Juv imperator help.

ReefCycle · Nov 24, 2012

I got a quality marine juv imperator on Monday and I have him in a 20gallon quarantine tank. She is eating and picking at the rock so I have added 10 lbs from my old LR fuge all rock has plenty of sponges plenty of pods and plenty of natural algaes so I see him eating and pooping. He is active and curious. I am trying to find prepared foods to switch him too and having no luck at the moment. All foods I tried I have angelixer to add smells of natural foods. I have tried mysid,Mega marine mix,cyclopeeze,krill,clams (my mulit fasciatus angel first food) green and red dried seaweed and baby brine shrimp that I hatch for my dwarf sea horsies all with no results. The smell gets him intrigued but no hits. I am keeping water quality perfect and taking uneaten food out but any suggestions?

swannyson7 · Nov 24, 2012

Try clams on a half shell. I've had pretty good luck enticing picky angels with them.

Dashiki · Nov 24, 2012

I have had fish not eat for two weeks before they finally realized what it was i had been dropping in the tank.

Do you have another fish you can put in the qt with him so maybe the other fish will "teach" him what the new food is?

Aquaph8 · Nov 24, 2012

They naturally want to eat from the rocks, try smearing some food in holes in the rocks and see if you can get him to graze on it. Ive also had really amazing luck getting fish to eat homemade foods consisting of clams, scallops and shrimp from the grocery store chopped up in a food processor.

ReefCycle · Nov 24, 2012

I'll try that. Clams on half shell I have and tried. To be fair I only left in for approx 30min before taking it out and giving puffy a treat. I'll make my next meal attempt pasty and smear on rocks. The imperator is in with multifasciatus angel and they swim together no aggression. I am trying all sorts of stuff! Ty for ideas

Aquaph8 · Nov 24, 2012

I love both of those fish. I dont mean to derail from feeding comments but can we get a couple pictures when you get a chance, pretty please

ReefCycle · Nov 24, 2012

All I have mobile

mainereefer · Nov 24, 2012

instant baby brine from ocean nutrition always works for me!! with any fish

link
Aquarium Fish Foods: Ocean Nutrition Instant Baby Brine Shrimp

Aquaph8 · Nov 24, 2012

awesome pair of angels you got there, please keep us updated on how they do for you and what they eat for you.

ReefCycle · Nov 24, 2012

Found his id when I bought him

ReefCycle · Nov 25, 2012

picked at seaweed!

stunreefer · Nov 25, 2012

Nice. Keep up with trying lots of random foods, you're on the right track. I might suggest holding off on Angelixir a few times, even though it's supposed to entice them some fish are incredibly picky. Also try garlic enhancements, to entice moreso than boost immune system (although both is a plus). I've had pairs of fish collected by the same person and gone down the chain in exactly the same manner accept completely different foods initially. I would also suggest leaving the clam in there for a much longer time. I'll leave them in for 6+ hours as sometimes they'll only nip when there is no one around.