How do you get a clown to eat?

nmbeg · 01/27/2008, 12:42 AM

I have a new 125-gallon setup. The first inhabitants are a yellow tang and an oscillarus clown, both in there for two days.

The tang is adjusting well, eating spirulina flakes and algae.

I have not seen the clown eat yet. I am putting spirulina flakes and standard marine flake food twice a day. He doesn't even seem to notice. He just swims hither and tither in that typical clown fashion... doesn't really seem upset or stressed or anything.

Any suggestions?

RyanMcLaughlin · 01/27/2008, 12:55 AM

Maybe try meatier foods.

kau_cinta_ku · 01/27/2008, 01:02 AM

try mixing it with garlic. they love it

NewFish3 · 01/27/2008, 01:04 AM

I just got my first saltwater tank. My first fish was a Clown fish. I noticed that he doesn't go for the flake food unless he is very hungry. BUT every time I put in frozen brine shrimp, He & all the fish go nuts. The Clown eats every time. Again Iam new at this, but this works for me

mixed_reefer · 01/27/2008, 01:06 AM

Clowns can be finicky at first. I got a pair of the same species and they scared the crap out of me the first few days, they wouldn't eat. After they get settled in and comfortable and hungry, they will eat. As long as they look healthy with no obvious breathing problems or diseases i would not worry too much about it.

01/27/2008, 12:42 AM	#1
nmbeg Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 894	How do you get a clown to eat? I have a new 125-gallon setup. The first inhabitants are a yellow tang and an oscillarus clown, both in there for two days. The tang is adjusting well, eating spirulina flakes and algae. I have not seen the clown eat yet. I am putting spirulina flakes and standard marine flake food twice a day. He doesn't even seem to notice. He just swims hither and tither in that typical clown fashion... doesn't really seem upset or stressed or anything. Any suggestions?

01/27/2008, 01:04 AM	#4
NewFish3 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,096	I just got my first saltwater tank. My first fish was a Clown fish. I noticed that he doesn't go for the flake food unless he is very hungry. BUT every time I put in frozen brine shrimp, He & all the fish go nuts. The Clown eats every time. Again Iam new at this, but this works for me __________________ On a scuba dive in the Cayman Islands, I kept thinking.........Why is that Fish getting bigger.........Then it hit me Current Tank Info: 7 years saltwater.. Setting up a 120 gal reef. Office BioCube 14...1 perc clown, 1 royal gramma, 1 six line wrasse, fire shrimp, cleaner shrimp, green stripe, brown shrooms, coco worm, purple leather, Misc CUC

01/27/2008, 12:55 AM	#2
RyanMcLaughlin Moved On Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Anaheim Posts: 982	Maybe try meatier foods.

01/27/2008, 01:02 AM	#3
kau_cinta_ku Moved On Join Date: May 2005 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,669	try mixing it with garlic. they love it

01/27/2008, 01:06 AM	#5
mixed_reefer Moved On Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 516	Clowns can be finicky at first. I got a pair of the same species and they scared the crap out of me the first few days, they wouldn't eat. After they get settled in and comfortable and hungry, they will eat. As long as they look healthy with no obvious breathing problems or diseases i would not worry too much about it.