Orange Spotted File Fish Doomed

[chaser]

I have an orange spotted file fish 4 days ago from my local fish store. I had been doing research, I understood that getting them to start eating in captivity was going to be a challenge. I prepared myself with all the foods and tricks I read about online. I also purchased a small decorative acropora coral decoration off amazon. I read that you can smear the nutramar and masstick on the acro skeleton to get them used to the food. I've personally never done acro, so the best I could do was a fake acro aquarium decoration.

He's currently in a QT tank with copper along with a few other fish I keep stocked in my QT tank to keep the cycle going. I was afraid that my orange spotted file fish would get out-competed for food in the tank so he's been in a larger breeder box within the QT tank for the past 4 days. This way I know that the food is available to him if he decides to eat.

So far nothing has worked. I've tried the nutramar and masstick on the acro decoration and also on a little piece of live rock that I had but he hasn't seemed interested in the slightest. I've tried tiny pellets, baby brine shrimp, normal brine shrimp, mysis, nori, red flakes, green flakes. I haven't seen him go for anything yet. He seemed to perk up a little bit and become more active with the baby brine, but the baby brine is so small, I really couldn't tell if he was eating it or not. I'm beginning to think the little guy is doomed.

If anyone has any additional tips or tricks to get them to start feeding I'd love to hear. Thanks!

 

[christinna77]

What about a real acro? Perhaps you could spread some masstick on that too, to get it used to eating it.

 

[chaser]

What about a real acro? Perhaps you could spread some masstick on that too, to get it used to eating it.

I'd love to do that. The issue with that is that they are currently in copper - for 9 more days as part of my quarantine process.

 

[christinna77]

What about a real acro? Perhaps you could spread some masstick on that too, to get it used to eating it.

I'd love to do that. The issue with that is that they are currently in copper - for 9 more days as part of my quarantine process.

I think it may be more important to get the fish feeding right now. I QT every fish too, but don't start them on any medications until I see them feeding (unless of course I'm already seeing symptoms), as they can further reduce their appetite.

 

[Jay Hemdal]

I have an orange spotted file fish 4 days ago from my local fish store. I had been doing research, I understood that getting them to start eating in captivity was going to be a challenge. I prepared myself with all the foods and tricks I read about online. I also purchased a small decorative acropora coral decoration off amazon. I read that you can smear the nutramar and masstick on the acro skeleton to get them used to the food. I've personally never done acro, so the best I could do was a fake acro aquarium decoration.

He's currently in a QT tank with copper along with a few other fish I keep stocked in my QT tank to keep the cycle going. I was afraid that my orange spotted file fish would get out-competed for food in the tank so he's been in a larger breeder box within the QT tank for the past 4 days. This way I know that the food is available to him if he decides to eat.

So far nothing has worked. I've tried the nutramar and masstick on the acro decoration and also on a little piece of live rock that I had but he hasn't seemed interested in the slightest. I've tried tiny pellets, baby brine shrimp, normal brine shrimp, mysis, nori, red flakes, green flakes. I haven't seen him go for anything yet. He seemed to perk up a little bit and become more active with the baby brine, but the baby brine is so small, I really couldn't tell if he was eating it or not. I'm beginning to think the little guy is doomed.

If anyone has any additional tips or tricks to get them to start feeding I'd love to hear. Thanks!

I’ve tried that “food in coral skeletons” trick many, many times with these fish and never had it work.

The key with these seems to acquire net caught, short supply chain ones and start them off on live Acropora.

The ones that go through the regular pet store supply chain rarely ever start to feed.

 

[Largeangels]

You can try freshly hatched brine shrimp with no flow or very little flow for a few minutes. Then turn the flow up normally. Make sure the fish can't see you as they may be more inclined to eat then. Also try putting some Mastick on the glass.