Getting Fish to Eat

[DaveS]

Hi everyone,

 

Just wanted to start a thread to see what everyone's strategies are on getting new fish to eat. Yes, the best approach is to only buy fish from the LFS that you can see eating. But how about sharing what you guys have learned the hard way. While the main reason for starting this thread is to just learn and exchange ideas, I'll share the situation I'm in to start the discussion off.

 

I've got a copperband butterfly. Yes I know they are notorious for not eating. Anyways, I've thrown Mysis shrimp and Cyclopeeze at it and no dice. I've taken both and melted it with Garlic extract before shooting it in with a turkey baster and still no luck. He did look/sniff at the cloud which is a step up from before without the garlic.

 

What strategies do people have for getting fish to eat?

 

Thanks for sharing.

[YBeNormal]

Isolate the new fish in a quiet but comfortable tank with lots of room, no other fish that may be seen as a threat or competition. Provide hiding spaces and subdued lighting.

 

Try feeding at different times of the day, include live brine at first and a wide variety of other foods (mollusks, pellets, flakes, etc.)

[Guest NSC]

Live brine is the best for getting a new addition to eat.

[dhoch]

Best method, understand what the fish does in the wild.

 

Butterflies (of which copperbands are one) are grazers... they typically don't take food out of the water column in the wild. They pick at rocks and things.

 

One of the best things I have tried for copperbands is take a mussel, split it open so there is a good sized opening for the copperband to get it's snout into and then place near where the copperband frequents.

 

This is best done in a tank where the fish is isolated so that other fish won't take the food.

 

Dave

[flowerseller]

Best method, understand what the fish does in the wild.

 

Butterflies (of which copperbands are one) are grazers... they typically don't take food out of the water column in the wild. They pick at rocks and things.

 

One of the best things I have tried for copperbands is take a mussel, split it open so there is a good sized opening for the copperband to get it's snout into and then place near where the copperband frequents.

 

This is best done in a tank where the fish is isolated so that other fish won't take the food.

 

Dave

Great advise but not in a tank you plan to keep, or already keep, clams.

I hit the feed button on the controller and do the LBS or LBW's and then get them to flake food as quickly as possible. Fish mimic fish so once the fish feeds, you are likly to get it over to flake by example.

Good luck

[extreme_tooth_decay]

PE Mysis

[squiddly]

I've used Entice with some luck. The other thing I've used also is the live brine. I now know from vast experience that live brine is available at Superpets in Annandale :-).