I need help with getting my fish to eat.

[noxel56]

Hello, I recently set up my 40b reef tank. I added a firefish and recently a yellow clown goby. The firefish has been great about eating but the clown goby doesn’t seem to care about any food I try. I was wondering if anyone has had any experience with this type of fish not eating or any tips on me getting this little guy to eat. Thanks in advance!

 

[AC1211]

Hello, I recently set up my 40b reef tank. I added a firefish and recently a yellow clown goby. The firefish has been great about eating but the clown goby doesn’t seem to care about any food I try. I was wondering if anyone has had any experience with this type of fish not eating or any tips on me getting this little guy to eat. Thanks in advance!

Both fish are rather passive so I recommend some live brine shrimp or frozen brine shrimp. Feed small amounts often. Don't add any aggressive feeders until those fish are very comfortable. The one thing I always could do is get fish to eat

 

[noxel56]

Both fish are rather passive so I recommend some live brine shrimp or frozen brine shrimp. Feed small amounts often. Don't add any aggressive feeders until those fish are very comfortable. The one thing I always could do is get fish to eat

Ok, I’ve tried mysis, flakes, and pellets. The firefish loves the flakes and pellets but does not seem to eager the mysis. I’ll try some brine and maybe some plankton tonight. Maybe I am overreacting, but I just don’t want him to starve.

 

[AC1211]

Ok, I’ve tried mysis, flakes, and pellets. The firefish loves the flakes and pellets but does not seem to eager the mysis. I’ll try some brine and maybe some plankton tonight. Maybe I am overreacting, but I just don’t want him to starve.

Plankton worked when I had to get one feeding in my uncles tank.

 

[noxel56]

Would adding garlic to the food help entice him to eat?

 

[sp1187]

THIS

OR THAT

garlic won't hurt. I used it early on, not sure if that's what enticed eating or not.

 

[noxel56]

Welp he loved the brine shrimp! Thanks for all the help!

 

[Greg P]

Brine shrimp is a good start to get it eating but the nutritional value is low.
PE Canalus is also good for finicky eaters, as is Rotifers.
What brand mysis are you feeding? PE is very large and may be the issue.
Hikari has a much smaller shrimp and may help as your firefish has a small mouth. It's also a cleaner food as it's freshwater sourced, although it's still full of good stuff.
You could also consider chopping the PE mysis.

As to the garlic idea; it helps to entice fish to start with, but wean them off it as it's been pondered on the web that long-term it may cause liver damage.

 

[Greg P]

Re-reading, I may have confused which fish is eating what food ...
Regardless, try some smaller foods. Once they start eating something, you can then slowly temp them with mixing foods.
I've had success doing this when fish wouldn't eat certain foods but eventually trained them to eat everything.

Make sure you siphon out what they aren't eating !!!