new stubborn clowns hard to feed

[dickhordishay]

So after a month and a half of setting my tank up I FINALLY have fish. Two clownfish (boy are they identical!).

They've picked their home - a spot in the rear corner, behind the rock, and next to the powerhead and skimmer. It sure makes feeding them a chore.

I turn my skimmer down, but it still sucks the food, and the powerhead blows it all over the place! Does everyone keep these on when feeding? It would seem like a pain in the arse to shut them off all of the time. If I just throw the food in the tank they totally miss it, and if I stick my arm down in there, they scurry away and come back when most of the food falls to the sand.

If, eventually, I get an anenome and place it in front, would the clownfish move out there as well?

Also, they don't seem to really like the frozen mysis shrimp. Will this change?





jeff

 

[reefman13]

First, how long ago did you get them? The could still be going through the 'acclimation to a new home' stage.

Second, I wouldn't think about getting an anemone for at least another 5 months, and you have corals growing well, and everything else is also happy.

Third, to make it a little easier, I would find out what the LFS fed them, and mix it with the mysis, and eventually they will recognize the mysis as being a food.

 

[dickhordishay]

Just got them a few days ago from Dr. Foster's, so I don't have a clue what they fed them.

I started mixing in the shrimp, so maybe that'll help. They seem to just bite it and spit it back out. I don't think the pieces are too big. And like I said, most of it falls to the sand before they get it.
I guess they just haven't gotten the routine yet.

I also have some Seaweed Salad Green Marine Algae. If I hung it on a clip would they eat it?

 

[simmlink]

I'm having the same problem... I just got my clown pair yesterday from the LFS. I'm interested to see what suggestions everyone has. I haven't been able to get mine to eat since I put them in the tank about 18 hours ago - I've tried a few flakes and shrimp.

How long does the acclimation to the new tank last? How long can these guys go without eating?

dickhordishay, sorry to hijack your thread but I'm having the same issues as you.

Thanks!
Simmlink

 

[dickhordishay]

That's okay Simmlink, the more posts, the longer it stays at the top!
Mine will eat, they just don't seem to really like the frozen mysis shrimp.
But I'm more concerned about the food being blown away from the powerhead or sucked into the skimmer. I guess I need to feed even slower.
Well, at least my coral banded shrimp and hermits will get to eat the detritus.

 

[reefman13]

I have a picasso that I ordered from a place that I will never order from again (but that's besides the point). Any who, I have had mine now for about a week, and she is still not eating as much as I would like her to.So I would give it some time for sure, but at this point, it seems like very slow feeding is going to be the way to go.

Another thing to try, is soaking the food in garlic. For some reason (I am not 100% sure of the 'why' so I won't say anything), it acts as a fish magnet when it comes to feeding time. The other thing about it, is that it helps give the immune system of the animal a little boost, which if you can get them to eat it regularly, then it is a win-win situation.

Another thing to try, is to get some competition. If you have a tank that will permit it, go out to your LFS, and take a look at some of the fish you may want to add to your system. When and if you find one, as one of the employees to feed it and watch it eat. If it eats aggressively it would be a good candidate. However, if it eats SO aggressively that it takes away from the other fish in the display it won't be a good candidate. Here is the reasoning for all this: If you have a fish, that you can have your clowns watch eat, then it will set an example for the fish that you will have now. It should also set off a little 'light bulb' in their minds, that if they want food they need to get a little more serious about eating it. This has worked for me and I would recomend it when it comes to getting a fish to eat.

HTH