Fathead Anthias qt

[ViciousDlishus]

Have a fathead in qt going through ttm. Having trouble getting it to eat anything. It hides constantly until I turn off the air pump then it becomes active but still won't eat. Tried turning down the air to reduce turbulence but no luck. Any suggestions?

 

[Geebs19]

Was it eating before you did TTM?

 

[ForrestGump]

How long has he been in QT. When was the last time he ate?

 

[ViciousDlishus]

Went right into ttm from store. Haven't been able to get it to eat since bringing home this is day 4.

 

[Pbh-reef]

Did it eat in the store? What are you feeding?

 

[rkpetersen]

Have a fathead in qt going through ttm. Having trouble getting it to eat anything. It hides constantly until I turn off the air pump then it becomes active but still won't eat. Tried turning down the air to reduce turbulence but no luck. Any suggestions?

I've tried to keep three of these guys at different times in the last couple of years and never got one of them to ever take a bite of anything. Good luck, maybe try some live brine shrimp.

 

[Pbh-reef]

I think live brine and live blackworms are both good starts to entice a fish to eat

Have you checked for flukes? Noticed any head twitching?

 

[ForrestGump]

Agree with Pbh-reef. Start trying different foods until you find something she likes. Mysis shrimp, copepods, algae. Also she may be nibbling at things left in the tank while your not watching if she's not becoming really thin.

 

[ViciousDlishus]

Have tried 2 different kinds of mysis, reef frenzy, pellets and reef roids. I'll have to see what I can come up with for live foods. Still looks fat and healthy no twitching but still skittish when the bubbler is going.

 

[CMO]

Mine is a finicky eater as well but been doing well for some 9 months now despite not eating a whole lot. I've tried a large variety now and found it seems to like fish eggs quite a bit. It will eat the occasional mysis or brine but not regularly. It tries all sorts of food but spits most of it out.

 

[Pbh-reef]

I agree with fish eggs being a good non live food to try.

Hatchinglive brine is very easy and cheap, they also stay alive for awhile. Black worms entice fish to eat and are super nutritious but die fast (sometimes the fish will
Still eat dead ones)

 

[rkpetersen]

The thing about blackworms is Where do you obtain them? For example I don't think they're available anywhere in my area, and a well-known California supplier no longer ships live ones.

 

[Pbh-reef]

There is a very old school freshwater LFS in my city (San Francisco) where I get them. But yes they are hard to find!

 

[ViciousDlishus]

Any thoughts on garlic guard or other appetite promoters? Snake oil or worth a try?