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Help: new powder blue won’t eat (1 Viewer)

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Nike4surr

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Anyone have any ideas? I have tried rods food seaweed blend ( in the reef currents gift bag) flakes, pellets, and he still won’t eat.
I’m getting worried. It’s like he is searching for food but won’t eat any of the fish food.
Does anyone have anything I can try?

I’m starting to get worried.
 

alex6528

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Have you tried brine that gut loaded with spirulina?


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sneezebeetle

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It's certainly frustrating when a new fish won't eat! Here are some things that I have tried with great success...

1 - live brine shrimp, usually found at FG in Houston.

2 - Orange fish eggs (Not the frozen yellow eggs you readily find at a typical lfs).

3 - Marine Frenzy (Pic #1). Only place I have found this at is FG in Houston.

4 - Selco (by Fritz, pic #2) also only ever seen at FG in Houston.

All used with great results.

Sometimes a fish that hasn't been in captivity very long has to be "taught" to eat Nori from a clip, remember there are no "clips" in the ocean. Some will learn by watching other fish in the tank, some need a little more help. Try some Mastik (this can be mushed into the nooks and crannies of your LR and helps promote grazing) or using a rubber band and banding the nori to a small piece of rubble.
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webster1234

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I've had luck rubber banding some spinach leaves to a rock (not on a nori clip). Drop a few drops of Kent garlic extreme on it too. I got a picky Achilles to start eating that way. Agree with above...they need to be "taught" to eat. He's hungry, he just can't find what it is he is used to getting in the wild. Spinach must have been closer to natural food than nori.
 
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Nike4surr

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Thanks for the help.

I’ll try the live brine shrimp tomorrow. He hasnt eaten in almost a week. He seems wild caught and doesn’t know how to eat. He’s acting a bit funny but looks healthy.
 

Tstew32

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I’ve had very good luck with most new fish by turning off all water movement (powerheads and pumps) and letting him get used to eating that way if you don’t already.


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sneezebeetle

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Hey how is the tang doing? Any progress with getting him to eat?
 
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Nike4surr

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Unfortunately I had to flush him. He started acting funny and then went belly up.
He had no physical issues at all except a bit of rough lips.
Stinks he didn’t make it. Disheartening you know...
 

TriggerFan

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Sorry for the loss. I have recently experienced a loss with Blue Jaw Trigger. I just got my Powder Blue, but he's very active (Well, he's being trailed by a Yellow Tang recently added as well) and I saw him eat some Yesterday. I have several things to feed the tank Today, so I'll see how it goes.
 
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Nike4surr

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Nice, hope you have better luck than I did trigger. Keep me updated. Maybe I can live through your tank. :)
 

sneezebeetle

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Sorry to hear that!

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RR-MAN

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Unfortunately I had to flush him. He started acting funny and then went belly up.
He had no physical issues at all except a bit of rough lips.
Stinks he didn’t make it. Disheartening you know...

Sorry to hear that.

Before you buy make sure it eats at the store they are finicky fish. Also, at home isolate in the sump or separate tank for a few weeks to make sure it gets enough food and time to adjust.
 

TriggerFan

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Well, I am ready to add my Hippo Tang back to the tank. I already have a Sohal, Yellow Tang, and Powder Blue. As mentioned earlier, the YT is on the PB. I am sure this is just temporary until the PB finally takes over. What I am worried about is the HT. Do you think it will be OK if I add him bak with those three now in there? If not, I have no problem adding to the FOWLR tank instead.
 
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