Longnosed Hawk Not Eating

[eastfernstreet]

I'm a newbie, but am on the curve and VERY interested in learning.

Two days ago I purchased a small Longnosed Hawkfish and slowly - over a period of two hours - acclimated him as my second to last fish. (90 gal. w/100+ lbs. of live rock, star polys, Kenya Tree coral, 1 small Yellow Tang, 2 small Black Clowns, 5 Blue/Green Chromis, Blue Hermits, Fighting Conch, Mexican Turbo, Florida Turbos -- planning on one Flame Angel and then stopping.)

Everything is healthy, parameters are great and steady. 80 degrees, 1.025, etc.

Hawkfish gets really excited when food is put in tank and other fish are feeding. Even took a mysis(?) shrimp in his mouth -- only to spit it out in a few seconds. I've tried two varieties of flake food, mysis shrimp, frozen (?)plankton stuff, pellets (clowns' favorites) but he simply won't eat.

LFS said he was eating the Mysis shrimp. Should I be worried? Will he eventually get hungry enough to eat. He is active (for a hawkfish, I guess), alert and is not bothering or being bothered by any of the other fish.

Tricks? Ideas? Options? Or, should I start making funeral plans?

Thanks for the help.

 

[cloak]

I think your fish just hasn't settled in yet. Going a few days without eating is perfectly normal. If it doesn't start eating after a week or so, then I would be a little concerned. Keep feeding as much variety as you can and sit tight. If your LFS sells live blackworms, you might want to give those a try. GL.

 

[Mikefallen13]

I would not worry yet. Some fish take several days to adjust before eating. I have a coral beauty angel that took almost a week before it started eating.

That being said, I love Longnose hawks! I currently have a large one about 5" and he is one of my favorite fish. He loves hikari mysis, PE mysis and hikari enriched brine. So they aren't very picky when they do eat.

Good luck!

 

[eastfernstreet]

Thanks. I think he was just as nervous as his owner. Took a couple of Mysis and now is scarfing everything in sight.

Gotta learn not to panic.