Getting One-Eyed Chalice Frags to Eat

[Catra2030]

Looking for some tips and pointers on getting my one or two eyed chalice frags to start eating. I have tried feeding mysis shrimp, whole and chopped up, Fauna Marine LPS pellets, cyclo and phyto feast by hand, with no flow, in the tank and out of the tank, container of course. I've noticed an increase in growth at first and now my Fallen Sun frag is declining. I have noticed the same thing in a few others frags and once I started feeding them on a consistent basis all was good again. Any help would be greatly appreciated, Thanks!

 

[SmokeyCFH]

You could turn off all water flow while you feed, do you direct feed?

 

[poidog]

Turn off all pumps and cover them with this:
Fauna Marin Zoa Acan Food, [25 ml / 1 oz jar] : REEFKOI CORALS, SPS, LPS, Zoanthids

 

[Catra2030]

Thanks for the replies. I do feed directly and with all water flow off. I have also tried removing the frag in a containers, absolutely no flow, and hand feeding/placing food around its mouth. I have tried pellets, chopped mysis as well as phyto feast with no luck, not even a reaction. I'm not sure if its feeding an I can't see, or if it's just not reacting at all.

 

[SmokeyCFH]

I use Alga Gen's Coral Smoothie mixed with some zooplex, you could use a glass or a small container and cover the coral then feed it and let it sit for a few minutes...or drill a hole in the top, fix an air tube inside the hole, place the cup over and "inject" your food through the air hose into the cup and let it sit.

 

[Emoney]

Ive Never once fed my chalices and have around 40 of them..But i also have 6 large tangs that do alot of pooooooo

 

[Catra2030]

I have three fish in a 125, kole tang, damsel and mystery wrasse, really not big on fish at this point in time, but I know it would help to add a few.

 

[feh]

You could always cut the bottom off a clean plastic bottle and use a syringe to feed them. The bottle will block the flow and help keep the food where you want it while feeding.

 

[CJO]

I've always had good luck with small fish eggs- tobiko (flying fish eggs) and masago (smelt eggs) in particular.

CJ

 

[apicturepaints]

I have a smaller frag that seems to be a picky eater too. Have you tried feeding the chalice when the lights are off? I see my chalices with their feelers out at night and have debated on spot feeding them when this happens.

 

[Catra2030]

I've tried feeding about an hour after the lights go out, but I have yet to try feeding really late at night at which point I know all polyps are extended. I've had this fallen sun frag for about a month and have yet to see any type of feeding response, so I will keep trying.

 

[mallorieGgator]

I turn off all of my flow and really feed my fish first with mysis or an equally smelly food. Then I wait a few minutes and feed the fish just a bit more. This gets the fish full so they leave the corals alone and also gets the corals feeding response stimulated. Then I gently put mysis on the chalice's eye and let it sit there for 30 minutes with no flow. If the fish start getting interested in the corals then feed them a little bit again.

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[caudill187]

as suggested, I agree with scenting the water with something meaty and then a few minutes later placing one small pellet or the like directly on the eye. Do this a few times and if the chalice is not unhealthy due to something else, you will start to see feeding polyps and behavior.

 

[apicturepaints]

You could always cut the bottom off a clean plastic bottle and use a syringe to feed them. The bottle will block the flow and help keep the food where you want it while feeding.

I tried this tonight with one of my baby chalices. I've had a big challenge keeping my fish away, during feeding. It worked amazingly. I used a wider spout plastic bottle (vitawater?) and cut it, put it over the chalice, added cyclopeze, and then just put the screw top on. It worked sooooo good! Thank you for the idea!