Bangaii cardinals struggling

t1a1c1h · 01/27/2016, 06:07 AM

Recently bought 3 juvenile bangaii cardinals from the lfs, the guy there assured us they were tank bred not wild caught. Since getting them home they're not eating. Theure in the quarantine tank at reduced salinity and spend the majority of their time floating near or on the bottom. We've tried flakes, pellets and frozen 'marine mix' and it just gets spat out then ignored. Any suggestions on what might get them eating/ what they prefer/ why they're not taking what we're giving (when we read they will eat most foods Inc flakes and pellets before getting them). Thanks

jmareef1022 · 01/27/2016, 06:36 AM

Try mysis...they rarely eat pellets or flakes...I had one and all he would is mysis shrimp..

Dkuhlmann · 01/27/2016, 07:58 AM

When you say reduced salinity what exactly are you talking about? Just how low is the SG? How are you measuring it?

DamonG · 01/27/2016, 08:01 AM

Try live brine also.. They go nuts over live stuff. And if they were tank bred, more than likely that is what they were reared on. And they are probably just being choosy..

t1a1c1h · 01/27/2016, 09:57 AM

Salinity is 1.015 measured with a refractometer. We've used this quarantine process on all our fish so far as a way of reducing parasites etc brought into the main tank without adding chemicals either, to good effect (as far as we can tell). Live brine it is!

Dkuhlmann · 01/27/2016, 11:09 AM

You do know that for hypo you need to run your tank at 1.009

ThRoewer · 01/27/2016, 12:46 PM

In my experience Banggai cardinals are among the greediest eaters around. Whenever I put food into my tank they shoot out of their cover and gulp up as much as they can. And most of mine are wild.

snorvich · 01/27/2016, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t1a1c1h

Salinity is 1.015 measured with a refractometer. We've used this quarantine process on all our fish so far as a way of reducing parasites etc brought into the main tank without adding chemicals either, to good effect (as far as we can tell). Live brine it is!

Sorry, but 1.015 has no effect on parasites. As for feeding, PE mysis should work well. Brine shrimp is not adequate nutritionally.

DamonG · 01/27/2016, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snorvich

Sorry, but 1.015 has no effect on parasites. As for feeding, PE mysis should work well. Brine shrimp is not adequate nutritionally.

They ate until they have been weened off of them.. And if you either selcon or yeast enrich them, they do fine. In the long run though, yes, you will be able to transition to other foods..

But when they are rejecting other foods, it's either inadequate temporary nutrition, or starving them, which is absolutely no nutrition...

ThRoewer · 01/27/2016, 05:26 PM

Add another fish that eats everything. That often gets picky eaters going.

BTW, what were they eating at the store?

3dees · 01/28/2016, 11:53 AM

my 2 1/2 year old Banggai will not touch flake or pellets. eats frozen brine and Mysis, but it really pigs out on freeze dried blackworms. I agree that 1.015 isn't doing any good.

01/27/2016, 06:07 AM	#1
t1a1c1h Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Birmingham Posts: 31	Bangaii cardinals struggling Recently bought 3 juvenile bangaii cardinals from the lfs, the guy there assured us they were tank bred not wild caught. Since getting them home they're not eating. Theure in the quarantine tank at reduced salinity and spend the majority of their time floating near or on the bottom. We've tried flakes, pellets and frozen 'marine mix' and it just gets spat out then ignored. Any suggestions on what might get them eating/ what they prefer/ why they're not taking what we're giving (when we read they will eat most foods Inc flakes and pellets before getting them). Thanks

01/27/2016, 07:58 AM	#3
Dkuhlmann Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,823	When you say reduced salinity what exactly are you talking about? Just how low is the SG? How are you measuring it? __________________ Previous tanks: 200 gal fowlr 9" Emperor Angel and many different butterfly fish 4" maroon clown and several other fish, 50 gal sump, 40 gal mixed reef/fish mostly softies and LPS. Current Tank Info: 40b 750 gph 45 lbs lr, 2"-3" sand, 165w full spectrum dimable LED, 20 gal sump/refugium 30 lbs lr, Bak Pak 2 skimmer, 4" sock temp 79-80, sg 1.026, NH3 0, NO2 0, NO3 <10, ph 8.2, calc 400, mag 1300

01/27/2016, 11:09 AM	#6
Dkuhlmann Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,823	You do know that for hypo you need to run your tank at 1.009 __________________ Previous tanks: 200 gal fowlr 9" Emperor Angel and many different butterfly fish 4" maroon clown and several other fish, 50 gal sump, 40 gal mixed reef/fish mostly softies and LPS. Current Tank Info: 40b 750 gph 45 lbs lr, 2"-3" sand, 165w full spectrum dimable LED, 20 gal sump/refugium 30 lbs lr, Bak Pak 2 skimmer, 4" sock temp 79-80, sg 1.026, NH3 0, NO2 0, NO3 <10, ph 8.2, calc 400, mag 1300

01/27/2016, 12:46 PM	#7
ThRoewer Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Fremont, CA Posts: 9,555	In my experience Banggai cardinals are among the greediest eaters around. Whenever I put food into my tank they shoot out of their cover and gulp up as much as they can. And most of mine are wild. __________________ Pairs: 4 percula, 3 P. kauderni, 3 D. excisus, 1 ea of P. diacanthus, S. splendidus, C. altivelis O. rosenblatti, D. janssi, S. yasha & a Gramma loreto trio 3 P. diacanthus. 2 C. starcki Current Tank Info: 200 gal 4 tank system (40x28x24 + 40B + 40B sump tank + 20g refugium) + 30x18x18 mixed reef + 20g East Pacific biotop + 20g FW +...

01/27/2016, 05:26 PM	#10
ThRoewer Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Fremont, CA Posts: 9,555	Add another fish that eats everything. That often gets picky eaters going. BTW, what were they eating at the store? __________________ Pairs: 4 percula, 3 P. kauderni, 3 D. excisus, 1 ea of P. diacanthus, S. splendidus, C. altivelis O. rosenblatti, D. janssi, S. yasha & a Gramma loreto trio 3 P. diacanthus. 2 C. starcki Current Tank Info: 200 gal 4 tank system (40x28x24 + 40B + 40B sump tank + 20g refugium) + 30x18x18 mixed reef + 20g East Pacific biotop + 20g FW +...

01/27/2016, 06:36 AM	#2
jmareef1022 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: S.Florida(Treasure Coast) Posts: 504	Try mysis...they rarely eat pellets or flakes...I had one and all he would is mysis shrimp..

01/27/2016, 08:01 AM	#4
DamonG Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 873	Try live brine also.. They go nuts over live stuff. And if they were tank bred, more than likely that is what they were reared on. And they are probably just being choosy..

01/27/2016, 09:57 AM	#5
t1a1c1h Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Birmingham Posts: 31	Salinity is 1.015 measured with a refractometer. We've used this quarantine process on all our fish so far as a way of reducing parasites etc brought into the main tank without adding chemicals either, to good effect (as far as we can tell). Live brine it is!

01/28/2016, 11:53 AM	#11
3dees Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Chicago burbs Posts: 793	my 2 1/2 year old Banggai will not touch flake or pellets. eats frozen brine and Mysis, but it really pigs out on freeze dried blackworms. I agree that 1.015 isn't doing any good.