Help with getting CBB to eat

Tunafish

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I have a cbb for 11 days, it looks healthy and is very active, loves picking at rocks, but I can't get it to eat anything. I tried 3 types of mussels/clams with it, it only pecking once or twice at one specific type. I tried frozen mysis and copepods, but it also did not respond. I tried smearing the clam it liked onto a piece of coral skeleton/rock, also tried smearing mysis and copepods. He didn't respond to those. I tried shredded frozen shrimp, also filled a clam half shell with shrimp, with no success any help or tricks to get it eating something. It likes eating small aiptasia, tubeworms, and probably pods in the tank. Pls don't recommend live blackworms. I can't get them where I live, thanks.
 

lapin

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Live white worms or grindal worms . Maybe? 🤔
 

code4

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Is your CBB in a tank by itself? But if it is picking at things it should be ok. Just keep offering it tiny amounts of foods. Varied. They can be slow deciding what they like. Mine likes to eat out of a feeder. The kind by two fishes. Put the food in and back away. patience and space
 

code4

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this
 
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Tunafish

Tunafish

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Is your CBB in a tank by itself? But if it is picking at things it should be ok. Just keep offering it tiny amounts of foods. Varied. They can be slow deciding what they like. Mine likes to eat out of a feeder. The kind by two fishes. Put the food in and back away. patience and space
I have a foxface a springeri damsel and a pair of clowns in the tank no aggression from the other guys and no real competition for food other fish like the flakes mostly. I will try a feeder. He is very active and curious with rocks. But has no interest in anything I offe.r I will set up a camera today to monitor it when I am away. I will put a clam in a location where the camera can see and will put motion detection and hopefully it will eat.
 

code4

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Honestly as long as it is pecking at things you should be ok. I kept mine in a 40 gallon coral tank with only one other small fish. Took it months to start eating well. I chopped up various frozen foods and kept them frozen. At least twice a day I put some in the pouch and placed it in the same area each day. He also was given a clam or mussel once or twice weekly. He seems to like everything now. But mostly anything with a picture of a CBB fish on the package. Even eats out of the water column now. I think in the beginning he ate best when the tank was still barely lit. Hope this helps.
 

code4

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He still likes eating first thing before it gets to bright. Names Beaker and I have had him for 2 years. Moved into a 100 gallon display tank even.
 

code4

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CBB I don't believe will eat flakes or pellets. Picky but worth it. I buy his frozen foods online. Enough for several months at a time.
 

Reef Wizard

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I have a cbb for 11 days, it looks healthy and is very active, loves picking at rocks, but I can't get it to eat anything. I tried 3 types of mussels/clams with it, it only pecking once or twice at one specific type. I tried frozen mysis and copepods, but it also did not respond. I tried smearing the clam it liked onto a piece of coral skeleton/rock, also tried smearing mysis and copepods. He didn't respond to those. I tried shredded frozen shrimp, also filled a clam half shell with shrimp, with no success any help or tricks to get it eating something. It likes eating small aiptasia, tubeworms, and probably pods in the tank. Pls don't recommend live blackworms. I can't get them where I live, thanks.
frozen blood worms soaked in garlic guard for 5 min then squirted into a rock or out of the coral feeder for it.
 

bluemon

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I would grab some masstick and put it on coral skeleton or rocks.
 

code4

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IMG_3711.jpeg

This was a year ago.
 

sfin52

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If you have a fish market fresh clams will be a good option. Side note all fish love fresh clams
 

ScottJazz

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I’d soak the food in garlic.

I recently conditioned some evansi anthias from live adult brine to frozen and now to pellets. Try adding some garlic to the frozen food.

Can you hatch some baby brine shrimp or get live adult brine shrimp? That can help get them eating and prompt the feeding response. Then slowly introduce other foods at the same feeding to expand what they’ll eat.
 

code4

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I usually freeze the fresh clams first. Guess I am paranoid something other than just the clam could be there. Plus they keep for weeks.
 

threebuoys

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Be sure to mince the fresh clam. Thats practically all my CBB will eat.
 

Avadakedavra

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I tied a piece of frozen clam on a piece of rock and mine went for it. Clam on the half shell didn’t work, it freaked the fish out. If you have a peaceful fish that also eats clam on the rock, keep it with the CBB for a while. They learn from others.
 

legionofdoon

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How do you get them to start eating aptasia? I've had mine for two weeks and he readily eats mysis out of the water column but has yet to touch any aptasia.
 

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