Why Won't My New Fish Eat?
Evening to whomever is catching tonight!
<< Blundell here >>
Last Sunday I purchased a Blackcap Basslet.  Did all the usual checks and fish looked fine and was eating in the LFS tank.  Brought em home and placed him into quarantine.  Being the usual quarantine tank there is the sponge filter and few PVC fittings.   This guy hangs out between the base of the filter and the top of where the sponge part starts.  I am feeding twice a day per the LFS recommendation, a marine color type flake in the am and an enriched frozen brine in the evening when I come home from work.  This guy will not come out from his lair.  If the food floats by him and it is in front of his nose he takes it and that is it.   My concern is that he may not really be getting enough nourishment. << Valid concern.  This is all too common, and unfortunately not much you can do.  I would just make sure he isn't being harassed by other fish, and wait it out. >>  Any suggestions here?  He is in a 10 gal. tank, all water parameters are OK and  I siphon out whatever is not being eaten.  He is a gorgeous fish, no signs of illness (yet)!
Thank you kindly for your advice!
<< I would suggest using some live brine or live mysis.  It is rare to find a fish that won't come running out for live food.  Use this until he is comfortable and will take prepared and frozen foods. >> <<  Blundell  >>