New Tomato clown won't eat. Please help

mata777

mata777

New Member
Hi there, new on here lots of great info. I added a 2 1/2 inch tomato clown (no other fish in the tank) to my cycled (one month and 10 days, 29 gal tank) PH is right at 8.0, no presence of ammonia according to my test kit . This guy has been in my tank for a bit over 48 hours and won't eat at all. I'v tried brine shrimp flakes, freez dried mysis, new life spectrum pellets. He will try out somthing new but will then spit it out. It's a very active fish and is always looking out and exploring its new tank as if it was hungry. I thought these fish were pigs and pretty much ate anything that went into the tank. Thanks in advance.
 
nycbob

nycbob

Active Member
gv it 2-3 days. fish can go without eating for awhile. clownfish in general r not picky eaters at all. he is probably still acclimating to the surrounding.
 
zippgirl

zippgirl

Member
Can you try and feed him some fozen foods, like mysis until he gets acclimated and then switch him to you pellet and flake foods. Just something you could try if you wanted.
 
ophiura

ophiura

Active Member
Yes, you want to consider different foods but don't overdo it or you may respike the ammonia. These are wild caught fish, often, and so flakes, pellets etc are unfamiliar.
First course might be a smidge of live brine. Few fish refuse it. Then look at small amounts of a variety of frozen foods (limit, though, the brine). Also you may wish to check at the LFS if it was eating. That is always something to view in a fish before you purchase it.
And, above all...
WELCOME to the boards!!
 
mata777

mata777

New Member
Thanks for all the replies. I sould've asked to see the fish eat in person. I callled today and they told me they were feeding him chopped frozen shrimp. I just tried frozen choped shrimp, mysis, brine, it spits everything out just like all the other food I've tried. I've had the fish since Saturday afternoon and looks fine, very active but looks hungry as it will go after food but will just spit it out after 3 seconds or so. This fish had been at the LFS for at least 2 weeks (when I first saw it).
 
kaingers

kaingers

Member
What is your SG? and what do you use to test it? You want it to be around 1.025. I am asking because I experienced the same thing and lost some fish before I realized my SG was through the roof. Nitrates and ammonia are important, but dont forget the simple stuff (SG and Temp)!!
 
mata777

mata777

New Member
Originally Posted by kaingers
http:///forum/post/3079684
What is your SG? and what do you use to test it? You want it to be around 1.025. I am asking because I experienced the same thing and lost some fish before I realized my SG was through the roof. Nitrates and ammonia are important, but dont forget the simple stuff (SG and Temp)!!

Yes, I forgot to mention that SG is right at 1.021, temp is at 78.4, I use a red sea hydrometer to measure SG.
 
ophiura

ophiura

Active Member
I really recommend a small amount of live brine, ideally that has been allowed to soak in something like selcon or other filter feeder food. The brine eats this and becomes "enriched."
Chopped frozen shrimp is...an unusual food selection at an LFS.
 
gio28

gio28

Active Member
my clown barely ate when i got him. i soaked some mysis shrimp in garlic and he went crazy for them. this may not be the problem but it worked for me to get mine to eat. you can buy a bottle for like $10 at your lfs in you wanna try that.
 
mata777

mata777

New Member
Thanks for all the replies and tips. My clownfish is now feeding like crazy on freeze dried mysis and brine shrimp, just had to give it some time I guess. Been keeping feshwater fish for a while, this is my first try at saltwater. So far so good. Thanks again.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top