Trouble Feeding Christmas Wrasse

[livinlifeinBKK]

Ok so a few days ago I got a Christmas Wrasse and had him in a QT but adding scoops of sand from one of my DTs proved to be the wrong move as after adding the sand I could see obvious signs something was wrong (I assume gases were built up in the sand I scooped and put in the QT). Because of obvious negative signs I quickly moved him directly to the DT where after about 15 minutes he recovered and was swimming around normally before finally burying himself as they do to sleep. Ive been seeing him plenty the past few days but can't seem to get him to take pellets or Masstick even though the shop (who said they had him for 10 days) says he'd take pellets. I ordered a Grindal worms culture kit and will try them next but is there anything else I can do? I can pick up some frozen brine as well tomorrow but just have a feeling he's not gonna wanna go for it. Do you guys think he's just acclimating to the new tank and will start eating soon, or what should I try? Again, I've had him 3 days so far.

 

[KrisReef]

Go to the store and get a live clam from the meat counter. Pry it open, chop it up whole and put in some of that (not sure how big your tank is, or how many other fish you have?) into the tank and see if that gets a response. Otherwise, just wait. A lot of new fishes don't feed until they get used to your system. Three days isn't a long time not to eat, unless your fish is a typical American over-eater?

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

Go to the store and get a live clam from the meat counter. Pry it open, chop it up whole and put in some of that (not sure how big your tank is, or how many other fish you have?) into the tank and see if that gets a response. Otherwise, just wait. A lot of new fishes don't feed until they get used to your system. Three days isn't a long time not to eat, unless your fish is a typical American over-eater?

Yeah, I'm probably more worried than I really need to be...I just had a bad experience with a Blue stripe Fang Blenny once that never would eat and eventually died I assume die to starvation which is why I always prefer to do an observational QT now to train the fish to eat...(this time the observational QT tank just happened to have a problem and I didn't have a choice but to put him on into the DT)

 

[Steve and his Animals]

Shop should've explained that most wrasses WILL eat pellets, as in future tense, but not right away most of the time, especially one as delicate as a biocellatus. Try mysis shrimp or clam on the half shell like Kris said.

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

Shop should've explained that most wrasses WILL eat pellets, as in future tense, but not right away most of the time, especially one as delicate as a biocellatus. Try mysis shrimp or clam on the half shell like Kris said.

I'll pick up some frozen mysis instead of brine then...I've got some oysters off the shell... should they work as well as clams on the shell?

 

[Steve and his Animals]

I'll pick up some frozen mysis instead of brine then...I've got some oysters off the shell... should they work as well as clams on the shell?

If you do brine shrimp with marine fish get the type with spirulina included. Normal brine isn't super nutritious, although many people find it gets pickier fish to start eating. Oysters are fine, if not a little oversized. Most fish stores sell small clams on the half, which are more manageable and cheaper. Mussels work too. These bivalves are just to get the wrasse to begin eating, but you can include them in their staple diet occasionally if you wish.