Clownfish not eating

[Alex d]

Hi guys, posting again after buying new food for my clownfish. They are still not eating the food I buy for them. So far I tried frozen foods, bribe shrimp, and the omega one garlic pellets. The only thing they will eat are some the small broken up pieces of brine shrimp.

 

[HotRocks]

How long have you had these fish?

What type of frozen did you feed? Clownfish are generally very easy to get eating.

I'm wondering if you have something disease related going on...

Have you seen any white stringy poop?

 

[Alex d]

How long have you had these fish?

What type of frozen did you feed? Clownfish are generally very easy to get eating.

I'm wondering if you have something disease related going on...

Have you seen any white stringy poop?

No I haven’t seen any white poop at all, I tried feeding them the marine cusine and another brand

 

[tiggs]

I've had experiences where newer clownfish wouldn't eat any frozen food that had a gelatin-like binder and pretty much stayed cube-like. For whatever reason, pellets are the last food I'm typically able to get any new fish to eat. My go-to's are always frozen PE mysis (I thaw, then strain, then for smaller fish, mush the shrimp up into smaller pieces) and flake. Some fish can take forever to accept pellets, especially if they've never seen them before, which is entirely possible.

If I had to suggest a combo that'll almost certainly get them to eat, I'd say PE frozen mysis, PE flake (just came out and is primary made of mysis), and possibly frozen blood worms (also thawed, strained, and broken up). Soaking frozen with a garlic additive may help too, since many believe garlic will entice their appetite. With any new fish, I like to feed heavily the first week and keep offering different types of food until I find something they'll readily accept, then ween them onto the other stuff.

 

[foxt]

Have you tried any live food - live brine, or live black worms? Assuming the fish are otherwise healthy, live food usually works unless you are dealing with a special-diet type fish, like some of the obligate coralvores. As Hotrocks asked, how long have you had them? Are they behaving odd, or just not eating?

 

[HotRocks]

No I haven’t seen any white poop at all, I tried feeding them the marine cusine and another brand

Ok. That's a good thing.

I've had experiences where newer clownfish wouldn't eat any frozen food that had a gelatin-like binder and pretty much stayed cube-like. For whatever reason, pellets are the last food I'm typically able to get any new fish to eat. My go-to's are always frozen PE mysis (I thaw, then strain, then for smaller fish, mush the shrimp up into smaller pieces) and flake. Some fish can take forever to accept pellets, especially if they've never seen them before, which is entirely possible.

If I had to suggest a combo that'll almost certainly get them to eat, I'd say PE frozen mysis, PE flake (just came out and is primary made of mysis), and possibly frozen blood worms (also thawed, strained, and broken up). Soaking frozen with a garlic additive may help too, since many believe garlic will entice their appetite. With any new fish, I like to feed heavily the first week and keep offering different types of food until I find something they'll readily accept, then ween them onto the other stuff.

This^^^ was going to be my next advice.

I use around 10 different frozen cubes and or sheets. All combined in a cup. Thaw, strain, add selcon and garlic. It's sure to contain something everyone likes.

 

[HotRocks]

Have you tried any live food - live brine, or live black worms? Assuming the fish are otherwise healthy, live food usually works unless you are dealing with a special-diet type fish, like some of the obligate coralvores. As Hotrocks asked, how long have you had them? Are they behaving odd, or just not eating?

This would be my go to if I can't get a fish eating frozen. Usually helps transition a finicky fish to frozen. I have a regal angel and an idol in QT now for a friend, used live Brine and blackworms.

Idol eating frozen like crazy now. Regal eating frozen clams on a half shell, but not frozen blend yet...

I haven't ever experienced a non eating clownfish though...

Achilles tangs, regals, idols, etc. Usually takes live offerings to kickstart them...