Feeding Issues with BlueSpot Jawfish

[gdubs97]

OK...so first off...the expensive mystery wrasse has long been officially GONE. The other one is still very timid when it comes to eating. Most of the time, he is lurking in a cave watching the food and about to eat it..then the anthias just comes by and eats what he was eyeing. Now...I have a bigger problem...the bluespot jawfish has not been eating for about a week. I feed him with a turkey baster and give him plenty of food (frozen mysis and spirulina brine) He is timid now and just watches half way out of his cave/hole. When he does go for the food..he just spits it back out. Now his feeding area is used by the anthias and tangs to get as much as they want. Any suggestions???? Somebody please help here. I would greatly appreciate it.

[Angel*Fish]

Try feeding smaller bits chopped up tiny. Ime when a fish spits out the food it's because it's too big.

[gdubs97]

I tried chopping up the frozen mysis, etc up very tiny and feeding him. He just won't eat it. Not only will be spit it out...but most of it he just blows away if it's in front of him. He actually ate a couple of flakes from the top. I think it's Marine One appetite enhancing flake food. I have some new food coming this week, including pellets...hopefully he will eat that...plus I have the "garlic juice" and kent marine zoe coming.

[Angel*Fish]

I don't know what that means, but I'd try some fresh frozen cyclopeeze and live brine, too.

[alton]

Does your tank have a bunch of mysid shrimp? I added a pair of yellow heads to my 40 gallon and one I did not see for a month till he ran out of mysid shrimp which I guess he hunted at night? Was your BSJF eating at the fish store? Is he still looking good? Sometimes they build there home and then they eat.

[Angel*Fish]

The last one I had used to wander around the tank at night. I didn't know what he was doing - didn't occur to me he could be hunting food! :D

[basser1]

What brand of mysis are you using? I ask because my BSJF will only eat the PE brand of mysis. I've tried other brands in the past, but he just spits it out.

He will also eat the Omega One Marine Flakes with garlic as well as NLS pellets.

[Angel*Fish]

Did you try frozen fish eggs from the grocery store?

[gdubs97]

I don't know what that means, but I'd try some fresh frozen cyclopeeze and live brine, too.

I guess I can look for frozen cyclopeeze at the LFS. I don't think I can buy live Brine anywhere close to me.

[gdubs97]

Does your tank have a bunch of mysid shrimp? I added a pair of yellow heads to my 40 gallon and one I did not see for a month till he ran out of mysid shrimp which I guess he hunted at night? Was your BSJF eating at the fish store? Is he still looking good? Sometimes they build there home and then they eat.

Mysid? I'm assuming you mean mysis otherwise I don't know what mysid is. either way..the answer is no. I have 3 large cleaner shrimp and 5 peppermint shrimp. He was bought from saltwaterfish.com and he was eating the frozen food vigorously for a few weeks. He still looks good. After tonights feeding....I take this away from it.

1) He doesn't like the frozen cubed food.
2) He LOVES the flake food. He swims all the way to the top to get the flake food. It's "OMEGA ONE..Natural protein formula...appetite enhancement formula..." He just eyes this stuff and gobbles it up.

[gdubs97]

What brand of mysis are you using? I ask because my BSJF will only eat the PE brand of mysis. I've tried other brands in the past, but he just spits it out.

He will also eat the Omega One Marine Flakes with garlic as well as NLS pellets.

I just saw the PE brand online. It seems pricey. Where do you buy yours from. THe brand I am using for both types of frozen cubes are "San Francisco Bay Brand"

[jcono]

Not to go off topic, but do you have a good top on your tank? jaws will jump eventually, and (I have found) can get thru even 3/8" pond netting. Also this could be where your wrasse went.

[gdubs97]

Not to go off topic, but do you have a good top on your tank? jaws will jump eventually, and (I have found) can get thru even 3/8" pond netting. Also this could be where your wrasse went.

I actually do have a cover. It's less than 1/4" No way theyre getting through...I looked everywhere around the tank just in case the wrasse got out.

[reppo13]

The last one I had used to wander around the tank at night. I didn't know what he was doing - didn't occur to me he could be hunting food! :D

Common misconsception with these guys. This behavior is assosiated with major stress and being uncomfotable in a tank from lack of sand or tankmates. Also the fish could be looking for a new home.

As for feeding, is the fish still with you? as not feeding can be a sign of bsjf disease. Is he losing color? Also these fish IMO like very cheap foods as mine only eats nls pellets and flake food and stays away from high end frozen foods. He could be eating the amphipods in your tank as mine loves them. Patience is key with these guys.

[Angel*Fish]

Common misconsception with these guys. This behavior is assosiated with major stress and being uncomfotable in a tank from lack of sand or tankmates. Also the fish could be looking for a new home.

As for feeding, is the fish still with you? as not feeding can be a sign of bsjf disease. Is he losing color? Also these fish IMO like very cheap foods as mine only eats nls pellets and flake food and stays away from high end frozen foods. He could be eating the amphipods in your tank as mine loves them. Patience is key with these guys.No, that's what I thought at the time. My perception was that he was trying to find a new home and was frustrated with his environment. I was responding to Alton who said his was out hunting. He died within 2 weeks of BSJ disease and there was a long thread about it. It was years ago. I don't ever expect to get another one.

[basser1]

I just saw the PE brand online. It seems pricey. Where do you buy yours from. THe brand I am using for both types of frozen cubes are "San Francisco Bay Brand"

Fortunately I get mine from my LFS. Yes the PE brand is more expensive, but darn well worth it, IMO.

Here's a link to learn the differences between freshwater mysis and marine mysis.

http://www.mysis.com/pemysis.html

[gdubs97]

I have come to this conclusion....My BSJF only likes the flake food. It's fine with me too...as long as he's eating something. I tried the cubes soaked in the garlic stuff rom Kent Marine as well as soaked with Zoe...even tried the spectrum pellets (clowns love it...tangs arent touching it yet) anyways...if anyone has any other ideas as to what a picky BSJF will eat, let me know.