My African Butterfly fish isnt eating

matt123 · 03-21-2006, 07:29 PM

Hello, I got him last wednesday(today is tuesday) and he hasnt been eating since. I though giving him 6 days would be plenty of time before I asked you guys. So, he is in a 29g with 3 barbs, 3 danios, 3 skunk botias, a lil bumblebee cat and an opaline gourami. I am sure that there is no aggressive going on towards any of these fish and my butterfly fish. I tried feeding flakes, freeze dried:shrimp,tubifex, and bloodworms. He has not shown any interest towards any of the foods. I even tried medium sized crickets for the heck of it. Does he still need time getting used to the new tank or what? Are they slow starters? And he looks healthy, and stays on the top in corners near plants. The fish is just a lilttle skinny, thats why im getting a bit worried. Any suggestions?

Ben Mazur · 03-21-2006, 07:31 PM

Ride it out, I've heard of longer. My Gouramis took 8 days.

matt123 · 03-21-2006, 07:44 PM

Ok, Ill just hope for the best...

fishfreaks · 03-21-2006, 09:35 PM

Butterfly fish like live foods. try crickets, brine shrimp, mosquito larvae and flies. It may even eat small live fish

Ben Mazur · 03-22-2006, 05:20 AM

Feeder guppies are cheap.

jeremy242 · 03-22-2006, 02:00 PM

Do you have an area for him to hide. Like a floating plant or something. Mine the first few days i had it hide a lot and didn't eat and then a week later he picked up live crickets. If he is stressed he probably won't eat. I got a piece breeding grass and hung it upside down on the surface and he swam into it.

matt123 · 03-22-2006, 04:53 PM

Yeah i have a good amount of plants near the surface. Ill try smaller crickets and waxworms tonight

matt123 · 03-22-2006, 07:08 PM

Ok, I just tried small crickets and waxworms. He was not intersted at all even though they were wriggling around him. Should I just try tomarow?

lotsoffish · 03-23-2006, 04:32 PM

Pro salt sells frozen glass worms. I would try them. Unlike many prosalt foods they are clean and FLOAT. They are great for all antibantids and fish that are specialized surface feeders.

matt123 · 03-23-2006, 08:17 PM

Good news! He ate 2 small crickets today, I'm so releaved(sp?). Thanks

fishfreaks · 03-23-2006, 08:42 PM

Take into consideration what lotsoffish suggested. If you continue to feed crickets, be sure that the crickets are getting their nutrition as well

03-21-2006, 07:29 PM	#1
matt123 Who knows Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Goshen NY Posts: 29 User Feedback: (0)	My African Butterfly fish isnt eating Hello, I got him last wednesday(today is tuesday) and he hasnt been eating since. I though giving him 6 days would be plenty of time before I asked you guys. So, he is in a 29g with 3 barbs, 3 danios, 3 skunk botias, a lil bumblebee cat and an opaline gourami. I am sure that there is no aggressive going on towards any of these fish and my butterfly fish. I tried feeding flakes, freeze dried:shrimp,tubifex, and bloodworms. He has not shown any interest towards any of the foods. I even tried medium sized crickets for the heck of it. Does he still need time getting used to the new tank or what? Are they slow starters? And he looks healthy, and stays on the top in corners near plants. The fish is just a lilttle skinny, thats why im getting a bit worried. Any suggestions?

03-21-2006, 07:31 PM	#2
Ben Mazur Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Guelph, ON Age: 15 Posts: 79 User Feedback: (0)	Ride it out, I've heard of longer. My Gouramis took 8 days. __________________ *- 10 Gallon Fresh* Community 2 Painted Tetras 2 Neon Tetras 2 Albino Cories 1 Common Pleco 1 Platy - 10 Gallon Fresh Loaches & Sharks** 2 Clown Loaches - 1ish Gallon Fresh 1 Betta http://digitalcameras.freepay.com/?r=31421145

03-21-2006, 09:35 PM	#4
fishfreaks M&F Couple Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: PA Age: 21 Posts: 4,303 User Feedback: (5)	Butterfly fish like live foods. try crickets, brine shrimp, mosquito larvae and flies. It may even eat small live fish __________________ VOTE FOR FISH FORUMS

03-22-2006, 05:20 AM	#5
Ben Mazur Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Guelph, ON Age: 15 Posts: 79 User Feedback: (0)	Feeder guppies are cheap. __________________ *- 10 Gallon Fresh* Community 2 Painted Tetras 2 Neon Tetras 2 Albino Cories 1 Common Pleco 1 Platy - 10 Gallon Fresh Loaches & Sharks** 2 Clown Loaches - 1ish Gallon Fresh 1 Betta http://digitalcameras.freepay.com/?r=31421145

03-22-2006, 02:00 PM	#6
jeremy242 Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Oviedo, Fl Age: 26 Posts: 44 User Feedback: (0)	Do you have an area for him to hide. Like a floating plant or something. Mine the first few days i had it hide a lot and didn't eat and then a week later he picked up live crickets. If he is stressed he probably won't eat. I got a piece breeding grass and hung it upside down on the surface and he swam into it. __________________ 29 gallon 1 L190 5 L104 75 gallon 8 panda corys 13 lemon tetras 1 L187b 1 L128 1 L270 1 L182 1 L81 2 L200 1 L134 1 L264 1 L129 1 Ant spc 3

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03-21-2006, 07:44 PM	#3
matt123 Who knows Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Goshen NY Posts: 29 User Feedback: (0)	Ok, Ill just hope for the best...

03-22-2006, 04:53 PM	#7
matt123 Who knows Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Goshen NY Posts: 29 User Feedback: (0)	Yeah i have a good amount of plants near the surface. Ill try smaller crickets and waxworms tonight

03-22-2006, 07:08 PM	#8
matt123 Who knows Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Goshen NY Posts: 29 User Feedback: (0)	Ok, I just tried small crickets and waxworms. He was not intersted at all even though they were wriggling around him. Should I just try tomarow?

03-23-2006, 04:32 PM	#9
lotsoffish Banned Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: N. Tonawanda NY Age: 46 Posts: 188 User Feedback: (1)	Pro salt sells frozen glass worms. I would try them. Unlike many prosalt foods they are clean and FLOAT. They are great for all antibantids and fish that are specialized surface feeders.

03-23-2006, 08:17 PM	#10
matt123 Who knows Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Goshen NY Posts: 29 User Feedback: (0)	Good news! He ate 2 small crickets today, I'm so releaved(sp?). Thanks

03-23-2006, 08:42 PM	#11
fishfreaks M&F Couple Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: PA Age: 21 Posts: 4,303 User Feedback: (5)	Take into consideration what lotsoffish suggested. If you continue to feed crickets, be sure that the crickets are getting their nutrition as well __________________ VOTE FOR FISH FORUMS

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