Should i be worried

[fernalfer]

Ok i bought a Banghai Cardinal fish from my LFS. There was 7 in the tank all fat and healthy looking, so i picked one. Now he has been home with me for 5 days now and has not eaten. He seems fine and swims around but does not even try the food, just seems right by it. I tried feeding Brine and Mysis shrimp. Frozen plankton, emerald entree, and a mix of frozen food. I have also soaked food in garlic with no success.

He is in a QT tank with a starry blenny and they get along just fine. The starry is eating like a pig but not the Cardinal. They are on their first round of prazipro.

I need to know when to start to worry.

1. How long can they go without food?

2. what should i do if anything?

3. Is this normal behavoir for Banghaii Cardinal fish?

 

[Str8linespeed]

Is the lower jaw protruding? Its possible that you have a male that is holding eggs in its mouth. If that is the case they wont eat for up to a month.

 

[Silly clownfish]

I have never owned a cardinal, so I can't speak to that. However, Prazi can be an appetite supressant, so I never start it until a new fish is eating well in my QT.

 

[farfromsea]

Try feeding after lights are out. Some say they are nocturnal feeders. If wild-caught they may do better on live food could be worth a try. The male-holding egg theory certainly holds water and if that is the case they usually don't eat for 20+ days after which they release the eggs

 

[fernalfer]

Try feeding after lights are out. Some say they are nocturnal feeders. If wild-caught they may do better on live food could be worth a try. The male-holding egg theory certainly holds water and if that is the case they usually don't eat for 20+ days after which they release the eggs

anyone have any idea where to get live brine shrimp? Or does it need to be ordered online, which might be to late by the time i get them.

 

[A sea K]

anyone have any idea where to get live brine shrimp? Or does it need to be ordered online, which might be to late by the time i get them.

I would think your LFS should have live brine shrimp.

 

[SeaCucumberFan]

My cardinal also does not seem to eat at all but it has been alive for more than a year

 

[sde1500]

I have had pretty bad luck with those fish, have gotten a few CB ones that just wouldn't eat. But also, as others have said, prazipro reduces appetite. I used to dose it right away, but have had better luck recently getting the fish eating first, then dose prazi.

 

[fernalfer]

Update: i finally got him to eat live brine shrimp from the LFS. The problem with that is running to the LFS everyday to feed this fish will become tiresome. Hopefully he learns to start excepting other foods.

 

[Joke]

Update: i finally got him to eat live brine shrimp from the LFS. The problem with that is running to the LFS everyday to feed this fish will become tiresome. Hopefully he learns to start excepting other foods.

Have you considered raising your own?

 

[A sea K]

Update: i finally got him to eat live brine shrimp from the LFS. The problem with that is running to the LFS everyday to feed this fish will become tiresome. Hopefully he learns to start excepting other foods.

I have the same issue with my NSLFS(Not So Local Fish Store), its a 50 mile trip one way.
I would feed a portion of live brine shrimp, add some selcon to the bag as food for the shrimp(gut loading and good for the fish also) then put the remainder in the fridge and I could feed for several days.

 

[farfromsea]

Well that is good news. You can start incorporating some frozen shrimp in with the lives ones and gradually decrease the proportion of live until you see them eating more of the frozen. You should be eventually successful in weaning them!

 

[fernalfer]

Well that is good news. You can start incorporating some frozen shrimp in with the lives ones and gradually decrease the proportion of live until you see them eating more of the frozen. You should be eventually successful in weaning them!

Yes just a pain going to the LFS and getting the Live Brine.

 

[SeaCucumberFan]

Yes just a pain going to the LFS and getting the Live Brine.

You can start a refugium and vreed the brine shrimp

 

[Buzz1329]

anyone have any idea where to get live brine shrimp? Or does it need to be ordered online, which might be to late by the time i get them.

For baby brine shrimp, this place has fantastic fool-proof hatcher and eggs:

http://florida-aqua-farms.com/shop/brine-shrimp-hatcher/

Mike