Barbonias won't eat

[Breakthecycle2]

It seems I might have the worst luck with fish in QT. I bought this guy on Monday along with a supermale Eightline flasher. Wrasse is eating the Barbonias for the first few days was hanging out behind either the heater or the HOB upside down. Now he's hiding under a rock and hasn't touched food. No meds yet in the QT. I've had one before and he ate like a piranha.

 

[Jlobes]

bummer. what are you trying to feed?
Ive had my borb since the 18th, in QT and doing TTM. First few days, he was pale, hiding, and fairly inactive, but still ate a bit. After that hes been a pig, eats every time I put food in the tank and searches the whole 10g for food. just added prazi with the most recent transfer and doesnt seem to be inhibiting his feeding response at all.
maybe try some different food offerings? Whered ya get the borb?

 

[Breakthecycle2]

I've tried mysis, spiralina with brine, table shrimp, pellets and reef frenzy.

 

[Jlobes]

dang. thats a selection indeed. mine has been getting Rods food and eggs, and some reef frenzy. Honestly, I like the rods food much more than the reeffrenzy. less seaweed, and doesnt cloud my tank as fast/much.

maybe you need to try some live food to entice him, BBS or blackworms?

 

[Breakthecycle2]

dang. thats a selection indeed. mine has been getting Rods food and eggs, and some reef frenzy. Honestly, I like the rods food much more than the reeffrenzy. less seaweed, and doesnt cloud my tank as fast/much.

maybe you need to try some live food to entice him, BBS or blackworms?

Yeah, I was thinking that. Im going to try and get some today.

 

[Lionfish Lair]

If he comes out, is there a chance of grabbing some video? He didn't seem to have any trouble staying "down" did he? Sometimes when these guys hide or pin themselves around or under objects it's because they have decompression issues. When I bought my three, there were others in the tank that we're having the issue. If they came from the same catch, which I think they did, it shows they all handled the acent differently.

If you grab some video of him hanging about, we'll be able to tell. Once you see it and then normal behavior, it gets easier to spot.

 

[Breakthecycle2]

The only thing is, he won't come out from underneath the rock.

 

[Breakthecycle2]

If he comes out, is there a chance of grabbing some video? He didn't seem to have any trouble staying "down" did he? Sometimes when these guys hide or pin themselves around or under objects it's because they have decompression issues. When I bought my three, there were others in the tank that we're having the issue. If they came from the same catch, which I think they did, it shows they all handled the acent differently.

If you grab some video of him hanging about, we'll be able to tell. Once you see it and then normal behavior, it gets easier to spot.

I will try. I was thinking that too. He was hanging out at the top and then I saw him swimming normally at the bottom and pinning himself underneath the rock.

 

[Culater94]

Having the same issue, and have tried all the exact same foods. It seems like he is afraid of the food when I put it in the tank. Will keep watching this thread, hopefully yours will come around. Mine took about a week and is now out in front, just not interested in eating. Am going to try newly hatched brine shrimp, I'll update if successful.

 

[koifour]

I have one behave the same way. I finally decided to treat with Maracyn two and the fish start to recover after 3 doses. He is now totally recovered after 5 day treatments and eats like a pig.

 

[Breakthecycle2]

Having the same issue, and have tried all the exact same foods. It seems like he is afraid of the food when I put it in the tank. Will keep watching this thread, hopefully yours will come around. Mine took about a week and is now out in front, just not interested in eating. Am going to try newly hatched brine shrimp, I'll update if successful.

Please do. BTW, where did you get yours from?

 

[Breakthecycle2]

I have one behave the same way. I finally decided to treat with Maracyn two and the fish start to recover after 3 doses. He is now totally recovered after 5 day treatments and eats like a pig.

What does that treat?

 

[Jlobes]

Please do. BTW, where did you get yours from?

where'd you get your? mine came from CAreefco.

 

[Breakthecycle2]

where'd you get your? mine came from CAreefco.

Local store actually.

 

[Jlobes]

right on. I figured somewhere on the east coast, since youre in NJ. wasnt sure if it was an LFS or ordered from east coast vendor.

good luck getting him to eat. its such a cool fish!

 

[Lionfish Lair]

Are there lights over your QT and is it in a high traffic area?

 

[stunreefer Verified Sponsor]

BBS is probably on the small side to entice most borbs unless fish is super tiny. I would try small live ghost/grass shrimp (most LFS sell them).

He was hanging out at the top and then I saw him swimming normally at the bottom and pinning himself underneath the rock.

If really pinning himself under rocks it may be having buoyancy issues as Lionfish Lair suggested.

 

[koifour]

a broad-spectrum antibiotic

 

[Lionfish Lair]

Maybe see if the LFS has some adult brine too.

 

[Breakthecycle2]

Are there lights over your QT and is it in a high traffic area?

There is lights, yes. It's in my office in the basement and no one goes down there.