Banggai cardinal stopped eating

[trahelyk]

Hi there. I have had a single banggai for about a year, and it has stopped eating for at least 4 days now. It is still plump and pretty and appears otherwise healthy, except that it seems to be hiding among corals a bit more than usual for this fish. I haven't made changes to the regular diet, and I haven't added any new critters to the tank in more than 6 months. I would suspect brooding if this weren't the only banggai in the tank. Ideas? How worried should I be?

 

[Brew12]

Any other fish in your tank that could be harassing him? Some fish get more territorial as they age.

 

[4FordFamily]

Have you added any coral, rock, or anything wet in the past two months? I saw no fish were added in 6 months.

 

[Humblefish]

Have you added any coral, rock, or anything wet in the past two months? I saw no fish were added in 6 months.

^^ This (to be sure)

 

[4FordFamily]

Op?

 

[trahelyk]

Thanks, guys. No, nothing new for ~ 6 months. I managed to get my hands on some black worms, and that appears to have gotten him eating again. It's strange because he's always been a voracious eater, so this is a sudden and somewhat extreme change.

Getting my hands on black worms was kind of tough, though--the folks at California Black Worms apparently had a population crash this winter and are not filling any shipments until at least spring. On a whim, I called the reptile/cat/dog/hamster/fish store down the street (sort of a local version of PetCo, the type of place you don't want to buy fish from) and discovered that they have them. They say people will drive 40 miles to get them because they are the only place in the metro area that carries them. Lucky me. So worst case, if the only thing I can get the cardinal to eat is black worms, I have a local supply of them now.

 

[Humblefish]

Glad to hear the issue seems to be remedying on its own. Blackworms are a GODSEND. If you ever run out of live, some frozen foods contain blackworms as well.

 

[trahelyk]

I've tried frozen black worms, but I get the idea that there's something about the way they wiggle that makes them sooooo delicious.

On a related note, I've had a Potter's angel in quarantine since Friday, and he doesn't want to eat, either. He ate fine at the LFS, but almost nothing since I brought him home. I *think* I saw him slurp up a black worm yesterday, but I almost get the idea that he doesn't like me to watch him eat. This is certainly the most advanced-aquarist fish I've tried so far, so I'm nervous that I'll do something wrong and kill him. I've put some nori in there, and it's been disappearing, but I don't know if that's because he's eating it or because it just dissolves after a while. I would welcome any thoughts on doing right by him.

 

[Humblefish]

Potter's can be a PITA to get eating sometimes, especially in QT. They are kinda reclusive and like to pick on rocks, so not having that in QT makes them very uncomfortable me thinks.

You can try some ROE or Nutramar ova. He also might pick at a littleneck clam or black mussel (grocery store seafood dept.) But if the nori is disappearing, then he's probably eating that. It will break up into little pieces and float all over the tank if left uneaten.

 

[trahelyk]

Update: Both cardinal and potter are eating well and healthy. I did try a grocery store clam, and I was surprised to see the clam stick its tongue out and start to build a little life for itself in the QT. Apparently these grocery store clams are quite fresh and can survive in a reef tank. I wonder if there's any reason not to keep them in my display. I guess parasites could come in on them.

After the little dude had been in the QT for about 2 weeks, I came in one day to find it popped wide open and all the meat was missing. Presumably Mr Potter finally decided to munch.

 

[melypr1985]

Update: Both cardinal and potter are eating well and healthy. I did try a grocery store clam, and I was surprised to see the clam stick its tongue out and start to build a little life for itself in the QT. Apparently these grocery store clams are quite fresh and can survive in a reef tank. I wonder if there's any reason not to keep them in my display. I guess parasites could come in on them.

After the little dude had been in the QT for about 2 weeks, I came in one day to find it popped wide open and all the meat was missing. Presumably Mr Potter finally decided to munch.

sounds like he had a delicious meal

 

[salty01]

Any other banggai Cardinal in the tank?I notice mine wouldn't eat and hide in the Corals but wouldn't you know it he had eggs in his mouth. He
won't eat as long as they're in there.only once I've had babies but most the time he will spit them out and other fish will eat them. Check to see if his jaws real big,that's a sure sign .