Lyretail Anthias tips needed

[Nanighan]

Hi all, I have a 5 lyretail anthias that seem to be doing well, other than the occasional chasing and nipping. My issue is I can only get 3 of the 5 to eat NLS pellets, and I will be going on vacation for 8 days in 1.5 weeks. I tried not feeding for a day, and then feed the following day, but no luck. Should I try 2 days? What do you guys think of just letting them be and hopefully they catch on while I'm away? Also auto feeder runs 3 times a day with only NLS 1mm pellets. Thanks

Edit to add that they all eat frozen, but I am trying to get them on NLS pellets.

 

[clowncaldy27]

How long have they been in the tank ? If new , that may explain them not eating. They should start eating though.

 

[ZOAREEFTANK]

Lyre tail anthias are very picky and it's like trying to pull teeth trying to get them to take pellets. Most of the time they will only take live depending on there age. The first set I ever had were very small and wouldn't even take frozen. My cousins eat pellets but he's lost one of them because of it. You could try to just use the feeders. I wish there was a frozen automatic feeder. That would be sweet


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[Nanighan]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqSZjUW-uuE

Everyone likes pics and videos right? The anthias has been in the tank about a month. All eating frozen with gusto. I wish I can have someone one stop by in the middle of the vacation to throw a cube or two in there, but so far no luck.

 

[MondoBongo]

try other types of food.

different pellets, flakes, freeze dried, anything that can fit in your auto feeder.

diversity is the best weapon for cracking a picky eater if you can't do live or frozen.

 

[Nanighan]

Just to update in case anyone is doing a search. Freeze dried plankton from San Francisco Bay works pretty well, just as long as its crushed up according to your fish size. Also prime reef flakes are hit or miss (only 2 out of 4) so far. Will keep trying with the flakes, since its only been about 5 days. The plankton pretty much worked right out of the gate. Cheers all.

 

[Spartan]

IME lyretails are the easiest anthias to convert to pellets. I found nls to be more difficult for them; the nls pellets are very hard. Try formula II.

 

[falconut]

Some of the lyretails I've had over the years took a little while to take to pellets or flakes. You're probably going to need to have somebody stop by to feed them.

 

[jda]

You are just going to have to let them be. They likely know that it is food since they can see the other fish eating it, but have never been hungry enough to eat them.

I say that you are just going to have to "tough love" them. There is a good chance that they are all eating the NLS when you get back. All of my lyretails and bartletts eat them after a while.