How to deal with a picky eater

[Giglio324]

So i have 2 banggai cardinals and i really like them. I got them in the states and they are tank bred. The issue im having is they only eat live food ie mysis or brine shrimp. Is there any trick to enticing them to eat prepared foods? Thanks

 

[Reef Hero]

Starve them more.....

 

[unibob]

Soak you flake/pellet in the mysis when it's thawed so the juices soak into the new food you want to feed.

 

[Giglio324]

Soak you flake/pellet in the mysis when it's thawed so the juices soak into the new food you want to feed.

Excellent idea! I will try that tonight

 

[monizb]

 

[spyd]

I had 2 Bengaii Cardinals for a long time before I sold them off. They would only ever eat Mysis and nothing else. I would go away on vacation and they wouldn't eat for a week and be completely fine when I got back. Never got them to eat anything else though.

 

[Reef Hero]

I got two blue streak cardinals and they used to only eat mysis or brine but now they eat pellets too.... Even the algal pellets
I think cardinals can go for quite a while without eating because when the male is brooding eggs he will go weeks without any food...

 

[shipwreck]

Feed pellets and mysis at the same time. They make pick up the pellets or flakes in the feeding frenzy and realize its ok too

 

[Giglio324]

I soaked the pellets in the melt from the brine shrimp. They definitely get excited when the food goes in but wont bite. I tend to go back and forth between pellets and brine/ mysis so they eat every other day. Maybe 2. I may trying goin a week of just pellets soaked in brine shrimp water see if they eat. PITA fish i really like em tho

 

[EricTMah]

Have you ever used Polyp Lab's Polyp Booster?

http://www.marinedepot.com/Polyp_Lab_Polyp_Booster_100mL_Coral_Trace_Element_Additives_Supplements-Polyp_Lab-PP30188-FIADTECS-vi.html

I had a picky anthias that would turn his nose up at any dried foods.  I put this stuff in with all water flow shut off for 10 mins then fed pellets.  He went bonkers!  Now he has no problems eating dried foods.

This stuff actually works.  I was very skeptical about this product.  But it works!  For corals and fish!

 

[Giglio324]

I'll order some and see what happens good idea tho

 

[MrHermit85]

My lemon chromis would only eat mysis and brine, I just stopped feeding frozen for a week and only fed flakes and pellots and now they eat both.