Stubborn royal gramma

[pletlibo]

Hey guys! I’m a new reefer and on this thread I’ll be discussing my 15 gallon QT system. Right now, I’ve got a young clown and a royal gramma in it with a standard HOB filter. I’ve got a piece of rock in there at the moment, because I’m not using any medication and since grammas are cave dwellers I wanted the new guy to feel safe. I put him in on Sunday, about four days ago. Since then, he has moved around caves in the rock and I haven’t seen him swimming freely. This isn’t out of the ordinary for royal grammas, especially ones newly added to the tank according to the research I’ve done online. However I haven’t gotten him to eat, probably because he’s in a cave and doesn’t know there’s feeding going on. My question is, is there any way I can entice him to eat? Like holding out some kind of frozen food in front of his cave or something along those lines? Also, how long should I wait until I should start being concerned with his not eating. Days? Weeks?

Thanks!
- Nicholas

 

[S-t-r-e-t-c-h]

If you are concerned, you can try to entice him with some live brine shrimp but I probably wouldn't be too worried just yet. They can easily go a week without eating. It's possible he is eating and you're just not seeing it, since he's staying in the rocks...

 

[mahindra.dev]

I️ had the same thing happen. I️ didn’t see the fish eat for 1 week. I️ used to spot feed with lights dimmed out. They come around and next thing you know the gramma will be out.

I’d try garlic oil and soak frozen brine.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Grumpy cusses. And sweet as can be. Let it settle in. You're on the right track. Just need time and patience.

Please consider worming the fish when it's settled in.

 

[eatbreakfast]

Having food hit the flow causes it to move in a way that often gets a fish to give chase.

I also recommend deworming.

 

[4FordFamily]

Live brine they often find irresistible. Soaking food in garlic guard or the like is also great advice.

 

[pletlibo]

Having food hit the flow causes it to move in a way that often gets a fish to give chase.

I also recommend deworming.

What do you reccomend for deworming? Something like prazipro? Also is this kind of medication harsh on fish, like is it something that would be a good idea to dose all new arrivals with regardless of suspicion of disease? I have heard of some reefers doing this.

 

[Fyveonit]

Mine stays hidden until feeding or something gets near it's "Caves" it has about three. Then it flys out and starts howling and acting all grumpy. Never attacks a fish, just tell them to get off his lawn.

It has grown to 2-3 times the size of my other fish. We named it Tank Boss