curiosity what kind did you get? Got any pics? I almost bought one the other day.

 

[The Crowing]

While acclimating leaf and stonefish for the first few days I have found that it is best to offer them LOTS of ghost shrimp at one time. It will be easier for them to catch since they may be finicky at first and whatever is not eaten can be removed with a net. Just watch your hands