Cardinal Fish wont eat supplied by shipper

[Roman'sReef]

it just wont eat not even the pellets supplied by seller they were feeding him

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

When did you get it? New fish often don't eat for the first day or two.

Also check your water parameters, poor water also makes fish not hungry.

 

[Roman'sReef]

Ingot the fish 28 hours ago and tried to feed him last 8 hours into having him the parameters were perfect a day before having him

 

[Roman'sReef]

When did you get it? New fish often don't eat for the first day or two.

Also check your water parameters, poor water also makes fish not hungry.

Check my new msg pls

 

[paragrouper]

What, besides pellets have you tried? Not sure what is available in Switzerland, but mine prefer frozen (brine, mysis, etc.) and they go crazy for live copepods

 

[Roman'sReef]

My closest local lfs is 2 hour drive so this is not an option
Ive tried other type of pellets with cardinal on packaging and flakes which also have cardinal on packaging
Thinking of waiting till tmrw since hes really scared now that i put my hand in tank and feeding frozen shrimp tmrw what do you think?

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

does it always stay by the glass, or does it swim around? Are there other fish in the tank? no bullying situation?

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

also consider this is a nocturnal fish by nature. Depending if it was recently wild caught, it might not be in the habit of eating during the day. These fish are more active at night, hunting food and copepods. Try feeding at night, see if that works.

 

[Roman'sReef]

does it always stay by the glass, or does it swim around? Are there other fish in the tank? no bullying situation?

Only fish in tank i put my hand to feed it directly an hour ago and now just stays there

 

[Roman'sReef]

also consider this is a nocturnal fish by nature. Depending if it was recently wild caught, it might not be in the habit of eating during the day. These fish are more active at night, hunting food and copepods. Try feeding at night, see if that works.

its is captive bred and the seller said it would take pellets and flakes and they gave me pellets

 

[Uncle99]

This fish takes time to acclimate
Mine did not eat for 12 days, then boom

 

[Roman'sReef]

This fish takes time to acclimate
Mine did not eat for 12 days, then boom

By this fish do you mean a captive bred Banggai Cardinal?????

 

[Uncle99]

By this fish do you mean a captive bred Banggai Cardinal?????

Both
None ship well.
Even when I pick them up, same, took almost 2 weeks in every case.
I think they were sneaking a bite when not being watched.
Very skiddish

 

[Roman'sReef]

Both
None ship well.
Even when I pick them up, same, took almost 2 weeks in every case.
I think they were sneaking a bite when not being watched.
Very skiddish

ok so should i try again tmrw? or do you recommend smth else

 

[Uncle99]

Feed as normal.
They will get hungry.

 

[Uncle99]

But don’t polute the tank

 

[Roman'sReef]

Feed as normal.
They will get hungry.

Its my only fish in there so i will try again so im feeding “normally”
do you think he will adapt?

 

[Uncle99]

Its my only fish in there so i will try again so im feeding “normally”
do you think he will adapt?

These fish can be difficult. They just hang in the water so they can be problematic with fast fish, appear easily spooked.

He will either settle in, or starve, his choice. Goes the same with anyone who won’t eat, especially when you have the food the supplier states they fed it.

Eating can stop when parasites infection occurs, but you make no mention of any visible sign or behavior changes.

Will he eat, IDK and you don’t have much control over the outcome. Mine did settle in around 13 days ish, longest I ever had a new fish not eat, but he did finally eat, just one piece that would float by him. Several days of this, then he ate great and with the others after that.

Feed what supplier said they were, just a bite or two.
I got the impression the fish did not like me in the room so after feeding I would hide. Then I seen him hit one piece only.

Good water, normal maintenance……..let’s see which way he wants to go.

 

[Tcook]

Does your lfs 2 hours away stock PE mysis and other frozen foods? If you plan to stay in the hobby for awhile then a 4 hour trip to stock up on several types of food may be worth it. You may be able to order frozen Hikari foods to be shipped to you online?

 

[EricR]

My Bangaii and pajama cardinals prefer meaty frozen foods -- normally LRS Reef Frenzy Nano but sometimes Rod's Foods original.
Any frozen mysis you can get your hands on seems like a reasonable idea.
Mine also eat chopped/minced clams/mussels (live from grocery store), in case that's an easier option for you.
*I force myself to throw in omnivore/herbivore flakes mainly for blenny but my cardinals won't touch it.