Multibar success?
- Thread starter Tyson
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I have a captive since Sept 2022, they come in absolutely tiny so you need to be ready for that. Crushed pellets and calanus... they can be easily bullied or out competed for food and needs to eat often.
So I received a multibar from dr reef last week. I’ve got it in an observation tank with some live rock and pvc. It’s gotten much more comfortable over the last few days, and looks very healthy. However, I just can’t get it to eat. I know they’re tough, but looking for ideas if anyone has them.
I’ve tried frozen mysis, frozen spirulina brine, reef frenzy, SB angel/butterfly mix, mastic on the rocks and pvc, omega flakes. I’ve been dumping freshly hatched live baby brine in as well, but they’re very small, and it’s shown no interest.
Anything I haven’t thought of? The fish looks at the rocks, but hasn’t pecked at anything and it’s going on about 7 days now.
I’ve tried frozen mysis, frozen spirulina brine, reef frenzy, SB angel/butterfly mix, mastic on the rocks and pvc, omega flakes. I’ve been dumping freshly hatched live baby brine in as well, but they’re very small, and it’s shown no interest.
Anything I haven’t thought of? The fish looks at the rocks, but hasn’t pecked at anything and it’s going on about 7 days now.
I got mine from him also, It was probably a month or so before I started seeing him come out and feed. I assumed he was just eating sponge etc from the live rock in my tank. I would not see him for days sometimes and when I did it was just a glimpse of him in my live rock. Now he is out all the time and eats like a piggy with the rest of the fish. Its was probably 3 months before he was comfortable being out in the open.
I did not QT him I put him right into my display.
I did not QT him I put him right into my display.
areefer01
5000 Club Member
As mentioned above by @Tamberav try crushed pellets and Calanus. While not a multibar I have a lot of fish from Biota and that is what I use with success. Most recent a Milletseed Butterflyfish that arrived maybe the size of a US $0.50 piece.
I used TDO x-small and small, Hakari S, A, and PE Mysis pellets all crushed a bit. I've found that TDO usually works. Frozen I feed LRS Nano and PE Calanus with success. This is for all new captive bred, raised, fish. I will feed small portions of dry hourly, frozen twice a day.
Depending on the fish comfort level, shy, I will pull up a bucket, drop some in, and observe. This way I can see what it eats vs strike showing an interest. Also I use my refugium 9 out of 10 times since I can take it off line and it has mature rock and corals to forage with more comfort. Also no fast fish in there to startle it. Works for me but understand it won't work for everyone.
Edit: if LFS doesn't carry what you want you may need to order online. Premium Aquatics does an amazing job at shipping frozen. Just need to get the order in by Monday as they ship frozen only on Tuesday. I had a box recently sent and it was 105 in California. Food was frozen solid and looked better than anything I could get local. Not pushing vendor just offering a place to find frozen if not found locally.
Thanks for the thoughts, and I’ve got a camera on it that I watch a decent bit. Unfortunately, it hasn't shown interest in anything I’ve tried. TDO pellets included. I also bought a bottle of pods yesterday in hopes they might create some interest. I also recently added fresh clam.
I did order captive bred, but based on the size I assume it was wild caught.
I’ve been burned from other pre-quarantined vendors before (not dr reef), so not comfortable adding directly to dt without at least some decent observation first.
I did order captive bred, but based on the size I assume it was wild caught.
I’ve been burned from other pre-quarantined vendors before (not dr reef), so not comfortable adding directly to dt without at least some decent observation first.
Thanks for the thoughts, and I’ve got a camera on it that I watch a decent bit. Unfortunately, it hasn't shown interest in anything I’ve tried. TDO pellets included. I also bought a bottle of pods yesterday in hopes they might create some interest.
I did order captive bred, it based on the size I assume it was wild caught
I did order captive bred, it based on the size I assume it was wild caught
nursemegan911
New Member
I’m in the process of looking to buy paired storm clowns. When I asked for a video the response time was immediate. Ive also gotten good feedback by members of my local reef group.
I’m in the process of looking to buy paired storm clowns. When I asked for a video the response time was immediate. Ive also gotten good feedback by members of my local reef group.
Largeangels
Active Member
This wild collected has been with me now for 2 years. Got 2 of them. Temp around 79-80. Tried everything at first, but wouldn't eat. So I always have brine shrimp eggs for finicky eaters. Started hatching and feeding brine every day. Turned water off each feeding and watched them eat. Did this for 5-6 weeks mutiple times per day. The bossy one did eat, but not great and started loosing weight and after 8 weeks passed away. Each time I would mix in other foods and eventually the one that made it started eating frozen brine, then chopped up Hikari mysis and 5-800 micron sized Golden Pearls. Put in 2 small Mcullochi clownfish, which are now as big as the multibar and they get along find. Tank has some algae, but I don't care and I think it is better for this fish. The fish are thriving so that is all that matters. Regular water changes, etc. Eats Hikari mysis (only smaller pieces), frozen brine and Golden pearls pellet. But not much else. I feed the clowns all kinds of other pellets but won't touch them. Of course it is picking at the sand and rocks all day. I don't normally feed frozen brine but some fish like it and that is what keeps them going until they eat other foods.
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