Bangaii Cardinal not eating

[Adele]

I bought two bangaii cardinals that have been in quarantine for about three weeks now. One is doing great the other seems to be wasting away and will not eat much if at all. Been feeding frozen misis, Rods omnivorour , flakes, pellets pretty much everything and he acts like he’s going to eat, but when he gets up to the food he just ignores it.
These are my first cardinals so wasn’t sure if they could go finicky to the point of starvation. He is sharing the tank with 3 anthias as well. Wondered if he was intimidated by their aggressive feeding though they never bother him. Any suggestions or insight would be very much appreciated.

 

[eatbreakfast]

Can you get a pic of the one not eating?

 

[Adele]

Can you get a pic of the one not eating?

My daylights have not come on yet but as soon as they do I will post.

 

[reef lover]

Has he got a mouthful of babies?

 

[norfolkgarden]

The males and females are almost impossible to tell apart.
The male banggai cardinal will brood the eggs / babies in its mouth the same way a male seahorse will brewed them in its pouch.
The male will hold the eggs in its mouth for approximately 20 days after it has acquired the eggs from the female.
It will show interest in food during this time but it will not eat.
You can separate them and keep a grass mat or something similar in the male's new tank for the babies to hide in once they leave its mouth.
Out in nature they hide in the spines of a long spined sea urchin.

All of this assumes that you have a male holding babies.
[emoji4]

 

[norfolkgarden]

A pic would be great.
A male with babies will have more of a Bulldog look to its jaws then a female.

 

[Adele]

Dang that would be cool if this were the case. LFS thought worms. Here is a pic.

 

[ca1ore]

What size are they? Mine never started breeding until they were 2" plus. Pic doesn't really look like a male mouthing babies.

 

[norfolkgarden]

Ours are just under 2 inches for reference.
First time spawning thanks to feeding live black worms.
Thanks Paul B!

 

[Jim Heenan]

I'm in the same boat. I bought two recently. One is slightly larger than the other. The bigger one eats like a pig , but the other barely makes any attempt. They paired up pretty well though.

 

[reef lover]

Def not brooding...I'd qt and treat for internal parasites.

 

[Adele]

Thanks for the suggestions. Unfortunately she/he didn’t make it through the night. [emoji22]

 

[Adele]

I'm in the same boat. I bought two recently. One is slightly larger than the other. The bigger one eats like a pig , but the other barely makes any attempt. They paired up pretty well though.

Since mine wasn’t brooding and now appears is/was a parasite situation you may want to start a worming treatment now as this is exactly what mine was going through. I never even got a chance to get her on the medication before she perished.

 

[reef lover]

Sorry