Getting my Perc. to eat...

[bobthehobo9]

I got a new 1" perc. clown for my tank this past Thursday and he has been doing great thus far... however, he has yet to eat anything substantial. I've tried tiny pieces of krill, dried algae/ seaweed, Cyclop-eeze flakes, tiny pieces of silverside, and Ocean nutrition formula 1 small pellets.

The only thing he has even paid any attention to is the cyclop-eeze flakes but I have to make them really, really small otherwise he will just suck them in and then spit them out and swim away and even when the pieces are small, he ignores most of them. Also, the flakes have to float right by him otherwise he will ignore them. He sucked in a few of the Formula 1 pellets but spit them out and forgot about them; and he wont go near the algae, krill, or silversides. I tried soaking the pieces of krill in freshly minced garlic and juice but it didnt help.

I'm going to the lfs tomorrow to pick up some mysis... should i get frozen or freeze-dried?

Could this just be due to the fact that he is new to the tank? He still looks fat and happy so I'm not worried or anything.

Thanks,
Erik

[dobejazz]

Congrats on the new fishie

He is probably settling in I wouldn't worry to much. Do you know what he was eating at the LFS? I'd try that in a day or 2

[hng]

I'd be concerned about Brooklynella. I've lost a few clownfish to this disease and it sounds like he's got some of the symptoms. Do a search on Brook and see if it might be what's going on. The mouthing and spitting back out of food is the big sign. A freshwater dip is usually what's recommended for Brook. Otherwise, clownfish are not picky eaters and usually will eat just about anything they are offered. HTH and good luck!

[bobthehobo9]

I'm not so sure that it's brook. He has, as of right now, no visible symptoms of brook ie: white spots, raised bumps, or excess mucus (knock on wood). I know that brooklynella progresses very rapidly so I would think that I would have seen some symptoms by now.

He seems to be swimming normally and only spits the food out if its too big (he will usually suck it up again and then eat it... and if its still too big then he will sometimes spit it out again in an attempt to make it smaller)
I apologize if I didnt make it clear in my first post (its late and I'm sleep deprived) but, if he sucks the cyclop-eeze into his mouth he will usually eat it... if not on the first, then the second or third try.

We shall see later on this morning (whenever I get up) how he is doing.

[tellycoleman]

Originally Posted by dobejazz

Congrats on the new fishie

He is probably settling in I wouldn't worry to much. Do you know what he was eating at the LFS? I'd try that in a day or 2

I agree every false clownI ever had has gone threw spitting out food when first introduced. And I like you still continue to buy everything to try and make him eat.
Give it a couple of days and continue trying to feed him. I just bought a companion to my female false clown wednesday, and he is doing the same thing.
Today he did eat some frozen freshwater bloodworms soaked in selcom that
I put in the tank.
I have had sucess with frozen formula one. (But if you thaw it out to much it will decintergrate when it hits the water.)
I would tryy the frozen food (whatever you get) its softer for him.

[hng]

OK, if it's a size thing, then the I would suggest the cyclopeeze, not the flake, but the regular powder looking stuff. It's really small and should be bite size for the felllow.

[Loverotties]

Give it some time and try live brine shrimp.

[DarthOcellaris]

I agree that giving him time will cure all.

[fish.freak]

it will take time for dry food, baby mysis works well. As long as it is not breathing fast its prob not brook.

[bobthehobo9]

ya, he's definitely not breathing hard or anything like that

[bobthehobo9]

well i got him some brine and mysis and...

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he loves them!!

thanks for your help everyone!

[hng]

Glad to hear it!