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Batman
Regulars
Joined: 17 Aug 2003
Location: Arcadia CA
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 Posted: 2005.04.16(Sat)19:26 Post subject: Bicolor Angel Refusing to Eat |
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I just purchased a new Bicolor Angelfish from a LFS that I really trust. They told me that it was net captured. When I bought it, it was picking at live rock. It is also picking at the live rock in my tank but is refusing to eat. When I fed flake foods, it swam towards the flakes but then refused to eat. I then put spirulina in, and it took a bite, but then spit it out. I then tried live brine shrimp, and it ate some and spat it out again. It is still picking at the live rock, and I also saw it picking at a small hermit crab. Any suggestions? It is about 3.5 inches long, fat, and is in a 55 Gallon. Help appreciated.
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370 Gallon Marine FO
20 Gallon Hardy Inverts
55 Gallon Hardy Inverts
10 Gallon Planted
1 Chinchilla 1 German Shepherd
Assorted Reptile Species |
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FloridaBoy
Advisors
Joined: 04 Jul 2004
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| Posted: 2005.04.16(Sat)22:40 Post subject: |
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Ahhh, sorry to hear this. These have always been hit or miss IME, you likely have one that was captured/shipped by a weak source and it's doomed, sorry to say. Be advised, even net caught specimens can receive poor handling and suffer invisible damage along the way. You could try tempting it with frresh chopped mussels, peeled raw shrimp, sponge based frozen etc., however, I can't help but ask; what was it eating in the LFS?
Ask if they will take it back, some will. Mark my words here; simply refuse to buy any fish that will not eat prepared food at the LFS. If they will not feed it at your request, let them keep it. And, if it seems reluctant to eat, or merely nibbles instead of "chowing down," you are only asking for trouble. Don't mean to lecture here; we all live and learn.
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Keepin' marines happy for 25 years |
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KDodds
Advisors
Joined: 05 Apr 2005
Location: Suffern, NY
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| Posted: 2005.04.17(Sun)7:38 Post subject: |
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Have to agree, there first and most important rule in purchasing SW fish:
NEVER buy any fish that you do not personally see target, snatch, swallow, and keep down food items you are prepared to feed. "Picking" as substrates is not enough to be secure in the fact that a fish will eat in most cases. Be that as it may, I haven't met an Angel yet that didn't like the Formula frozen foods. There is a Centropyge formula, but it's essentially Formula Two. I'd try that. After it discovers it by picking at substrates, it should come to the realization that it comes from the turkey baster (or whatever you use to feed) and begin feeding. Unfortunately, as already stated, the guy selling you the fish is not always the best source of information. If they tell you it's been eating and it obviously hasn't, can you really trust what they say about where it was collected and/or the method used?
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Kieron Dodds
Inside Aquatics
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Batman
Regulars
Joined: 17 Aug 2003
Location: Arcadia CA
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| Posted: 2005.04.17(Sun)11:18 Post subject: |
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Well, I've known this dealer for quite some time now (6 years) and I still trust him. I asked him to see it eat, and it did eat spirulina flakes. It was also eating sushi nori. I put some nori in and it is picking at it and eating small pieces. I think the problem that I missed was that it was eating- but not a lot. I bought it as soon as I saw it eat two small flakes. My mistake. I'm going to try to keep it for maybe a week to see if it gets any better. If not, I'll return it since the guy at the Lfs said he would give me a refund.
_________________
370 Gallon Marine FO
20 Gallon Hardy Inverts
55 Gallon Hardy Inverts
10 Gallon Planted
1 Chinchilla 1 German Shepherd
Assorted Reptile Species |
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KDodds
Advisors
Joined: 05 Apr 2005
Location: Suffern, NY
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| Posted: 2005.04.17(Sun)20:45 Post subject: |
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What other food items have you tried? Formula Two Frozen? PE Mysis? Hikari Mysis?
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Kieron Dodds
Inside Aquatics
www.insideaquatics.com |
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Batman
Regulars
Joined: 17 Aug 2003
Location: Arcadia CA
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| Posted: 2005.04.19(Tue)7:52 Post subject: |
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I have tried the Mysis. No luck. Maybe The Formula 2 will work. Thanks
_________________
370 Gallon Marine FO
20 Gallon Hardy Inverts
55 Gallon Hardy Inverts
10 Gallon Planted
1 Chinchilla 1 German Shepherd
Assorted Reptile Species |
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FloridaBoy
Advisors
Joined: 04 Jul 2004
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| Posted: 2005.04.19(Tue)17:08 Post subject: |
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I saw a post the other day about this... the guy used an old trick; stick a soft glob of Formula on a small dead rock and let it dry overnight in the fridge, it should stick to the rock. His angelfish started picking/feeding off the rock.
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Keepin' marines happy for 25 years |
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kjh90
Regulars
Joined: 15 Mar 2005
Location: Ohio
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| Posted: 2005.04.19(Tue)17:29 Post subject: |
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| If you just purchased it, sometimes it takes several days for the fish to get acclimated to their new surroundings start eating. |
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Batman
Regulars
Joined: 17 Aug 2003
Location: Arcadia CA
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| Posted: 2005.04.19(Tue)19:18 Post subject: |
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It has been eating a little bit more lately  I'm going to try that trick since my bicolor is picking at my live rock rite now so it might work! It's also picking at my feather dusters occasionally and when I put angelfish formula in, it did eat a little. This is great news. I'm going to try that trick for sure. Thank you guys soooo much.
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370 Gallon Marine FO
20 Gallon Hardy Inverts
55 Gallon Hardy Inverts
10 Gallon Planted
1 Chinchilla 1 German Shepherd
Assorted Reptile Species |
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