Raccoon Butterfly not eating?

[gtiguy]

Just got a raccoon butterfly fish last night (so its not 24 hrs since i have had him yet) and tried feeding everyone ( my 2 damsels-3 stripes, and 2 gobies-4 wheel drives) flakes, no take on the butterfly, than i tried pellet, no take on the butterfly , finally tried mysis shrimp and no take, he is nipping at the live rock at the algae but thats the only sign ive noticed, is there something else i should do?

 

[itchy]

gti, try to soak some food in garlic...garlic will stimulate some fishes eating. Doesn't always work but may very well help. Do a search on here for soaking food in garlic and you will find some great information.
It very well could take this butterfly a day or so to get comfortable in its new surroundings so don't freak out yet. My longnose didn't eat right away and now it is doing great. Good Luck :happyfish

 

[gtiguy]

Thanks alot man, sounds good, i too am thinking he may be alittle stressed still but he is swimming around the whole tank which is good :happyfish .......

 

[gtiguy]

Ok not to freak but fed everyone there nighty snack and raccoon became alittle more interested in knowing what it was but no attempt to eat, how do i get him to at least try it? is he at least eating if he is nibbling at the rocks? :help:

 

[scubadoo]

he is most likely munching on some algae on the rocks. Try some Mysis shrimp that should be available at your lfs...if you do not have any. As previously suggested...garlic soaked food can also stmulate the appetite.
You can also try some brine but there is not much nurtitional value with brine shrimp....about the same as feeding marine fish Chips Ahoy Cookies. THe brine may get him accepting food.
Brine shrimp grow fast and use much of the desired nutriton within the first 8 hours of their life.

 

[ryan]

butterflies are difficult fish to get to start feeding. When I had mine he would do the same thing. Go to the grocery store and picked up some pieces of clam, oyster, mussels ect. Wash off a piece of food and put it in the fish tank. I bet within a couple minutes your butterfly will begin to feed on it. Pick up whatever the fish doesnt eat after a few minutes so it wont raise your ammonia.

 

[gtiguy]

Ok so i tried brine shrimp this morning and nothing......
At least last night he seemed more interested but later i will try the garlic thing and if wost comes to worse will try for the clams, mussles etc.....
I even tried red seeweed from my lfs and he was scared of the clip that held it...he gets very nervous still a day and a half in from the food as well when floating in the water near him, but the damsels eat it right up....trying not to over feed in the process :notsure: