My first clowns....

[~RuSh~]

Hi guys. Just got my first pair of clowns this weekend. They are in a 30g tank, with cycled Live rock. The clowns are tank raised ocellaris, and they have one tank mate a fire shrimp.

The first few days in the tank the clowns haven't really eaten much. They have both eaten bits of spirulina infused brine shrimp, but I guess I'm used to seeing fish eat until they are bulging from the belly. Are clowns fussy? They seem to eat a few bites and then ignore the rest of the food or mouth it and spit it out. Is this normal?

What do you guys feed your clowns?

 

[pugcrush]

How were they at the store? Did they eat before you purchased?

Try some Rods food or mysis shrimp. There isn't much nutrition in brine from what I've read in the past, so mysis is the better option. You may also want to soak the food in some vitamin products. Usually that'll spark an appetite. Good luck

 

[rallim]

I wouldn't worry unless they dont eat for more than 4 or 5 days. The are still new to your system.

 

[~RuSh~]

They ate the spirulina brine shrimp at the store. I bought some just to make sure I had something I knew they would eat. I tried mysis shrimp and they ignored it. The brine shrimp was the first thing they ate. They ate some flakes too, but again not very much. A few mouthfuls each and that was it.

I guess I'll order some different foods and try a bunch.

 

[davocean]

Probably just getting used to new tank and being timid eaters.
Spectrum pellets, mysis, cyclopseze are mines favs, among brine but I rarely feed brine, not as nutrtious.
But w/ spirulina is ok, and since that is what yours are used to keep feeding some of that.
I'm sure they'll come around.

 

[bues0022]

If you can find it, I've never seen a fish turn down masago (flying fish roe). Look for it where you can buy sushi supplies.

 

[~RuSh~]

Probably just getting used to new tank and being timid eaters.
Spectrum pellets, mysis, cyclopseze are mines favs, among brine but I rarely feed brine, not as nutrtious.
But w/ spirulina is ok, and since that is what yours are used to keep feeding some of that.
I'm sure they'll come around.

Thanks for the reassurance.

I'll be patient and keep trying different things. I have some NLS too so I'll try some of that tonight.

 

[~RuSh~]

If you can find it, I've never seen a fish turn down masago (flying fish roe). Look for it where you can buy sushi supplies.

Like in a grocery store?

 

[SkullV]

Like in a grocery store?

Yep, just make sure it isn't salted. I know for a fact that Whole Foods has it near the seafood.

 

[~RuSh~]

Thanks guys. The clowns are already doing better. I fed some NLS and both ate. The larger of the two ate a solid amount, and held some food in his mouth while he digested some. Hopefully given time I'll be able to fatten them both up.