longnose butterfly help
- Thread starter RealReef7
- Start date
jjk_reef00
New member
If you have only had him in your tank for 2 days I wouldn't worry too much. Is he grazing on live rock? If so try placing rods or pe near the places he is grazing.
Sounds like he is intimidated. Is he grazing off live rock or just hanging out?
Dr Colliebreath
New member
I agree that it sounds like it is intimidated if it is just hanging out in a corner.
Did you use live brine shrimp or frozen? If frozen, I would try the live version. Mine would eat only live blackworms and live brine shrimp for more than a month, and only recently started eating frozen mysis and a bit of Rod's. to your offerings.
It may take a couple more days for it to start eating, so be patient. Try feeding the tang and other fish at the other end of the tank with a lot of food and at the same time shooting live blackworms or live brine down near the longnose with a turkey baster so it gets a chance to eat without having to compete.
You don't mention any damage, such as nicks on its body or snout or red spots. They tend not to do well if there is shipping damage.
I just released mine from quarantine to the display tank on Friday, and I have had it since August 3. One of the reasons for a quarantine tank is to let the fish start eating and settle in without fear of entrenched fish.
Did you use live brine shrimp or frozen? If frozen, I would try the live version. Mine would eat only live blackworms and live brine shrimp for more than a month, and only recently started eating frozen mysis and a bit of Rod's. to your offerings.
It may take a couple more days for it to start eating, so be patient. Try feeding the tang and other fish at the other end of the tank with a lot of food and at the same time shooting live blackworms or live brine down near the longnose with a turkey baster so it gets a chance to eat without having to compete.
You don't mention any damage, such as nicks on its body or snout or red spots. They tend not to do well if there is shipping damage.
I just released mine from quarantine to the display tank on Friday, and I have had it since August 3. One of the reasons for a quarantine tank is to let the fish start eating and settle in without fear of entrenched fish.
Which is what my inference is. If he feels confined/intimidated, he may not eat.
Dr Colliebreath
New member
For now, can you catch the yln and keep it in a quarantine tank until it eats and settles in? Say 4-6 weeks. A 10 gallon tank with heater and HOB filter or powerhead can suffice. Just change the water frequently to manage water quality.
MrTuskfish
Team RC
Sure, getting a fish to start eating is easier in a QT; no mad rush for food and no competitors. Another of the many reasons to QT all new fish. BTW, 2 days is way too soon to really worry. This fish could easily take a week or longer to begin feeding. LYN butterflys are tougher than they look, but I agree with the posts that suggested he may be intimidated. Get him by himself and then give him some time. Because this fish wasn't quarantined, you'll have to keep a sharp eye on your DT for parasites.
Dr Colliebreath
New member
Yes, just a little bit at a time so you don't kill the water quality. I would focus on live brine, live blackworms, and frozen mysis (start with Haikari, because they are smaller than the PE mysis).
SkullV
They Got My Number
If the "Oregon Desert Mysis" is of a similar size to PE you may be giving it food that is just too large. Try Hikari Mysis. Also try Spirulina enriched brine. It was the first thing my Copperband would take. It wouldn't even take live brine but it loved Spirulina, now it takes any brine (even though I only use Selcon soaked Spirulina) and Hikari mysis.
LemonLemon
New member
is it Forcipiger flavissimus? or F. longirostris.
if it is the regular flavissimus, there should be no problem getting them to feed once they are comfortable.
F. longirostris however, is harder to get feeding
if it is the regular flavissimus, there should be no problem getting them to feed once they are comfortable.
F. longirostris however, is harder to get feeding
MrTuskfish
Team RC
IMO & IME, when a fish is ready to eat, it will eat most of the foods that you would normally feed. If it isn't eating, finding out why becomes more & more important. seldom does a fish discover a '"magic food' and that starts him eating. An assortment of meaty, frozen foods should get any LYN eating. Like i said above, it can take time for new fish to eat.
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