Threadfin and Pearlscale Butterflies Won't Eat - ANY IDEAS?

[wahoowa]

I just got two Butterflies; a pearlscale and a threadfin. They have been in the tank for over a week, but neither of them are eating. I have tried frozen brine shrimp, live brine shrimp, finely chopped clams, frozen krill, frozen mysis, two types of flake, a frozen saltwater variety pack ---- the threadfin will nibble only on certain stuff on the variety pack, but I know he's not getting much at all. The pearlscale won't eat anything. Does anybody have any ideas of what I could try next? I've heard of some type of cytoplankton (I think thats right) and copepods. Any ideas?

 

[aquaknight]

Only other things I can think of is a bottle Artic-Pods, or freshly cracked live clam (a live littleneck clam from the grocey store, serve it shucked on the half shell to them).
If a fish won't eat fresh clam, or esp. adult live brine, there's just not a whole lot else you can do. Do you add garlic to their foods? I've noticed some fish are equally disgusted by those garlic additives, as they claim some fish are attracted to them...

 

[wahoowa]

I'll have to try that. Is it a special kind of garlic..or can I just get some at the grocery store?

 

[aquaknight]

I was referring to the liquid additives you can buy, Seachem makes Garlic Guard, and Kent's makes Garlic Xtreme.
https://www.saltwaterfish.com/site_11...025_9_6_6.html
https://www.saltwaterfish.com/site_11...58_54_6_6.html
You can always buy a fresh clove and diced/mince your own garlic and add it their food. For butterflies, it would have to be diced quite small. I would just add the garlic till they start eating strong (if they like garlic, as stated up, it might repel some fish), then add them only very occasionally. Garlic is pretty strong on digestive systems...