Hi, so I just got a tiny blueline angelfish. When it first came to the LFS, I asked it to hold it for 1 week since I couldn’t pick it up. So I picked it up acclimated it and put it in the tank (QT). He spends most of its time at the top, rarely do I see it in the mid to bottom portions of the tank. He is very very shy and would really hide in the corner when it sees me coming. I’ve tried to feed it pellets, mysis shrimp and some frozen fare, but is uninterested. I also bought a valentini puffer with it so I put him in the acclimation box since the puffer eats everything I throw in. I also bougjt some fresh clams for the puffer and might use it for it as well if he doesn’t eat. It’s been 2 days (1 outside the acclimation box, 1 inside) and no signs of interest in food. He reportedly ate some pellets and krill while in the LFS, and the owner said it’s captive bred in Taiwan. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks and here’s a picture of the little guy.
Tiny Blueline Angelfish
- Thread starter mjreefs
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I apologize, but do you happen to have a picture that better displays him? I want to get a better look at the little guy. I have read multiple accounts to where people are saying they had trouble feeding. They seem to be pretty shy, especially towards more aggressive tankmates. I would just keep trying and switch it up some. Probably just stressed due to the new environment. What size tank will he be going to?
Definitely don’t want to be that person but I would just keep an eye on it. Could be illness but more than likely not. Probably just temporary stress, or even just his natural color. Cool looking guy! Hope I get to follow along and watch him grow!
When all else fails try
1. tiny cut up bits of the frozen clams (a minor pain. We feed it to the copperband to keep it healthy. )
2. Live black worms (lol, same problem child)
3. Mastic
You can add stuff to the mastic.
Keep it on the dry side and it should stick to the glass just fine.
Or stick it to a rock for a more natural feeding response.
The acclimation box mighf be stressing it. Can they trade places or can you section off the tank to give it more room?
1. tiny cut up bits of the frozen clams (a minor pain. We feed it to the copperband to keep it healthy. )
2. Live black worms (lol, same problem child)
3. Mastic
You can add stuff to the mastic.
Keep it on the dry side and it should stick to the glass just fine.
Or stick it to a rock for a more natural feeding response.
The acclimation box mighf be stressing it. Can they trade places or can you section off the tank to give it more room?
I’ll try the clams tomorrow. And I’ve tried masstick but it doesn’t stick on the glass. Thanks for being a lifesaver, now I know why my masstick won’t stick. I’ve been searching for a solution for weeks.
As for a divider. I do have a divider, hopefully holes won’t be too big that it can pass through
jsvand5
Valuable Member
Go with live brine to get it started. Mine also likes the TDO B2 and TDO small pellets. Those are the only two things mine will eat at this point. If you have a piece of live rock with some algae on it that will help too. Mine picks at the rocks in QT quite a bit.
And the color isn’t anything to worry about. It will darken.
And the color isn’t anything to worry about. It will darken.
Last edited:
nonstopfish
Active Member
I recently purchased a juvenile as well, came in tiny like this one. The colors looked the same when he came in and haven't changed too much, so wouldn't be worried about coloration.
I was fortunate and mine showed interest in eating almost immediately, but was having a tough time finding food he would eat after he swam up to it. I bought live brine and they were too big for him to eat. Frozen blackworms were the first thing he attacked, but many of those were too big and were spit out as well. The key is the foods you offer need to be really really small so it can get them down. I ground up the blackworms a bit, bought fish eggs which it seems to love, and ground flake food into the mix as well (You could try Cyclopeeze for something real small it could eat). It is eating all of those in QT and I am trying to feed as many times as possible each day because it is so small and can only eat a little at once. It's been roughly ten days now and the little juve swims at the front of the tank in the flow when I come near the tank.
Side note, I have found there is a balance in a calm environment and one with lots of flow in getting a fish to act normal and have an eating response. Calm, low flow and hanging food doesn't stimulate a fish as much imo. It isn't natural, which is why I tend not to like acclimation boxes into QT, only into a display with other fish. I want the new fish to feel as comfortable as possible at first and sitting in a tiny box with little hiding space I don't think helps. Food in the water is always moving and my fish in qt are much more intrigued and aggressive towards new foods when they come blowing by, they don't have time to think, they just bite and find out it's food. So for my fish I have a number of PVC pipes it can hide and rest in, but there is quite a lot of flow above them and towards the front of the tank. The little fish has to swim really hard in the flow near the front, but seems to love it.
I was fortunate and mine showed interest in eating almost immediately, but was having a tough time finding food he would eat after he swam up to it. I bought live brine and they were too big for him to eat. Frozen blackworms were the first thing he attacked, but many of those were too big and were spit out as well. The key is the foods you offer need to be really really small so it can get them down. I ground up the blackworms a bit, bought fish eggs which it seems to love, and ground flake food into the mix as well (You could try Cyclopeeze for something real small it could eat). It is eating all of those in QT and I am trying to feed as many times as possible each day because it is so small and can only eat a little at once. It's been roughly ten days now and the little juve swims at the front of the tank in the flow when I come near the tank.
Side note, I have found there is a balance in a calm environment and one with lots of flow in getting a fish to act normal and have an eating response. Calm, low flow and hanging food doesn't stimulate a fish as much imo. It isn't natural, which is why I tend not to like acclimation boxes into QT, only into a display with other fish. I want the new fish to feel as comfortable as possible at first and sitting in a tiny box with little hiding space I don't think helps. Food in the water is always moving and my fish in qt are much more intrigued and aggressive towards new foods when they come blowing by, they don't have time to think, they just bite and find out it's food. So for my fish I have a number of PVC pipes it can hide and rest in, but there is quite a lot of flow above them and towards the front of the tank. The little fish has to swim really hard in the flow near the front, but seems to love it.
I just placed a divider hours ago, and came to check him, and he was stuck against the divider and couldn't swim out. No injuries whatsoever, so decided to just remove the divider and let him be. I hope it'll learn from the valentini puffer. That guy ate masstick and mysis shrimp today, cute little guy.
I'll try to find some fish eggs. Blackworms, well, I live outside of US so no way to get them. I'll try to grind my hikari mysis tho, they're huge for its tiny mouth. For tomorrow, they'll have fresh clams, although they have been frozen for the past 12 hours. Maybe some masstick in the morning and clams in the afternoon.
this is me
Well-Known Member
Looks a little thin from here...
But you did the right thing by putting it in an acclimation box and trying to feed it that way. Just keep trying different food. You can also leave fresh clam on half shell for a couple hours and see if it interests in pecking it or not.
But you did the right thing by putting it in an acclimation box and trying to feed it that way. Just keep trying different food. You can also leave fresh clam on half shell for a couple hours and see if it interests in pecking it or not.
Bad news, woke up to a dead fish this morning.
It would be quite a while before I get another blueline, not sure if I should wait for it or just go for another angel. Basically, it’s unpredictable when there will be
If I do not go for another one, any suggestions for an angel? Thinking of a French but man it goes too big for a 240 gal
It would be quite a while before I get another blueline, not sure if I should wait for it or just go for another angel. Basically, it’s unpredictable when there will be
If I do not go for another one, any suggestions for an angel? Thinking of a French but man it goes too big for a 240 gal
I hate to hear that, and I was wondering if there was actually something up concerning the color. Could have gone either way though! It's pretty tough with juveniles. Dang, I was looking forward to watching him grow.
I am currently unable to attend classes and work, due to illness at the moment. Let me see if I can you out!
jsvand5
Valuable Member
Sucks to hear. When you said it got stuck to the divider I thought that might be a sign of bad things to come.
For a different angel, Regal of course. Emperor would be my second choice.
I was looking at the Regal as well, and I have heard good things about Emperors! I was actually looking at this particular fella as well.
https://www.liveaquaria.com/product/404/blue-girdled-angelfish?pcatid=404&c=15+18+404
https://www.liveaquaria.com/product/404/blue-girdled-angelfish?pcatid=404&c=15+18+404
No, not really reefing, my 240’s a FOWLR. I’d really love a regal, but I already have a 5-6” annularis and 3” scribbled in my tank. Not to mention a Powder Blue and Purple Tangs. That’s my big dilemma.
