my maroon clownfish

been 2 days since i got him and my maroon clownfish still isnt eating...i tried everything i have frozen cubes with brine shrimp, bloodworms. i tried to coat them with garlic and he's still not eating. these are my readings

55 gallon
ph 8.3
nitrite 0
nitrate 10ppm
salt 1.023
temp 79-80 F
75ibs of live rock
60ibs of live sand
wet/dry
skimmer

if this continues should i return him to the fish store? or at least call them up.

 

How long has the tank been established?

 

He is just acclimating to the tank. I wouldn't worry quite yet. Your params look good. So just wait it out. I'm sure that he will be ripping up the tank soon enough!!!!

 

Sorry if you have already mentioned this on another thread but how old is the tank now?
no ammonia level given above I take it this is zero also and aside from not eating there are no other negative signs?

is the maroon the only fish in the tank , because if it is, it will not learn what to eat as quickly as it would if there where other fish present eating what you put in

2 days is not long enough for you to start worrying to much, the fish is wild caught and does not recognise the stuff your putting in as food IMO
can you get other frozen foods, like mysis shrimp as these are better nutrition

when it gets hungry enough I believe it will sample and once thats over with Im sure it will be fine

dont overfeed and give yourself other problems, but do try a variety of food stuffs until something triggers the feed responce

Steve

 

the tank has been up for a month..and yes ammonia is 0 sorry about that..
the same day i picked up the maroon i also picked up a lionfish..and he has been eating.
i have 6 damsels 2 blue (2) 3 spot and (2) 4 stripe. and 4 hermits. all the other fish eat right.

 

well here is a update...i purchased my lionfish and my maroon clown the same day...i thought i was gonna have a hard time feeding the lionfish...but i have a great plan of attack on weaning him and its working great..but my maroon still doesnt eat...i mean he stays under a cave most of the day..and when i see him out and about just swiming a long with the damels i drop food right by him... (frozen bloodworms,brineshrimp cubes) i even let it defrost in a cup and just use my squirter to shoot the food right infront of him mouth..still no eating. all my other fish are eating. it will be a week today.....I called my LFS yesterday and he said sometimes it takes a little bit longer? Does that make any sense...i didnt want to question him cause iam not that exprienced in saltwater fish..par's are good. What should be my next line of attack? iam all out of idea's.

thanx Tony

 

Are the fish in the same tank? If they are, the clownfish may be afraid to come out and eat for fear that it might become a meal itself. Could also be that it's afraid of the damsels which may be picking on the fish.

 

I dont think that can be the cause...she comes out once in a while...and doesnt looks like she afraid of them....i mean she doesnt scatter when they come up to her...and from what i seen i think the damsels are afraid of her...she is bigger then them.

 

I doubt that's the case...seriously...especially with the types of damsels that you have.

To be honest with you, I'm rather surprised that you don't have any ammonia considering you added so many fish to a month old tank.

Regardless, 2 days of a new fish not eating is nothing to lose sleep over. It may very well still be adjusting to its new home.

Also, I have no idea where the idea came from that coating/soaking food in garlic will entice a fish to eat. All garlic does is boost a fish's immune system so that it can fight off disease/parasites. Fish don't taste food like we do.

 

Having a clown, even a maroon, in the same tank as a lion is asking for disaster. Your maroon will become a meal soon as weill the other damsels, or at least an attempted meal. A month is WAY too soon for any fish to be in it, especially with how many you have in there. To be completely honest, 55G is too small for a lionfish, even living in there alone. Ammonia is zero because there hasn't been enough time for any biological breakdown to really occur. It can take 3-4 months before a tank is ready for a single small fish. Lions are VERY heavy bio load creatures. I don't mean to be a downer, but putting in fish too soon usually has bad endings.