Flagfin angel not eating.

Nick Mazzone · Mar 11, 2016

I bought a flagfin angel from the lfs i asked to see him feed and they feed him mysis, he didnt show much interest he kept swimming away from it and he just ate one shrimp that practically fell on his mouth. I got him home and he nips at the rocks and empty shells on the bottom of my tank. He ate one ocean nutriton flake (the red ones) and one veggie flake. and thats it. So hes really not eating. also nipped at the nori once, had him since wednesday. What should i do hes in a 75 heres a pic.

melypr1985 · Mar 11, 2016

You can try soaking the food in garlic. That might entice him to eat. You can also try live brine or blackworms. Feed a variety of frozen meaty foods until you find something he likes then go from there.

Humblefish · Mar 12, 2016

Flagfins can be a PITA to get eating sometimes. Supposedly their dietary requirement includes sponge meat. So, I would try "Hikari Mega-Marine Angel" or "San Francisco Bay Brand Angel & Butterfly Diet". Any frozen food that lists "sponge" up high on the list of ingredients.

Humblefish · Mar 12, 2016

BTW, what's up with that hole on the side of his head? He looks to have scales missing (or raised) across his entire body. I also hope you don't have him in with any corals. They are pretty bad about eating those.

Nick Mazzone · Mar 12, 2016

All of them have that hole, hes not missing any scales really.

melypr1985 · Mar 12, 2016

seems to be transitioning into an adult. This is the picture I got off google. The younger, smaller ones didn't have the hole. Pretty fish. Sponge is a great idea for angels! I didn't think of it. Got any pineapple sponges in your sump or overflow? Could be worth a shot while your look'n for foods with sponge in it.

Humblefish · Mar 12, 2016

Just not used to seeing it so pronounced. My last one was still a juvenile when I sold it (coral nipping).

Nick Mazzone · Mar 12, 2016

I have a piece of live rock covered in white/yellow stuff it's thick and soft

eatbreakfast · Mar 12, 2016

Rocks with sponge will work, but so should clams on the half shell, anything that it can pick at.

Ariellemcc · Sep 20, 2023

Humblefish said:
BTW, what's up with that hole on the side of his head? He looks to have scales missing (or raised) across his entire body. I also hope you don't have him in with any corals. They are pretty bad about eating those.