Butterfly help...not eating!?!

[ShelbyJK500]

I got a Pakistan Butterfly almost 3 weeks ago, I haven't seen it eat once. I have tried every food I can think of. I just tried clams on the half which it showed interest in, but still wouldn't eat.

I also tried a great tip that Elite uses....I pasted food to a rock and froze it. Nothing with that either. I've tried frozen everything, live brine, roggers, elite feast, flakes, pellets, silversides, clams, etc.

Any ideas?!?

 

[gh0st]

If you haven't already, try soaking the half shell clams in some Garlic Guard when thawing.

Is he picking or nibbling at your live rock?

 

[ShelbyJK500]

If you haven't already, try soaking the half shell clams in some Garlic Guard when thawing.

Is he picking or nibbling at your live rock?

Oh yeah, I've tried soaking food in garlic and even dosing the entire tank with garlic before. I'll have to try soaking the clams. I've seen him pick at the one piece of liverock in the QT tank on a couple occasions, nothing consistent or regular. That's why I thought the trick Elite uses would work good.

 

[rmougey]

I've used the dead coral/rock with frozen food method for years with pretty good luck. You might try using scallop, squid or clam, mashed into a small piece of dead coral rather than a rock. I've also found that live tubifex worms will sometimes provoke a feeding response.

Be sure to monitor the ammonia and remove uneaten food...... once you get him eating, then you can try expanding to other foods. If he won't even look at live brine, the odds are low.

As a last resort, I've had good luck with using a training fish. A smaller, non aggressive angel, butterfly or other grazer that is eating well can sometimes train the other fish that won't eat.

 

[ShelbyJK500]

I've used the dead coral/rock with frozen food method for years with pretty good luck. You might try using scallop, squid or clam, mashed into a small piece of dead coral rather than a rock. I've also found that live tubifex worms will sometimes provoke a feeding response.

Be sure to monitor the ammonia and remove uneaten food...... once you get him eating, then you can try expanding to other foods. If he won't even look at live brine, the odds are low.

As a last resort, I've had good luck with using a training fish. A smaller, non aggressive angel, butterfly or other grazer that is eating well can sometimes train the other fish that won't eat.

I'm thinking the odds are very low. I've actually been using dead coral instead of rock. I tried the garlic soaked clam and also roggers (has squid, garlic, etc) pasted on a coral. Nothing...not even interest this time. Couldn't be more frustrated, I'm having a hard time watching this fish waste away to nothing.

Oh, I also had him with the Purple Tang I got last week, in those exact hopes that peer pressure would help, especially since the Purple Tang is eating so well. I pulled him out yesterday because he at least showed curiosity with the clam, but the PT was monopolizing the food.

 

[Punjab]

The coral skeleton could be a turnoff to the fish. Doesn't seem too likely but possible. I had a Pakistan butterfly for a while and mine would rarely eat anything I put in there. I would only see him pick out the smallest little pieces of brine or mysis that went in the tank. Never a whole shrimp. I hope you get it figured out though, it can be so frustrating watching food hit them in the face and they act like they didn't even notice.

 

[ShelbyJK500]

Sad news, came home to a dead butterfly. Very frustrating, I've had much better luck with "expert" only fish than I have with some of the easier ones?!? Thanks for all the input as I tried my best to get it eating...much appreciated!!