Finicky butterflyfish

CrayolaViolence · 11/21/2016, 12:03 PM

I'm curious as to what food others have found that will entice finicky butterflyfish to eat. I only have one who's giving me problems. He looks for food but has turned his nose up at everything I've offered so far. I'd like a dry pellet if possible. I have fresh foods (mysis shrimp, spirulina brine shrimp, fresh chopped shrimp) dry food, (new life spectrum) and he still doesn't do more than pick at a few pieces but doesn't seem to be consuming anything.
Any suggestions greatly appreciated. Thank you.

AlSimmons · 11/21/2016, 12:08 PM

Did you see the fish eat anything before you purchased it? If so, try that first. If not, just throw everything but the kitchen sink at it and hope something sticks.
Live brine shrimp & live black worms are definitely worth a try. You might want to buy a few clams at the supermarket and throw one of those in the tank for an hour or so too. Make sure to rinse it well beforehand though.

scooter31707 · 11/21/2016, 12:43 PM

I have had good luck with black worms and fresh clam from the local supermarket.

MMacro · 11/21/2016, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlSimmons

Did you see the fish eat anything before you purchased it? If so, try that first. If not, just throw everything but the kitchen sink at it and hope something sticks.
Live brine shrimp & live black worms are definitely worth a try. You might want to buy a few clams at the supermarket and throw one of those in the tank for an hour or so too. Make sure to rinse it well beforehand though.

+1 on the fresh clam. This has worked for me in the past.

CrayolaViolence · 11/21/2016, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlSimmons

Did you see the fish eat anything before you purchased it? If so, try that first. If not, just throw everything but the kitchen sink at it and hope something sticks.
Live brine shrimp & live black worms are definitely worth a try. You might want to buy a few clams at the supermarket and throw one of those in the tank for an hour or so too. Make sure to rinse it well beforehand though.

Fish came from Live Aquaria. I do not have anyone local for me to buy from. Nearest place is 2 hours one way and usually by the time I get there everything is sold. I've never had an issue with LA fish before, but then I've never had a butterfly fish either.

CrayolaViolence · 11/21/2016, 02:11 PM

Anywhere online I can get black worms? We don't have stuff like that at our local stores.

scooter31707 · 11/21/2016, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrayolaViolence

Anywhere online I can get black worms? We don't have stuff like that at our local stores.

Try checking your local tackle shop where they sell live bait and stuff for fishing.

CrayolaViolence · 11/21/2016, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scooter31707

Try checking your local tackle shop where they sell live bait and stuff for fishing.

Only thing they sell at the local one is nightcrawlers. That's it.

I did find some tiny clams in one of my tanks and cracked them open and tossed them into the QT tank. He's picking at them occasionally, but can't really say he's eating them. I'm gonna try and order some frozen clams, squid, krill, and try and entice him a bit more. I ordered some dried black worms. I'll rehydrate them so hopefully that will work. If not I found a place to buy frozen and live online, it just costs an arm and leg. LOL

MrDaniel · 11/21/2016, 06:56 PM

The butterfly fish will likely only eat the live blackworks. It is the movement that entices them to eat. I would suggest ordering the live ones right away. The longer the fish goes without eating the harder it will be to bring him back to good health. Good luck!

CrayolaViolence · 11/21/2016, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrDaniel

The butterfly fish will likely only eat the live blackworks. It is the movement that entices them to eat. I would suggest ordering the live ones right away. The longer the fish goes without eating the harder it will be to bring him back to good health. Good luck!

Do you know which species I need? I'm seeing black worms for sale on the net, but the species varies. Thanks

P.s. Also, how do you keep from introducing parasites and disease when feeding live?

eastlake · 11/22/2016, 07:15 AM

https://www.aquaticfoods.com/BlackwormCareM.html

looks like you can order them here

CrayolaViolence · 11/23/2016, 08:57 AM

Black worms are unavailable dill Dec 5 and then in very limited quantities. Apparently there is a shortage. In the mean time I have tried rods foods, frozen and fresh live clams, krill, mysis, gut loaded brine shrimp, new spectrum food, various combinations of the above soaked in oyster eggs, with and without garlic.
My butterfly still refuses to eat. nada. nothing. I have freeze dried black worms on the way, but that was the best I could do in a pinch. I've never had a fish absolutely refuse to eat before. But then I've never had butterfly fish either. Even anthias and their finicky ways, they usually at least eat copepods. If things don't improve I will be forced to move him into another tank where there is a sand bed, plankton, and creatures living in the substrate in an attempt to get him eating. The two banner fish are eating like champs. So are the engineer gobies. This guy has declared a war on food. I hate to resort to force feeding him oyster eggs, but I don't know what else to do.

AlSimmons · 11/23/2016, 09:57 AM

Does it look emaciated?

pfan151 · 11/23/2016, 09:57 AM

Did you try here?
http://organicblackworms.com/

11/21/2016, 12:03 PM	#1
CrayolaViolence Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: North Carolina Posts: 1,867	Finicky butterflyfish I'm curious as to what food others have found that will entice finicky butterflyfish to eat. I only have one who's giving me problems. He looks for food but has turned his nose up at everything I've offered so far. I'd like a dry pellet if possible. I have fresh foods (mysis shrimp, spirulina brine shrimp, fresh chopped shrimp) dry food, (new life spectrum) and he still doesn't do more than pick at a few pieces but doesn't seem to be consuming anything. Any suggestions greatly appreciated. Thank you.

11/23/2016, 09:57 AM	#13
AlSimmons Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: California Posts: 2,482	Does it look emaciated? Last edited by AlSimmons; 11/23/2016 at 10:08 AM.

11/21/2016, 12:08 PM	#2
AlSimmons Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: California Posts: 2,482	Did you see the fish eat anything before you purchased it? If so, try that first. If not, just throw everything but the kitchen sink at it and hope something sticks. Live brine shrimp & live black worms are definitely worth a try. You might want to buy a few clams at the supermarket and throw one of those in the tank for an hour or so too. Make sure to rinse it well beforehand though.

11/21/2016, 12:43 PM	#3
scooter31707 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Virginia Posts: 4,971	I have had good luck with black worms and fresh clam from the local supermarket.

11/21/2016, 02:11 PM	#6
CrayolaViolence Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: North Carolina Posts: 1,867	Anywhere online I can get black worms? We don't have stuff like that at our local stores.

11/21/2016, 06:56 PM	#9
MrDaniel Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 51	The butterfly fish will likely only eat the live blackworks. It is the movement that entices them to eat. I would suggest ordering the live ones right away. The longer the fish goes without eating the harder it will be to bring him back to good health. Good luck!

11/22/2016, 07:15 AM	#11
eastlake Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: willoughby Posts: 648	https://www.aquaticfoods.com/BlackwormCareM.html looks like you can order them here

11/23/2016, 08:57 AM	#12
CrayolaViolence Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: North Carolina Posts: 1,867	Black worms are unavailable dill Dec 5 and then in very limited quantities. Apparently there is a shortage. In the mean time I have tried rods foods, frozen and fresh live clams, krill, mysis, gut loaded brine shrimp, new spectrum food, various combinations of the above soaked in oyster eggs, with and without garlic. My butterfly still refuses to eat. nada. nothing. I have freeze dried black worms on the way, but that was the best I could do in a pinch. I've never had a fish absolutely refuse to eat before. But then I've never had butterfly fish either. Even anthias and their finicky ways, they usually at least eat copepods. If things don't improve I will be forced to move him into another tank where there is a sand bed, plankton, and creatures living in the substrate in an attempt to get him eating. The two banner fish are eating like champs. So are the engineer gobies. This guy has declared a war on food. I hate to resort to force feeding him oyster eggs, but I don't know what else to do.

11/23/2016, 09:57 AM	#14
pfan151 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: FL Posts: 1,897	Did you try here? http://organicblackworms.com/