New clown appears skeptical of food

[mochlate]

I got a new clown yesterday. After 3 hours of drip acclimation, I add it to my brand new reef tank.

Is it possible the food is too large? Or should I get a different type of food?

"False Percula Ocerllaris Clownfish - Captive Bred" from saltwaterfish.com

This is the food I am giving: New Life Spectrum Marine 1mm Sinking Pellet Fish Food

Water parameters:


Video of him investigating the food: https://photos.app.goo.gl/Frlv1TrrJvb3h7Ag1

[j.falk]

3 hours...wow...that is excessive.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1959576

That being said, I feed both of my clowns the exact same stuff you are trying to feed yours. They love it.

[mochlate]

I ended up getting some smaller pellet food, he gobbled them up.

[ramseynb]

Originally Posted by mochlate

After 3 hours of drip acclimation, I add it to my brand new reef tank.

Don't drip acclimate for 3 hours. In fact, I've had better luck with not drip acclimating fish at all. Read the sticky here about "death in bags". I've had much better success with adding fish (especially when they're shipped) when I keep a mentality of get them into the tank as quick as possible. I just float the bag, then open it and fold it many times on the edges so it floats and stays open in the tank, add some tank water, wait 10-15 minutes, drain about half the water and add more tank water, wait 10-15 minutes and add to the tank. If the bag has a lot of water it in I might drain some first. I do still drip acclimate corals but never over an hour.

[accel]

Originally Posted by mochlate

I ended up getting some smaller pellet food, he gobbled them up.

From what I have experienced they prefer smaller food but they will be willing to go with bigger ones once they can take it.

Initially clownfish will only eat those tropical flakes because they are softer once it gets in the water compare to a mysis shrimp. But now he doesn't like the flakes anymore and will always grab the mysis shrimps because he can now eat those.

[Dsekula]

I wouldn't be worried, many fish won't eat their first day. I think of it like the first time your in a new place, you may be nervous or excited and just not too into eating. I personally think most of us feed our fish quite a bit more than they'd get in the wild anyway. Unless it's a fish that has special multi feeding a day requirements most fish can go a good week without food without sweating it and longer with a healthy pod stocked tank. Good luck!!!

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