What to feed a picky baby clownfish?

Northwest_Scapes_ · Dec 27, 2020

So a bit of a background: I picked up a baby OC (ocellaris clown) about 3 weeks ago and QT'd him since he might've had worms (White poop, not very active, wasn't eating) and after putting him in my frag tank he's a lot more active and his poop is normal. But he still won't eat. I've tried Frozen Brine and Mysis and he just spits it out. Anything else I could try to have him eat? He's been alive for this long so he's definitely eating something, possibly itty bitty pieces. I have brine shrimp egs coming this week so I could try Live BB and see if that works, but does anyone else have anything that might get him eating?

drewwCh · Dec 28, 2020

Live baby brine shrimp should gwt your clown to eat. Other foods would be live foods. If he's survived 3 weeks then he must be eating something in the tank that he prefers over the food you've given him.

You could also try homemade frozen food if you can make it. Got both my wild clowns and wild banggai eating right away with my diy food.

fishguy242 · Dec 28, 2020

hi,you can try flake,tiny pieces in tiny amounts ,hopefully get him started

Northwest_Scapes_ · Dec 28, 2020

fishguy242 said:
hi,you can try flake,tiny pieces in tiny amounts ,hopefully get him started

Haven't tried that yet, I'll give it a go tomorrow. Thank you!

Northwest_Scapes_ · Dec 28, 2020

drewwCh said:
Live baby brine shrimp should gwt your clown to eat. Other foods would be live foods. If he's survived 3 weeks then he must be eating something in the tank that he prefers over the food you've given him.

You could also try homemade frozen food if you can make it. Got both my wild clowns and wild banggai eating right away with my diy food.

Yeah, hoping that the live baby brine will let me see him eat. I've never tried making frozen food, definitely something I'll have to try, thank you!

daybreaksky · Dec 28, 2020

may be frozen or dried cyclopeze or rotifers. clowns are pigs so may be it's the size

kichimark · Dec 28, 2020

Do you have a store near you that sells live black worms? Some stores call them bloodworms but they are black worms. These were always my go to when feeding picky eaters and never had one refuse. Also used them to fatten up my clowns when they bred.

sp1187 · Dec 28, 2020

mine eat this.

CanuckReefer · Dec 28, 2020

daybreaksky said:
may be frozen or dried cyclopeze or rotifers. clowns are pigs so may be it's the size

THIS^^^ Cyclops are a buffet for all of my species....they are easily available frozen and I only utilize them as part of a broadcast feed for the entire reef, and rarely, as too much can foul the tank. In your case I suggest it briefly.