Help feeding new bicolored angels

[Trever]

I have two new bicolored angels in a species specific fowlr. They're about 2-3 inch size range.

They have been in 4 hours now. They are the only fish in the tank. They came from Quality Marine, presumably live caught/wild, got straight from bag before LFS put them in any tank.

Small amounts of food put in the tank they haven't shown an interest in, though they pick at the bare rocks (no algae on the rocks).

What do folks recommend to get them eating? I know it's early... but they seem relatively comfortable already (and pretty!).

What I have:
1. Two types of dried seaweed
2. TDO Chroma boost (small and medium)
3. PE Frozen mysis
4. Reef Frenzy (frozen)

Of course I can go get other foods from LFS's, if necessary.

 

[nereefpat]

Bump.

I gave up on bicolors a decade or so ago after I tried 2 different ones that never ate and died soon.

That said, maybe masstick (spelled that wrong, I'm sure) would be worth trying. Live brine might not be a bad idea either.

 

[Trever]

I got some live black worms last night, and some frozen brine shrimp with Spirulina algae.

They eat the black worms but:
1. The smaller one ate at least 4 worms eagerly
2. The large one mostly just nibbles

There's worms left, but they are mostly ignoring the remaining worms, but maybe they had enough already (seems unlikely). At some point will turkey baster the left overs out (bare bottom tank).

I fed a tiny amount of the brine shrimp and they completely ignored it.

Small victories, but I want to get these guys readily eating and don't want to rely on live worms or any live food.

I think years ago they were notorious non-eaters because of how they were caught (that's what I've read). I've read things are better now. My LFS fish expert/whisperer guy says "bicolors are easy" and his never eat for the first three days.

For now the fish appear fairly well fed to my eye. They seem healthy so far and (again) certainly are beautiful fish.

I have put egg crate down the center of the tank so they each have one end. LFS guy says leave it in for 30 days, this is how you can pair them without a blood bath. So each fish is presently safe from the other. It does make feeding a little tricky because of the return and two tiny powerheads, stuff can get blown to one end or another more easily.

 

[nereefpat]

I'm glad they ate a little. Live brine is much different in terms of the feeding response it gets compared to frozen.

Please keep us updated. If bicolors are now easy, that would be awesome. They are among the best looking dwarf angels, I think.

 

[Trever]

Not sure where I'd get live brine... too lazy to Google this second.

As I've said I do need them weened off the live stuff before too too long. We have a 2 week vacation coming up in about a month, but even apart from that.

 

[nereefpat]

Not sure where I'd get live brine... too lazy to Google this second.

LFS will sometimes have it. You could hatch it yourself too.

 

[Trever]

The big guy just ran away from a worm that hit him floating on the powerhead currents. Swam around his rock "igloo", and came right back to eat it. It's been in there all day so glad that leaving them in means they might be consumed.

And fish are so... funny? First scared, then wait- that's lunch! I'm going back to nail it.

 

[nereefpat]

Excellent

 

[threebuoys]

I got one back in December. He immediately started eating New Spectrum small pellets and has not slowed down since. He's fat and sassy.

 

[Trever]

@threebuoys wild caught do you know?

 

[threebuoys]

@threebuoys wild caught do you know?

Yes, wild caught. Purchased on-line

 

[Trever]

@threebuoys ok thanks.

I guess I should have asked: was the fish conditioned after being caught, do you know?

 

[threebuoys]

I really doubt it. I purchased from Live Aquaria. They don't advertise any quarantines or special treatment for their fish.

 

[Trever]

Oh sweet, the big guy figured out the floaty things are mysis shrimp and he's eating them. Not as hungrily as I'd expect, I guess they were well fed at Quality Marine? Do they do that at Quality Marine? I thought they try to just turn things around pretty quickly?

I gave the little guy too much privacy, can't see what he's doing,

 

[Trever]

Not going to declare victory yet, but these guys are finding their appetites and moving about the tank more. Definitely eating, but spotty response.

Wish it weren't so tight for them for a month.... but pairing strategies I guess is another thread!

I'll update in the future should someone find this thread later.

 

[Trever]

These guys are eating like crazy. The one eats anything (worms, pellets, frozen), the other is tending to stick to worms so have to work on him. It's only been a few days, and there's a good chance that because he ate so many worms, he's just full. Then again... he will always eat more worms when he refuses other food.

I expect the stubborn fish to come around.

Big appetites and starting to pair.

 

[Trever]

Just updating for posterity, within a few days both fish came around.

They now gobble up anything I put in the tank (various pellets (TDO, PE, NLS), various frozen foods (mysis, brine with spiruleena, reef frenzy). I stopped feeding worms after the first few days but they gobbled those too.

They are getting fat and showing good growth already.