Starry blenny refused to eat

GHsaltie · Aug 30, 2018

I purchased a starry blenny last Friday from my LFS. He's been in QT and he absolutely refuses to eat anything. I (stupidly) did not think to ask the store to feed him before I purchased however I did notice he was quit plump when I got him so must have eaten something. My regular food is mysis, brine, and a little bit of flake food. All he does is eyeball it, won't even make a move to it. I've tried adding garlic, tried red not, tried squirting it right at him and letting it drift towards him. I've covered the tank with a towel to block out the surroundings, I've tried feeding with pump on and off. He either perches on the heater or in one of the pvc pipes and refuses to take anything. Won't even sample it. That I am aware of I don't have access to live food near me. I'm stumped, I don't know what try next. Anyone have some suggestions I haven't thought of yet?

iDeath · Aug 30, 2018

Seems like it might be a coincidence and I don't know why this is the case but I've been seeing a lot of blennies at the lfs around me that won't eat as well. I keep wanting to buy some but when they try to feed them in the store they show no interest. Foolishly I went ahead and just ordered some from Live aquaria and had the same bad luck recently... the poor guy wouldn't eat anything that was in the water column.

I didn't try any live foods so maybe some live brine could entice him?

Brew12 · Aug 30, 2018

GHsaltie said:
I purchased a starry blenny last Friday from my LFS. He's been in QT and he absolutely refuses to eat anything. I (stupidly) did not think to ask the store to feed him before I purchased however I did notice he was quit plump when I got him so must have eaten something. My regular food is mysis, brine, and a little bit of flake food. All he does is eyeball it, won't even make a move to it. I've tried adding garlic, tried red not, tried squirting it right at him and letting it drift towards him. I've covered the tank with a towel to block out the surroundings, I've tried feeding with pump on and off. He either perches on the heater or in one of the pvc pipes and refuses to take anything. Won't even sample it. That I am aware of I don't have access to live food near me. I'm stumped, I don't know what try next. Anyone have some suggestions I haven't thought of yet?

Being plump could also be a sign of an internal parasite or constipation. I know my starry loves frozen mysis and it is the first thing he ate in QT.

You don't have any meds in the water yet, do you?

GHsaltie · Aug 30, 2018

@Brew12 no meds yet. I was going to do a round of copper because I know there is at least ich in the tank I got him from, maybe some other stuff too but I don't want to start him on meds until I get him eating. I had thought about parasites making him plump, but even then he wouldn't eat anything let alone medicated food.

@iDeath I would try live brine but I don't know where to find any.

iDeath · Aug 30, 2018

You can get the eggs on amazon. They do 1 day free shipping on some if you have prime membership.

Breadman03 · Aug 30, 2018

I'd consider grabbing some Larry's Reef Services Reef Frenzy and Fish Eggs. The eggs are supposed to be phenomenal at getting fish to start eating and the Reef Frenzy provides a good balance of nutrition, though you'll want to provide algae for it as well.

My LFS is a bit of a drive, so I've begun ordering from Premium Aquatics.

Brew12 · Aug 30, 2018

Since this isn't in the fish disease section, lets see if we can get @Humblefish or @4FordFamily

GHsaltie · Aug 30, 2018

@Breadman03 I had some of the Reef Nutrition ROE but I think it's gone bad by now. I can check by the store tomorrow and see if they have any in stock.

Humblefish · Aug 30, 2018

I've had Lawnmower Blennies refuse to eat (even nori) whilst in QT. But once I put them in a retail tank (more natural environment), they started eating within a few days.

I must have gotten lucky with Starry Blennies because those always eat within a few days. Have you tried rubberbanding nori to a small rubble rock?

GHsaltie · Aug 30, 2018

I have red nori rubberbanded to a piece of the heater, since he likes to perch up there, and a pvc pipe. I haven't tried a rock yet.

GHsaltie · Aug 30, 2018

I could put him in my frag tank to get him eating, but then he may go off again when he goes back into QT. Hmm

Maritimer · Aug 30, 2018

If you can get him started, he's more likely to stay started. Give him some time to become confident in the foods you're offering before you move him back.

~Bruce