Starving Nemo...?

Eienna · Apr 14, 2013

I got a small tank-raised ocellaris clownfish about four days ago (rough estimate.)

Poor kid won't eat ANYTHING and I'm trying to figure out why.

20g high tank.
Water chemistry (pH, salinity, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate) all check out.
Low flow in most areas.
He's got hiding places but he doesn't use them.
There's one other ocellaris in the tank from a different seller but they seem to be best buds. Nobody's bullying the little guy. The other fish I have is a mandarin dragonet and he's eating well (though he's not yet taking frozens).
I did notice that the bottle of copepods I put in for the mandarin have poofed much more quickly than I thought they should be, but it's my first time so I dunno. I do know I got the wrong kind of pods - I got tigriopus and I want them to reproduce in my tank so I should've gotten tisbe. I have an order of live tisbe pods coming ASAP...anyway, I wonder if he was nibbling on them? I kind of doubt it. He's seeming a little weak and starting to look thin.
I don't have a 'nem and REALLY don't want to deal with one.

I've tried, not in order:
New Life Spectrum Small Fish pellets
Seachem marine flakes
API Tropical flakes (I know...I ran out of ideas)
Hikari First Bites baby fish pellets

and frozen:
Omega One Brine Shrimp
Hikari Rotifers
Rod's Fish-Only mix
San Francisco Bay Saltwater Multi-Pack
San Francisco Bay Bloodworms

I think that's everything...
What do I do...?!

Dixie_reefer · Apr 14, 2013

When my clowns start to get picky, I throw some clams in the food processor and they go nuts for it.

KJAG · Apr 14, 2013

Try soaking in garlic for about an hour before feeding

Eienna · Apr 14, 2013

Garlic...hm...I'll see if I can get some in the morning.

Eienna · Apr 14, 2013

OK, I found some garlic we had in the spice drawer and made a soup of a little bit of everything plus garlic...soaked it...I still don't think he took anything. ;_; The other clown and the shrimp sure had a party, though.

Have to do a water change in the morning. Accidentally dumped in too much n_n;;

Eienna · Apr 14, 2013

Dixie_reefer said:
When my clowns start to get picky, I throw some clams in the food processor and they go nuts for it.

I think one of the mixed frozens already has clams. Nuthin'.

Squishie89 · Apr 14, 2013

Try the SFB mysis shrimp or the marine cuisine. My clowns love those

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Eienna · Apr 14, 2013

Marine Cuisine was in the combo pack. No-go. Perhaps the big one's eating what he'd want before he sees it...I dunno...

BENT STIX · Apr 14, 2013

Ask what was being fed from the people you got it from. I had a clown that wouldn't eat and got food directly from the hatchery.

Sent from my ball and chain.
120g reef
40g (down at the moment)
8g nano sexy shrimp tank

ohio reefer · Apr 14, 2013

Try mysis

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Rockadile · Apr 14, 2013

Be patient, I have had fish not eat for a week while they adjust to their new home.

Eienna · Apr 15, 2013

BENT STIX said:
Ask what was being fed from the people you got it from. I had a clown that wouldn't eat and got food directly from the hatchery.

Sent from my ball and chain.
120g reef
40g (down at the moment)
8g nano sexy shrimp tank

They aid that batch was taking all kinds of things, which is what really puzzles me.

Rockadile said:
Be patient, I have had fish not eat for a week while they adjust to their new home.

Oh, really? Well, I hope that's all it is...

Eienna · Apr 15, 2013

Right about the time I wrote that last post we opted to put the little guy in a breeder net with some food...not 100% sure but it seems he attempted a few nibbles...hopefully he got something in his tummy.

ebushrow · Apr 15, 2013

My suggestion would be trying some cyclos-eze...either freeze dried or frozen. That's what I had to start with to make my captive breds eat...then they will go from there onto pellets within a week of that.

3Twinklets · Apr 15, 2013

Are you sure he is not being bullied? Possibly at night? Do you turn your lights completely off at night? My clowns are more secure, at night, in their anemones. He may not yet "Have a place to go" at night ,when the lights go out.

Eienna · Apr 15, 2013

3Twinklets said:
Are you sure he is not being bullied? Possibly at night? Do you turn your lights completely off at night? My clowns are more secure, at night, in their anemones. He may not yet "Have a place to go" at night ,when the lights go out.

No, he's not being bullied. He and the other clown are best buds and the only other fish I have is a mandarin dragonet, who minds his own business. I AM beginning to think my skunk cleaner shrimp may be making him nervous, though...

I do turn them all the way off after about an hour of just the blue strip. I've seen nothing to make me think there's a problem.

The two like to sleep right under the heater in a corner...