popeye sea goblin

[ashtree68]

Could putting it on the feeding stick infront of a power head or near one so its "swimming" and just leaving it there for a little bit work? That way it will look like its alive, there's not some big huge creature staring at the fish and it may be more comfortable to eat?

 

[rayn]

Fibinotchi, I can try the room light trick. I only try once with a feeding stick, usually after I move it around a little either he swims off or the food floats off the stick. If he doesn't take it I assume he isn't ready and don't force the issue.
There is a lion and wolf eel in this tank too, no guppy or molly would last long enough for him to get I don't think. These guys are fed first and then the goblin. That gives me the chance to direct the food to him without them terrorizing him and taking it out of his mouth.

 

[Sitarangi]

Drop a big live ghost shrimp or damsel in front of it. That'll trigger a feeding response and from there on out it should be smooth sailing. Got a good pic of mine walking around the tank.

 

[namxas]

There are a couple of things to try:

Try freezing/thawing a live ghostie and presenting it to the fish on a "stealth stick". They will often go for something they can recognize as food (this can be done with guppies, mollies, etc also).

You can also "chill" live guppies in a bit of water for about 5 - 10 mins in the freezer. Take the feeder out and slip it onto a "stealth stick", as the guppy warms up, it will start to wiggle and I can't say I've seen a fish refuse this.

Finally, you can introduce a live feeder to your fish in a small net, and it will snatch the food as soon as it leaves the net, and may even go into the net to feed:

 

[rayn]

I'll go out tonight and get some live food. Shrimp, mollies, some mixture. I have a 5 gal that I run with just a airstone for such occasions and will set it up before I go. I was thinking the net trick, but hadn't heard of the other two but may be worth a shot.

 

[namxas]

If you haven't read it, the technique is described in THIS ARTICLE. It's kind of towards the end in the text past the "dead guppy" pic.

 

[Fibinotchi]

How did it go?

 

[rayn]

No luck wit live food tonight either. I got a dozen ghost shrimp and half a dozen or so rosies.
Live shrimp in the net right in front of him, watched him crawl out and under his nose then under his body.
Rosie in the net, swam right past him with no response.
Two more ghost shrimp in the net right in front of him and he watched them both swim right by.
Only response I got was a ticked off goblin swimming around the tank that still hasn't eaten. I'll try the fresh frozen trick tomorrow.

 

[rayn]

I tried one more time tonight with the net trick with two shrimp.

They actually hid under his fins!

 

[jarrod13]

I think he's too stressed out, mine would get upset from time to time and not eat for a while. I know mine was always paying more attention to me than the food, I would have to be super still and hide as much of my body as I could to get him to eat sometimes. I'm sure the other tankmates aren't helping either. HTH and good luck

 

[Sitarangi]

If he's not eating, you may have to starve him out for a couple days. Use the clear feeding tube or just drop the shrimp right in front of him too. I bet you the net or tongs is freaking him out.

 

[rayn]

The net I could see bothering him, but any time I tried frozen it was on a clear prong. Right after I took the pic last night.one of those shrimp literally crawled over his mouth! He didn't even flinch at it.

 

[Sitarangi]

Ya hes going on a hunger strike. Don't feed him for a week then try live ghost shrimp. My gob I picked up literally straight from the airplane and didn't eat for a week or two after I got him. Keep the tank dark and try not to stick your hands in there. The key is to not stress him out. Also throw a couple chromis in there too, that was the first thing my gob ate.

 

[rayn]

I can't disagree with the hunger strike, but it has already been 12 days that I have had him. Unless they are scavengers like I questioned earlier then he hasn't eaten in those 12 days.

I am starting to worry a little.

 

[jarrod13]

Definitely not a scavenger

 

[rayn]

I didn't think so, but never hurts to ask. I knew these guys were tough to ween to frozen, but sheesh!

Well here are my options. 1 leave as is and hope he eats. 2 QT him and get him to eat. 3 set up his own tank which would be a 40b and move him there for undivided attention. 1 is easy, 2 is easy, 3 is more work but doable in a day. I have water, could move a couple LR over for bio, could add a small skimmer and HOB filter that is seeded, just need sand and could seed it with a cup from the DT. Best choice?

 

[rayn]

Anybody? Tomorrow would be my last chance to do it easily before next weekend.

 

[namxas]

FWIW, we isolate every one of our fish for observation and weaning. It's so much easier when you have their undivided attention, and it's the right thing to do in terms of QT.

 

[rayn]

So is moving him to a 40 going to put him over the edge? I got it set up, just need substrate yet. Filter is seeded so I have bio filter in there and plan to move rock over from established tank. If he moves he isn't going back either, this tank will be his and maybe and friend in time.

 

[namxas]

I think that being alone will help with the "distraction" factor. Our I. japonicus rooms with a S. brasiliensis ATM, but they were weaned in separate setups. However, the brasiliensis is more "mobile" than the stingfish, and the stingfish insists on being stick fed whereas the scorp will take food from the stick or the water column. The scorp would take every piece of food in the tank if I didn't target feed them even tho the Inimicus is a great eater.