Longnose Butterflyfish feeding?

[sean1412]

Hi
Just bought a Longnose butterfly fish a couple of days ago. He hasn't come out of his hiding place yet so no success feeding him but wanted to know what is best to feed and how much a day. Trying him with FD Brine Shrimp and algae pellets but like i say he's to timid to touch anything yet
Appreciate any help at all
Thanks

[sump'nfishy]

try getting some garlic extract(like selcon, garlic is an appetite stimulant) and soaking the brine shrimp in that before feeding. if that doesn't work then mysis shrimp is usually another food that is well received and should be soaked with garlic as well.

[bettababy]

Garlic is a good start... but I would also change over from FD to live, or frozen if live is not available. Presentation in the water plays a big role in getting these guys to eat. As far as I'm aware the long nose butterflies are all still wild collected. When they get to a home aquarium they need to first calm from the stress, but then also to recognize what you are offering for food. Their natural diet typically consists of live corals, not freeze dried shrimp or algae pellets. Feeding problems is the biggest contributor to death in the LNB's in the hobby. Many lfs's don't make sure these fish are eating before the customer buys them. For future reference, when buying a fish known to be "difficult" to feed, ask the lfs to let you see it eat before you spend your money. If they refuse, then you know there's a good chance this fish has not yet eaten in captivity. That says a lot about it already. Considering the time spent in captivity up to that point, this fish would have been without food for quite some time, which will weaken the immune system quickly and zap any energy this fish may need to fight off illness and/or disease. That's a big chance to take on a fish as expensive as these can be.

I've had much success with these guys in the past, and it always started with patience and live brine offered once/day in a very small amount until the fish begins to eat. (If its a small juvenile, try live baby brine shrimp instead of adult) It may also help if the fish has found a cave or safe place in the tank, try to drop the brine into the tank close to where the fish is hiding without reaching into the water. Another thing that may help is to turn the light off in the tank about 15 minutes before you feed, then sit back a distance from the tank and watch.

Are there other fish in the tank? Competition for food with a new fish is another common reason for difficulty in getting them to eat. If other fish are racing out to eat it all up in a frenzy when you feed, try going back 15 minutes later and offering a bit more, close to where this fish is hiding. When a LNB has been added to an established tank with other fish who have already claimed all of the territory in the tank, there can also be territory issues that will cause feeding difficulties. Adding a few new pieces of live rock, a few new silk plants, or rearranging the current configuration in anyway can provide some unclaimed territory to offer this fish some security & territory to claim, thus reducing stress and helping it to settle in quicker.

Have you done any water testing? Poor water quality, calcium levels too high or too low, pH that is off, all play a part in getting the fish to eat. I would be checking especially the calcium level with the basic 4 (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH) to make sure it is optimum for this fish. Also good idea to check water temp.

Once you get the fish to accept something for food, stick to that food for a few wks, let the fish gain some strength and completely settle into its new home. Every couple of wks then begin alternating between the food you know it eats and something new.. trying the new food for a few days as the only food, or mixing small portions of both foods each day are both workable options. Foods such as the mysis shrimp (as was already suggested), frozen formula 1 & 2, and Spectrum pellet food are all great for the LNB's, and when alternated they provide a nutritional variety that should sustain your fish well. I have not seen any of the LNB's accept algae in any form other than the sheets, and that was minimal. They prefer the meaty foods.

Best of Luck to you!

[Cronamator]

make sure the actinics only are on as well.

[bettababy]

I forgot to add, check salinity also. Shoot for a target range of 1.023 - 1.025. That is the range which has shown me the most success for LNB's.