Getting Forktail Blenny (aka Yellowtail Fang Blenny & Lyretail Fang Blenny) to eat!

[seamandrew]

Dear fellow aquarist,
I've just purchased a Forktail Blenny (a.k.a Yellowtail Fang Blenny or Lyretail Fang Blenny). It's been with me for 4 days now and I have not seen it eat a thing.
I've tried mysid shrimp, vitamin enriched brine shrimp, MarineGro food pellets (which my purple firefish loves), and even Zooplex (from Kent Marine) since I read it was a planktivorous fish. I also have copepods in my tank as I occasionally see them in the sand bottom or on the live rock. Anyone have any idea what I should feed this little critter?
All the resources I read include finely chopped crustaceans in the feeding guide for this fish. Should I buy a can of crab meat, chop it up and try that?
Kind regards,
Drew

 

[seamandrew]

Day 5, tried zooplex and mysis shrimp again.. no such luck!

 

[spanko]

Is the mysis chopped? May have a little better luck with it as it is smaller than the whole mysis. Also try a little garlic flavor in the food. You can purchase the bottles of flavoring at the fish store or you can squeeze some cloves on your own. You just want to get the juice mixed into the food to get the flavor. Also you could try some forzen Cyclopeeze.
All that said, 5 days is not terribly long for a newly introduced fish not to eat, especially if there are other sources of food in the tank like the pods. Keep trying. Hopefully it will come around soon.
Also watch yourself when you hand is in the tank. If you get bit it will be real uncomfortable!

 

[seamandrew]

Hi Spanko.. I'll try the chopped mysis later today...
Otherwise, I'm going to the petshop for Saltwater tomorrow so I'll look for the Cyclopeeze (never heard of that) and the garlic enhancer.
With regards to the venom.. Yeah, I know to be careful. I have long tweezers for reaching into the tank and I mix the food oustside of the tank with a little bit of the tank's water and pour back in.
Again thanks!

 

[stanlalee]

if its wild they tend to stroll around the sand and rocks searching for live pods. you should try live food and mix it with frozen to get it eating frozen. I had a pair of ORA's which ate right away however even they where slow methodical eaters and were out competed by the rest of my fish until they withered away slowly. my sixline outcompeted them for pods. I had to dump alot of extra food in an attempt to get them enough but I guess it didn't work.

 

[seamandrew]

Yeah, I've got a purple firefish and 3 orange-striped cardinalfish in there which are fast eaters..however, the blenny has time to get some.. it chooses not to.

 

[seamandrew]

Just discovered earlier today that my fish all have ich! Going to try one of those non-copper, non-malachite green treatments that are reef safe! I can't believe it! First time in my 16 years in the hobby that I get ich!

 

[seamandrew]

Hi guys, it's been 11 days and I still haven't seen the lyretail fang blenny go for any of the food choices. Cut up mysis, VE brine shrimp, zoo plex, food pellets, and even table shrimp. I haven't been able to find the Cyclop-eeze...may have to order online.. Any other suggestions for getting this guy to eat.

 

[seamandrew]

This thread can be closed. Today, the yellowtail fang blenny succombed to his starvation and passed away. RIP Fangs!

 

[rkennedy]

Next time try the aquacultured ones they are better in captivity than the wild ones plus they have already been eating prepared foods. good luck and dont give up on them they are pretty fish!