How can I get my orchid Dottyback to eat

Shane808262 · Jul 4, 2019

i had a orchid Dottyback for about a week now and haven’t seen it eat once. I tried pellets and frozen brine and brine with speralina in it but it just sits on the bottom of the quarantine tank. It’s hides most of the time. I’m scared it is going to die and I paid a lot for it how can I keep It alive. What else could I feed it. HELP.

Bropar_Marty · Jul 4, 2019

do you have any pvc or something for it to hide in? might be stressed because it can't hide they usually create a territory around a small "cave" in the rock. Try Mysis, chopped clam

Eddie7144 · Jul 4, 2019

Bropar_Marty said:
do you have any pvc or something for it to hide in? might be stressed because it can't hide they usually create a territory around a small "cave" in the rock. Try Mysis, chopped clam

Live black worms ! Fish can not resist them. It will work every time.

mattzang · Jul 4, 2019

where'd you order it from? most are captive bred so i'd try to offer whatever food they fed it

mine goes for mostly anything meaty

Mariette · Jul 4, 2019

Both great suggestions above. Give it places to hide. And live food. I’ve never tried live black worms but I did have a dottyback that went nuts for live baby brine shrimp.

Style185 · Jul 4, 2019

I have a purple fire fish ( super timid) with lotta hideouts though. He eats anything but will come out and dart back into his cave real quick. I'd try a turkey baster by where he's comfortable at.

Shane808262 · Jul 4, 2019

Bropar_Marty said:
do you have any pvc or something for it to hide in? might be stressed because it can't hide they usually create a territory around a small "cave" in the rock. Try Mysis, chopped clam

Sorry yes I do plenty of PVC pipe of all shapes and sizes black and white one may so too much though.

Shane808262 · Jul 4, 2019

I got him from my LFS in Hawaii called coral fish Hawaii as a captive breed fish the day they got it in. Idk what they feed him before he arrived there but he was new so the store didn’t even get to feed it yet. I will try live baby brine shrimp. Thanks for your help.