4FordFamily
Tang, Angel, and Wrasse Nerd!
Hello all, I thought I’d make a thread for those of us that keep fish that may be difficult to get feeding, or maybe occasionally get in a new fish that we can’t get to eat no matter what.
I have learned a thing or two about difficult species over the years, and many times once they eat one thing you turn the key on them eating other things almost immediately. Once they decide to eat in captivity they continue and quickly move to other foods!
Some foods to have on hand for finicky eaters - live blackworms, live brine, clam on a half shell, live mussels, large flakes such as formula 2 (yes, flakes), large pellets, red nori, garlic guard, PE or CA mystics, and many others— a variety is rarely a bad idea.
Garlic is good and often works well to entice new eaters but it isn’t advised long-term due to recent suspicion that it can cause long-term health effects. I prefer garlic guard.
Species specific suggestions:
Tangs: picky tangs often want nori. Sometimes they show no interest, won’t eat frozen, and refuse food and deteriorate over a week or more. Live brine entices nearly any tang to feed (that isn’t ill in some way). Some tangs expect flakes, something I do not feed My large Achilles and large dussumeiri we’re trying to starve themselves for a week until flakes were added which they gobbled up and proceeded to eat other foods. Live blackworms and red nori are good bets as well.
Butterflies:
Butterflies eat a variety of things, but they often react well to live black worms— particularly copperband. Live brine, live mussels give you a great chance if they won’t eat other things as well.
Dwarf Angels:
Dwarf angels can be tricky, and I find that live blackworms work well for them. I’ve found live brine, sponge, and red nori to be enticing as well.
Large Angels:
It’s important to know that many angels feed on sponges. Some feed almost exclusively on sponges in the wild. Taking pineapple sponge out of your display tank can work well. Above all, I’ve found live mussels to be enticing for even the pickiest angels. Clam on a halfshell is a good bet, too but if that doesn’t work try live mussels. Some will be enticed by live blackworms as well, and some that refuse to eat will eat red nori.
Wrasses: atop this list for wrasses is live blackworms. Even more than most fish, they find their movements irresistible. For parrotfish and some wrasse large pellets are found to be irresistible where they won’t otherwise eat. Frozen mysis is alluring to them, and live brine is a way to entice them to start eating it as well.
Pufferfish: live mussels, clam on the half shell, freeze-dried jumbo krill (soak in selcon, vita chem, or zoe), and worst-case scenario live fish temporarily such as rosys.
Lion fish/Scorpion/Frogfish: Silversides, freeze dried jumbo krill (soaked in selcon, zoe, or vita chem), and worst-case scenario live fish temporarily such as rosys.
Other: a good bet for smaller fish is live brine, and live black worms.
I have learned a thing or two about difficult species over the years, and many times once they eat one thing you turn the key on them eating other things almost immediately. Once they decide to eat in captivity they continue and quickly move to other foods!
Some foods to have on hand for finicky eaters - live blackworms, live brine, clam on a half shell, live mussels, large flakes such as formula 2 (yes, flakes), large pellets, red nori, garlic guard, PE or CA mystics, and many others— a variety is rarely a bad idea.
Garlic is good and often works well to entice new eaters but it isn’t advised long-term due to recent suspicion that it can cause long-term health effects. I prefer garlic guard.
Species specific suggestions:
Tangs: picky tangs often want nori. Sometimes they show no interest, won’t eat frozen, and refuse food and deteriorate over a week or more. Live brine entices nearly any tang to feed (that isn’t ill in some way). Some tangs expect flakes, something I do not feed My large Achilles and large dussumeiri we’re trying to starve themselves for a week until flakes were added which they gobbled up and proceeded to eat other foods. Live blackworms and red nori are good bets as well.
Butterflies:
Butterflies eat a variety of things, but they often react well to live black worms— particularly copperband. Live brine, live mussels give you a great chance if they won’t eat other things as well.
Dwarf Angels:
Dwarf angels can be tricky, and I find that live blackworms work well for them. I’ve found live brine, sponge, and red nori to be enticing as well.
Large Angels:
It’s important to know that many angels feed on sponges. Some feed almost exclusively on sponges in the wild. Taking pineapple sponge out of your display tank can work well. Above all, I’ve found live mussels to be enticing for even the pickiest angels. Clam on a halfshell is a good bet, too but if that doesn’t work try live mussels. Some will be enticed by live blackworms as well, and some that refuse to eat will eat red nori.
Wrasses: atop this list for wrasses is live blackworms. Even more than most fish, they find their movements irresistible. For parrotfish and some wrasse large pellets are found to be irresistible where they won’t otherwise eat. Frozen mysis is alluring to them, and live brine is a way to entice them to start eating it as well.
Pufferfish: live mussels, clam on the half shell, freeze-dried jumbo krill (soak in selcon, vita chem, or zoe), and worst-case scenario live fish temporarily such as rosys.
Lion fish/Scorpion/Frogfish: Silversides, freeze dried jumbo krill (soaked in selcon, zoe, or vita chem), and worst-case scenario live fish temporarily such as rosys.
Other: a good bet for smaller fish is live brine, and live black worms.
