Possum wrasse not eating

[bruindave]

I have a possum wrasse in a 10 gallon QT with a pink streaked wrasse and purple firefish. the pink streaked wrasse and firefish are eating a few pellets not a ton, but the possum wrasse isn't eating at all. i've had them all since sunday (3 days ago).

i tried mysis shrimp and pellets so far. any way to get them all to eat more especially the possum that hasn't eaten a thing in my presence so far? they all look healthy.

should i get some chaeto from someone to put into the QT for pods? would that be resetting my QT timer for them if i introduced that chaeto? i only have a 28 gallon DT with no chaeto.

 

[CoralsAddiction]

I've always found that brine shrimp works better than mysis for newly acquired fish. You should try it.

 

[CoralNerd]

I have a possum wrasse in a 10 gallon QT with a pink streaked wrasse and purple firefish. the pink streaked wrasse and firefish are eating a few pellets not a ton, but the possum wrasse isn't eating at all. i've had them all since sunday (3 days ago).

i tried mysis shrimp and pellets so far. any way to get them all to eat more especially the possum that hasn't eaten a thing in my presence so far? they all look healthy.

should i get some chaeto from someone to put into the QT for pods? would that be resetting my QT timer for them if i introduced that chaeto? i only have a 28 gallon DT with no chaeto.

Try some brine shrimp. My Tanaka ate only pods for the longest time however both my Tanaka and Pink Streaked Wrasses like brine shrimp and mysis actually they like a bunch other foods.
Brine shrimp is a good food to intice fish to eat. I like Hikari frozen brine. GL

 

[GoldeneyeRet]

I never saw my Tanakas eat in QT. I never see him eat anything in the DT either.

He did, however, gain weight and do quite well in his 6 or 8 weeks in QT. I fed some right before lights out am I am certain he would eat at night or when I was not disturbing him. I would peek in at the QT but he always seemed to see me.

Mine is a bit shy when anyone is moving near the tank, but if you just sit down and watch he will eventually cruise all over. Perhaps using a camera you could see if he eats? Or possibly it will be like it was for me with a lot of time spent worried about a fish that is doing well!

Good luck, I LOVE my Tanakas wrasse!

 

[bruindave]

that's good feedback from everyone. maybe i'll try some brine shrimp. i'm just worried b/c i never see it eat in the QT, but the other two fish do. i'm just wondering if it eats while i'm not watching off at work. i'm going to be out of town again this weekend, so was just a little concerned.

 

[ca1ore]

Definitely try brine (live if you can find it); but I'd also not worry too much after only a few days. I've had finicky fish take as long as two weeks to start eating.

 

[bruindave]

i got some frozen brine shrimp and put it in. possum wrasse still didn't go for it. the other two got a nice meal out of them though. i'm leaving town for the weekend and coming back sunday. i hope they do ok!

 

[CoralsAddiction]

Are you running any medication in QT?

 

[bruindave]

Are you running any medication in QT?

no medication. just straight salt water at 1.024 and nothing else. temp at 77. 3 PVCs in there and he's staying at the top.

 

[bruindave]

here's a picture of the 3 of them.

Here's derpy the possum wrasse at the top at the powerhead (it's off). later on he'll swim down, but then into the PVC. it's so hard to get a pic of him moving. this is the only one i could get, no he's not dead... i've confirmed.

here's the pink streaked wrasse, cruising in the back

here's the firefish

none of them exhibit weird behaviors. i read from a few posts that possum wrasses seem to like to hang up near the powerheads for some reason. he swims just fine and i don't see anything on any of their bodies. just doesn't want to eat, no sunken stomach yet either. maybe he likes to dine in private?

 

[bruindave]

Here's derpy the possum wrasse at the top at the powerhead (it's off). later on he'll swim down, but then into the PVC. it's so hard to get a pic of him moving. this is the only one i could get, no he's not dead... i've confirmed.

looking at him more, i think his mouth is always open. actually i noticed that he was opening his mouth even more so maybe not always open? may just look like it's open b/c of the coloration? can't tell.

 

[CoralsAddiction]

it doesn't look like there is mouth damage but if you think there is you can try some fish roe that would be easier for the wrasse to eat. Typically possum wrasses are very hardy despite their shy nature. I am yet to see one that eats pellets but frozen food has never been a problem. Good luck.

 

[Forced 2 Farm]

Hope everything works out iv been searching for a possum wrasse since iv had a tank, yet to find one tho.. my clown goby is the only picky eater iv had but I switched to Rods food and he really enjoys the fish egg blend. Maybe that would work for him. good luck keep us updated!

 

[bruindave]

it doesn't look like there is mouth damage but if you think there is you can try some fish roe that would be easier for the wrasse to eat. Typically possum wrasses are very hardy despite their shy nature. I am yet to see one that eats pellets but frozen food has never been a problem. Good luck.

i assumed they'd be ok with pellets. yea his stomach doesn't look sunken, but i can't tell if it ever eats.

Hope everything works out iv been searching for a possum wrasse since iv had a tank, yet to find one tho.. my clown goby is the only picky eater iv had but I switched to Rods food and he really enjoys the fish egg blend. Maybe that would work for him. good luck keep us updated!

yea i have a mix of foods that i'm trying, but it doesn't seem like it eats it in my presence. just stays hidden most of the time.

i'm going to see if i can get some chaeto with some live pods since the stores around me don't have live pods right now. unfortunately i'm out of town this weekend and will be back monday so we'll see.

 

[CoralsAddiction]

Hope he makes till Monday. Aquarium City typically has live brine shrimp and live pods almost all the time.

 

[bruindave]

Does it reset the qt timer if I put chaeto from someone else's tank into my QT? Or do I risk any other diseases?

 

[Rakie]

I've always found that brine shrimp works better than mysis for newly acquired fish. You should try it.

And just like that, a year old post got my new Tanaka taking frozen food. Thanks homie