Ruby Red Dragonette won't eat

[chasetexas]

I got a Ruby Red Dragonette about 10 days ago and I don't think it has eaten anything the entire time. It no longer moves much either. I love this fish and the color is incredible!

The girl at the LFS was adamant it could be trained on flakes and after some research that is obviously not accurate. I wouldn't have gotten this fish had I known. In fact my biggest point to her was I want everything able to eat flakes for simplicity. I dont really blame her though as she probably got it mixed up with a Goby but she does work at a fish tank store....

Lesson learned, do your own research before you get a fish...

What can I do? I tried adding copepods about a week ago (1 full bottle of Tigger pods in display, 1 full bottle in sump) but didnt seem to help it, and the last few days I've added Ocean Nutrition Instant Baby Brine Shrimp Eggs and still dont see it eating at all.

What else can I do?

I feel bad for our little Ruby... Help!

Can I take it out of the tank and put it in a small tiny tank and try and train to eat by itself??

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Did you try hatching the baby brine shrimp? It might go for baby brine. Try can o cyclops, that might work, or frozen cyclops. Might also be worth it to try frozen mysis. A lot of fish don't like flakes.

 

[chasetexas]

how in the world do you hatch them??

And anything I can try TODAY? what baout like raw shrimp from the grocery store? I might get some to give to my pink bubble tip anenome anyway

I agree a lot of fish don't like flakes, but currently I have 2 clowns, 1 mocha storm clown, 1 flameback angel, 3 damsels, 1 royal gramma and they are all eating flakes and thriving. Was just trying to keep it as simple as possible for now since im very new and this is my first tank

Did you try hatching the baby brine shrimp? It might go for baby brine. Try can o cyclops, that might work, or frozen cyclops. Might also be worth it to try frozen mysis. A lot of fish don't like flakes.

 

[W31Olds]

Try TDO Pellets-small slightly crushed and target feed with a pipet. If you added pods it should eat those or somethings wrong. These fish are always on the hunt. Forget about flakes and yes you could put her in a small tank say 10 gallon or even probably 5.

 

[Dread Pirate Dave]

You may also want to be prepared for the possibility that this fish will only eat live food.

Brine Shrimp Hatchery & Eggs Bundle

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www.bulkreefsupply.com

https://printedreef.com/products/mandarin-dragonet-fish-feeder-kit (based on Paul B's design, it seems)

Good Luck!

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

how in the world do you hatch them??

And anything I can try TODAY? what baout like raw shrimp from the grocery store? I might get some to give to my pink bubble tip anenome anyway

I agree a lot of fish don't like flakes, but currently I have 2 clowns, 1 mocha storm clown, 1 flameback angel, 3 damsels, 1 royal gramma and they are all eating flakes and thriving. Was just trying to keep it as simple as possible for now since im very new and this is my first tank

Check on youtube, there are lots of easy diy hatcheries. I use an inverted plastic coke bottle. It takes 48 hours to hatch them.

 

[chasetexas]

You may also want to be prepared for the possibility that this fish will only eat live food.

Brine Shrimp Hatchery & Eggs Bundle

.video-feature-card { border: 1px solid rgba(0,0,0,0.10); border-radius: 16px; background: #fff; padding: 22px; margin: 24px 0; } .video-feature-grid { display: grid; grid-template-columns: minmax(0, 1.05fr) minmax(340px, 0.95fr); gap: 28px; align-items: start; }...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

https://printedreef.com/products/mandarin-dragonet-fish-feeder-kit (based on Paul B's design, it seems)

Good Luck!

yea im ok with that. Copepods are fine but 2 bottles disappeared in 1 day and im not prepared to drop $30/bottle that often. But ill make something work! Just created a QT tank

 

[chasetexas]

Ok so I found this tiny 2.5 gallon on FB marketplace for $20. Got 2 gallons of tank water in, a piece of my live rock that was in my sump, and a block of bio media that has also been in the sump since day 1. Will add an aerator that I use for bait buckets with a new tube and stone as well.

Just got it all set up and gonna give it an hour or 2 to run then add Ruby in.

Will add some copepods right before I add her.

Let's hope this works!

 

[W31Olds]

Chase, did you add the copepods per the instructions on the bottle? They will normally disappear onto the rockwork, etc. If you added them with lights, filter on the fish may have feasted on them. the 2.5 gallon will work but do you need a heater? If she does't eat in that tank something else is wrong and when you add the pods do it with the light off and they will seek out the rockwork. I would also consider something larger than that tank if she starts eating as it will be challenge keeping the parameters under control.