New Coral Beauty not eating, otherwise happy. Is this a problem?

[glb]

I got a Coral Beauty yesterday, acclimated it properly, and it seems fine in the tank. It's swimming around and having a blast. I've tried feeding it Spectrum pellets and mysis shrimp but he just looks at it and lets it float by. I know he's probably just getting used to the tank, but wondered if there's better food for a dwarf angel. Any thoughts?

 

[Maritimer]

Angels enjoy picking from the rock, so nori or other food that's attached to the rock can feel more comfortable for them. With nori, you can use rubber bands to attach, but with other foods a paste form may be more appropriate - similar to Masstick.

~Bruce

 

[glb]

Angels enjoy picking from the rock, so nori or other food that's attached to the rock can feel more comfortable for them. With nori, you can use rubber bands to attach, but with other foods a paste form may be more appropriate - similar to Masstick.

~Bruce

Thanks. It's a new tank that doesn't have lights yet so there's not much on the rocks. He is picking at them though, so maybe he sees something that I don't.

 

[Florida Sunshine]

Did you have the LFS feed him for you so you could watch him eat? What were they feeding him?
This is a good habit to get into. Make sure the fish is eating whatever kind of food you are feeding before you bring him home.
One day, I wouldn't be too worried. He could just be getting comfortable, but I would keep an eye on him

 

[glb]

Did you have the LFS feed him for you so you could watch him eat? What were they feeding him?
This is a good habit to get into. Make sure the fish is eating whatever kind of food you are feeding before you bring him home.
One day, I wouldn't be too worried. He could just be getting comfortable, but I would keep an eye on him

I usually watch them feed fish before I buy them but forgot yesterday. They feed mysis shrimp. I told them what I fed and they said that would be fine. I might go get nori today.

 

[glb]

Can I get nori at the supermarket or does it need to be a fish food kind? Also, does it dirty up the water?

 

[Andrewalex11]

You can get nori straight from the market. That's what we use at work it's the same stuff, way cheaper too. Don't waste your money on the "high quality fish food" versions.

 

[glb]

You can get nori straight from the market. That's what we use at work it's the same stuff, way cheaper too. Don't waste your money on the "high quality fish food" versions.

You buy it frozen? Dried? And how much do you put in at a time?

 

[Andrewalex11]

Dried, and for you I'd suggest putting it on a veggie clip or rubber-banding a piece to a rock and just leaving it in there like that all day. Your fish will respond much better when they are allowed to naturally graze like that.

 

[glb]

I got some at the grocery store. So far no one's interested.

 

[Garyf7257]

How long have you had the coral beauty? Mine was basically by itself besides one clownfish and it still took a good 4-5 days before it felt comfortable enough to eat. New environment, give it some time.

 

[madweazl]

I didnt see our CB eat for well over a month. Obviously it was getting something but I never witnessed it. After that, he started eating everything that was introduced. None of my fish touched the algae clips until a tang was added to the tank; once it started picking at the algae clip, others joined in (including a McCosker's wrasse for some reason).

 

[glb]

How long have you had the coral beauty? Mine was basically by itself besides one clownfish and it still took a good 4-5 days before it felt comfortable enough to eat. New environment, give it some time.

Only 4 days. He is picking at the rock, but there's no algae that I can see because I don't have lights yet.

 

[glb]

Thanks everyone! I feel much better. He's happy as can be, swimming around, hanging out with the fishie crew, and playing hide and seek in the rocks.

 

[Higgs]

@glb how did the story end? Have a similar situation. Tried everything that I could - nothing. Only grazing on a thin layer of algae on the rock and glass. He is the smallest in the tank so I guess he feels intimidated.

 

[Familyman2010]

@glb how did the story end? Have a similar situation. Tried everything that I could - nothing. Only grazing on a thin layer of algae on the rock and glass. He is the smallest in the tank so I guess he feels intimidated.

Mine eats brine shrimp and mega algae marine from hikari. Idk if this may help

 

[Higgs]

So I'll just reply to my own question. It took a week for my Coral Beauty to start eating as all other fishes in my tank. It took about a week. At first it was only grassing on the rock and glass completely ignoring any food that I was feeding (and overfeeding). I tried Artemia Brine Shrimp with and without Spirulina, Mysis shrimp, Bloodworms, Mussels and Sea weed. No effect. I decided it to let it go and continued feeding Artemia and Mysis as a daily feeding ration. Eventually I noticed that it started trying something and it turned out to be Artemia with Spirulina. Today it was participating full heartedly in the feeding frenzy without any sign of being intimidated by other participants.