Bangaii Cardinal experts needed

[AdamNC]

I know it may be early but I just picked up a Bangaii Cardinal and a Chalk Basslet 2 days ago from my LFS. So far they are the only 2 in the tank (29 gallon standard) and both are behaving very well and not paying each other any attention. The Basslet is a champ and eating anything I put in the tank, the Bangaii on the other hand not so much. He will dart for the food, occasionally try it and spit it right back out. I've tried frozen PE Mysis Shrimp, LRS Nano Reef Frenzy, PE Flakes, Omega One Marine Flakes and New Life Spectrum 1mm pellets. Outwardly he looks very healthy, no marks or scaring, no torn fins and no sunken belly...yet. Any ideas?

As you can see the fat little belly on the Basslet.

 

[Flippers4pups]

It may be just adjusting to it environment. Did it eat for you at the LFS before you purchased it?

 

[AdamNC]

Yea it ate a few pieces of pe mysis. I normally use lrs but bought some mysis to be safe. At least the basslet and the clowns in the other tank like it.

 

[4FordFamily]

Live blackworms and live brine will get nearly any fish eating!

 

[AdamNC]

Live blackworms and live brine will get nearly any fish eating!

No idea where to get either of those. My local reef store doesn’t carry either. Petco or Petsmart maybe?

 

[4FordFamily]

No idea where to get either of those. My local reef store doesn’t carry either. Petco or Petsmart maybe?

I order live blackworms online, I google search and find the best deal. Live brine is usually offered at LFS that are primarily reef or saltwater shops. Only one out of 6 I know of here sells them.

 

[ca1ore]

Give it some time to settle in.

 

[DMG Reef]

My Bangaii Cardinals ate within an hour of going into my tank. I offered Cyclops and they went nuts for it. They try to eat mysis but usually spit it out. My LFS carries 2 brands of Cyclops and they eat both of them. It's a good sign that yours at least shows an interest in eating. He just needs tinier food imo.

 

[madweazl]

Our cardinal has been in the tank a little over two years and is still a finicky eater; it tends to like the larger chunks of food but will spit many of them out (LRS Reef Frenzy). It tears up the chunks of fresh clam the Copperband butterfly rips off the littlenecks I put in the tank.

 

[bonefish]

Same as madweazl. Fat and happy on Reef Frenzy for 1yr but constantly spitting out some bits.

 

[AdamNC]

I guess it was just premature worrying. He just ate a few pieces of Mysis tonight.;Happy