impur Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 I bought a sunburst anthia from Sean 11 days ago. The fish was eating tiger pods for Sean in his shop. But i cannot get the fish to eat for the life of me. I know i only have another day or so until it dies. It seems to be scared of food. As soon as the food hits the water it bolts under the rocks. I don't understand it. Foods i've tried Frozen foods: cyclopeeze tiger pods mysis brine bloodworms plankton krill daphne emerald entree flake food selcon shrimp oysters squid clams mussels salmon rock fish crab scallops chicken beef I think i've actually spent more on foods than i did on the fish, which really sucks cuz this is the most i've ever paid for a fish. I'm hatching brine tonight so if the fish isn't dead tomorrow i'll see if that works. Does anyone have any other ideas i could try? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reefgeek84 Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 Have you tried, turning the lights down and turning the pumps off? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reefgeek84 Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 maybe do some garlic on food or some arctic pods Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael7979 Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 Yeah let some frozen food thaw out in some tank water along with a piece of garlic. Just make sure you take the garlic out before you feed. First off just drain some of the water back into the tank and let it do the work before you add the food. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted April 12, 2007 Author Share Posted April 12, 2007 Have you tried' date=' turning the lights down and turning the pumps off?[/quote'] Yah i tried that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted April 12, 2007 Author Share Posted April 12, 2007 Garlic eh. Ok i'll give it a shot tomorrow. I have the quick and easy brine hatchery going Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reefgeek84 Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 Yeah, garlic might do the trick, it is a appetite stimulant for alot of fish... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffP Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 Wait a second...you actually put a clove of garlic in the tank? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted April 12, 2007 Author Share Posted April 12, 2007 Nah i'm gonna chop some up real fine, mash it up a bit to get the juices out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffP Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 ok so you put some chopped "dry" garlic paste in there? I'd seen some food has garlic added, never really understood why. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reefgeek84 Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 Nah i'm gonna chop some up real fine' date=' mash it up a bit to get the juices out.[/quote'] Correct...the juices with soak into the food and then just strain the garlic out by running it through a fish net or something of that sort... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chewie Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 I have had a Sunburst for 2 weeks. Mine wouldn't eat frozen either. What it WOULD eat was live brine. Have you tried live brine? I think it's worth a shot to try baby brine though. Try to get some live brine too. I got my sunburst eating frozen after a few days. I unthawed some of SWF's(saltwater fanta-seas) Gumbo, and the gumdrops, and mixed in some live brine(less each feeding) and after 3 feedings, he is now weaned off of live. This is one of my favorite fish. Hopefully he's eating some of the critters in your tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted April 12, 2007 Author Share Posted April 12, 2007 Thanks chewie, i hope my takes the same route yours did. This is one of my favs too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siskiou Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 I put a vote in for live brine, too! That's the only thing my Rainford's Gobi would eat at first. I mixed in frozen brine and he started eating that and now also frozen mysis shrimp. At first he would spit out anything that wasn't live, but after two weeks he decided the other stuff was edible, too. I hope your sunburst makes it! Saw one of them at Sean's. They are beautiful fish! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 Might try slicing the garlic paper-thin. That'd make it easy to take out, but would keep a large surface area. Besides, knife skills in the kitchen are a good thing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R2R2 Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 Spirulina flakes. Grind them between your fingers so they are fine bits. R2R2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted April 12, 2007 Author Share Posted April 12, 2007 I have some Spirulina flakes so i'll try those too. Man i'm glad my skimmer is kicking butt! LOL Biggest thing i'm worried about is anytime the food hits the water the fish hides and won't come out for hours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chewie Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 use a turkey baster to target feed him when hiding behind rocks. Mine has a special spot he likes to "hang out" in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted April 12, 2007 Author Share Posted April 12, 2007 Will do! Thanks everyone i'll let ya know how it goes tonight! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAVES Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 I would try arctic pods as well,,, only fish so far Ive had that wont eat them is pipefish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siskiou Posted April 13, 2007 Share Posted April 13, 2007 Maybe your Sunburst needs a buddy to feel more comfortable? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted April 13, 2007 Author Share Posted April 13, 2007 Joel - arctic pods are what i have, not the tiger pods. Its the orange ones i have. Doesn't touch em. Susanne - maybe! But if it doesn't eat it won't get that chance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted April 13, 2007 Author Share Posted April 13, 2007 Well i chopped up a clove of garlic, put it in the garlic press and made it into a paste. Then i let it soak in some tank water for an hour or so, strained the garlic pieces out, and thawed some frozen food in the water for another hour. Wouldn't touch any of it. I also tried some live baby brine. The fish, as usual, darted under the rocks when the brine hit the water. I shot it down to the bottom of the rocks, but the fish just lays there on the sand while the baby brine shrimps just dance around its face and mouth. Oh well i guess. :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAVES Posted April 13, 2007 Share Posted April 13, 2007 it may be eatting enough pods it doesnt need to eat yet. I wouldnt give up hope. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reefgeek84 Posted April 13, 2007 Share Posted April 13, 2007 I know you tried feeding with the lights turned down, have you ever tried feeding at night for a change...I would also maybe try to sneak up on the tank, to where a huge human does not spook him? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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