Pygmy Hawk not eating well

[reefcrazy93]

i have a pygmy hawkfish that isnt eating well. he eats but he doesnt like to come out to feed the food. i hacve to use a tube to feed him. is there any way to help him get his confidene to come out to eat or should i give it time.

 

[Jonviviano]

What type of hawk?, most hawks are very free swimming fish and always come out to eat. What are you feeding? I had a hawk who would eat flakes but started to stop and went after any meaty food like mysis and brine. try addind Xtreme garlic to his food also.

 

[reefcrazy93]

Its a Geometric Pygmy Hawk. He is actually a type of anthia but acts just like a hawkfish. he eats but doesnt like to work to get it. I usually feed them mysid and occasionaly shrimp, formula 1 and 2

 

[Jeffrey Porter]

mine is still shy after 8 months but when he wants food it will come out. doesn't look like it's eating much but its healthy and growing. are there any other fish in the tank. i have to make sure i put in enough food so that some drifts past the 10 chromis so the hawk can eat. i used to squirt brine and mysis right in front of him now i don't.

 

[Rothie]

I have had mine for over a year.I have never seen him actively feed,but he has grown quite a bit and is very plump and healthy.

 

[sirbooks]

That's completely normal behavior for your fish. They are not extremely picky eaters, but they do not go out and get dinner like most of the true hawkfish do. It might get a little bolder over time, but will still be beaten out by aggressive feeders.

 

[Peter Schmiedel]

... and they will never touch the pellets - all they take is food which looks like mysid shrimps.

 

[Jeffrey Porter]

mine eats flakes and small pellets.