Picky Pajamas

[SaltyCupcake]

Nearly 2 weeks ago, I got a trio of Pajama Cardinalfish to keep my Six Line Wrasse company. I'm happy to say that they are cohabitating nicely, which was my primary concern. I call them 'The Choppers' because of the way they hover and patrol the tank like little helicopters. (Also because I can't tell them apart. )

Within the first few days, they all but annihilated my amphipod population which was nice because they were taking over the tank. The amphipods were getting so large that my wrasse was schooling around the tank with them like they were other fish(Sushi has always been a little bit odd).

It was really exciting to see Sushi(my wrasse) sort of 'learn' from the pajamas that the amphipods were food. He now actively hunts and pecks at the rocks the way he's supposed to. He always looked so confused about it all before.

However, I'm noticing a troubling new trend. My fish no longer seem interested during feedings. They just stare forlornly at the rocks that they have picked clean.

I continued to feed them, though with less frequency to see if they would develop an appetite for something that wasn't amphipods. No dice, friends.

I've tried many different foods(some with garlic):

Frozen - brine(adult and baby)/mysis/ocean plankton/spirulina brine/blood worms/chopped mysis.

Dried - flakes/blood worms/brine/pellets/(I know they're carnivores but I was even desperate enough to try nori on a clip)...

They must be eating something because they're still alive, but I'm starting to worry because I read about how others have pajamas that will eat pretty much anything.

Behavior outside of feeding seems normal as far as PJ Cardinalfish go. They sit in a quiet low flow corner during the day and rest, they patrol and hunt at night. Poop doesn't look white or stringy.

I understand that amphipods are nocturnal as well, so there may be some that are coming out at night and getting gobbled up that I don't see. But for the most part, I don't seem to have many left.

My questions are: Based on this information-- Should I rush order some amphipods, or keep hoping that they will show interest in the frozen/dried foods? Am I just being a worrywart and wringing my hands over nothing?

Any and all help is appreciated. Thank you so much <3

 

[dbowman5]

I appreciate your post about the PJ's. I am thinking about getting some, or maybe Bengaii's. Interested to see if they transition to frozen.

 

[SaltyCupcake]

I appreciate your post about the PJ's. I am thinking about getting some. or maybe Bengaii's. interesting to see if hey transition to frozen.

Oh, those are lovely! I hope that these guys are able to transition. They showed some interest in the food I drop in the tank, but just watch it fall to the floor. My shrimp and hermit crabs are tickled pink by all the free food they get now haha.

 

[dbowman5]

Oh, those are lovely! I hope that these guys are able to transition. They showed some interest in the food I drop in the tank, but just watch it fall to the floor. My shrimp and hermit crabs are tickled pink by all the free food they get now haha.

yea! for the inverts

 

[Daniel92481]

I would try some frozen mysis soaked in Selcon. Even I have a hard time resisting this concoction lol.

 

[SaltyCupcake]

I would try some frozen mysis soaked in Selcon. Even I have a hard time resisting this concoction lol.

Lmaooo! Omgosh that gif is so perfect lol.

I'll get my paws on some Selcon and magic up some mysis for them to see if they give it a go. Thanks!

 

[homer1475]

Never found a fish that won't go for LRS. It has everything your already feeding in it, along with shrimp, mussels, clams, other fish, etc. It's a really well balance diet for fish and corals.

Selcon is good for finicky eater also, as is a bit of garlic juice(though garlic has been shown to not be good long term).

Pellets are not all the same either. I've had fish outright refuse some brands of pellets, but take right away to others. I find NLS(new life spectrum) to be a well rounded pellet that most fish take to right away.

 

[SaltyCupcake]

Never found a fish that won't go for LRS. It has everything your already feeding in it, along with shrimp, mussels, clams, other fish, etc. It's a really well balance diet for fish and corals.

Selcon is good for finicky eater also, as is a bit of garlic juice(though garlic has been shown to not be good long term).

Pellets are not all the same either. I've had fish outright refuse some brands of pellets, but take right away to others. I find NLS(new life spectrum) to be a well rounded pellet that most fish take to right away.

Great! I'll grab some different kinds of pellets as well as the brands you mentioned. Thanks for the friendly heads-up about the garlic, I'll cut back on it and use it much more sparingly.