Lately I've noticed that my flame hawkfish is looking a bit thin. They are not great swimmers and generally need to rest after a trip across the tank, resulting in getting edged out by swifter fish at feeding time. Anyone have a solution?
Flame hawkfish (Neocirrhites armatus)? Slow? You sure it isn't ill?
As to your question on slow fish. Here is how I go about it in my 210 gallon display. Not due to anyone being slow (I do have a pair of 14 year old Pajama Cardinals) but because I typically am buying captive bred, or raised, fish that come in smaller sizes. Because of this I notice they behave differently by staying closer to the reef structure and not venturing out when the food enters the surface. That and some of my fish are larger so make a bigger ruckus when eating.
That being said I feed hourly starting at 0830 until 1830. Smaller portions, pellet, mix of PE Mysis, Hakari A, S, TDO x-small, and TDO small. Larger fish go after the larger pieces first which leaves the smaller pellets to fall closer to the reef until the flow catches it moving it about the tank. The smaller or new fish strike this.
Twice a day I feed frozen. Rotate through LRS Reef, Fish, and Nano. PE Calanus. Small Brine. Mysis. Prime Reef, and a few others. I get a cup of tank water, pull a couple out of the freezer, break pieces or a cube, and let it thaw for a few minutes. Mix it up, pour a bit of water from that into the display (think chumming) so it gets everyone aware, turn down return flow, then feed over a couple minutes. This adds a bit of food all at once and again due to the various sizes, and amount, everyone has a chance to get something frozen.
Long and short of it I feed hourly, small portions, with a variety of sizes. I rotate through frozen food throughout the week. All in all it works well for me. Nori sheet folded up small twice a week rotating between green and purple.
This is what works for me.
