Pearly Jawfish acting strange.

Hi guys, its been ahwile.

I recently picked up a pearly from my LPS and he acclimated fine.

He is about 3", so he is pretty small. I am currently housing him in a biocube 8. He is the only inhabitant besides a chocolate chip starfish.

Im running 2 18 actinic bulbs, i removed the 10K to reduce algae growth.

He has about 3-4 inch sugar grade sand bed, plenty of chipped coral and snail shells, (sand from my mantis tank >.<) rubble and small rocks, along with some 3-4 inch pieces for some more heavy duty cover.

My problem is i cant get him to eat, or make a home. i have had him for about a week now. at first i had a piece of DIY rock that was a big dome shape that he went into when i put him in. he coverd the entrance and never opened it back up. he may have at night but i never noticed. so today i took the dome out to maybe get him to make a more natural cave/den so he would be able to work and feel more at home. ever since i did that he sits in the corner away from the massive rock pile. i put some small hikari mysis shrimp that i soak in garlic and vita-chem and i even crush up a 500 mg vitamin c tab that i mix in with the batch. he doesnt even look at the food. i have been "feeding" every day but he wont even look twice at it. i tried flakes and small pellets with no luck either.

He hasnt attempted to burrow under the rocks or even make a den. he is currently just sitting under a big rock in the rock pile, not touching the sand, just between rocks. i am worried that he wont make it if he doesnt eat.

Do you think live brine shrimp might work? I modded my 2nd compartment where the bioballs are supposed to be into a refugium. i have a massive ball of cheato that is thriving so i know there is pods and amphipods that he could snack on. and speaking of bioballs my water perams are in check.

SG: 1.024
PH: 8.2
Nitrates: 10
Nitrites & Ammonia :0
Calcium is around 350 but i dont think that is relevant

anyhelp would be appreciated.

 

http://www.3reef.com/forums/fish-month/fotm-july-09-pearly-jawfish-67639.html

Live brine shrimp may trigger a feeding responce

also try bloodworm, I know its a freshwater fish food but I have seen fish that would not respond to typical saltwater fish foods, go mad for bloodworm
and once its eating that, it becomes a simpler job to get it to consume other foods IME

Cyclopeze is another food that reluctant fish often peck at
also try adding a drop of garlic to any food stuffs you offer as this again can induce a feeding responce from reluctant feeders

hope it works out for you
they are a very nice fish IMO

Steve

 

i picked up some garlic extreme and some cyclopeze. i soaked them together with some mysis and tada! he ate it. he made is burrow again and i think he is here to stay . my only issue is when he gets scared of my mag float he sometimes jumps into the back compartments of the biocube... very annoying.

Thanks for your help