Tips and Tricks

[Ambition]

Could I get advice from some fellow hobbyists on how to entice my deborae to eat? It was supposedly eating mysis and Sprinula flakes before I ordered it from an online retailer. I have tried mysis to no avail, and Formula 2 flakes (closest I have to Sprinula flakes). I have also tried clams on the half shell (soaked in garlic), angel formula, Formula 1 flake, NLS pellets, frozen herbivore blend, brine shrimp, and a home made frozen mix. So far nothing but some nips at the rocks.

I am all ears to ideas to getting it to eat. The sooner I can get it to eat the better for me!

 

[o2manyfish]

Do you have some dirty, hairy, algae covered live rock from a well established system? Some angels like to nibble the rocks and hunt to eat. I have a flame, pair of goldens and venustus that ignore all added foods to the tank but spend their time cruising the rocks and find plenty to keep them happy and full.

I think I saw another post where you had the fish in QT. Does the QT have enough rock for the fish to hide and feel protected and comfortable?

Dave B

 

[Ambition]

There are several pieces of rock in the tank, an arch made where it likes to hide. Sadly, no algae except coralline on my rocks. I have a small patch on one of my rocks, but that seems to be ignored. I think it was finding pods when it nipped at the rock work a couple times.

 

[o2manyfish]

Your archway is cool for you to see your fish. But some of these fish are very shy and like to be totally hidden in the rock work, with the option to come out and be in the open.

Perhaps a trip to your LFS and pick up a couple of pieces of more overgrown rock. Or post in your local reef club forum and see if anyone has rock to trade, which might be from a more pod populated tank.

Dave B

 

[Ambition]

Thanks for the tips Dave! I'll keep them in mind and see if I can find some nice overgrown pieces of LR. Offered my 100lbs of rock for trade for some nice overgrown LR locally, so we'll see what becomes of that. Thus far, this fish is being the trickiest to feed for me.

 

[johnc99]

Live black worms? My flame goes crazy for them. He gets all excited when the baster comes out.