Blue Jaw not eating

was he eating in the store? Did you see him feed there? not to get preachy, but always put a rare fish on hold at your LFS and stop by a couple days throughout the week to watch it eat. if they are worth anything they will do it for you.

That out of the way. Water specs all in checks? DId you drip aclimate or bag acclimate at the least or dump him in?

When you say signs of disease are we talking ich, Brook, velvet, HyperMelanization? What are we looking at?

have you tried some live foods like black worms or tigerpods?

 

Where did you pick him up? And how long has he been in the tank?

 

LMAO I was thinking a blue jaw tile fish (Hoplolatilus starcki)

Not a blue chin trigger, Xanthichthys auromarginatus.... This is why I dont like colloquial names! (another thread)

Try a guppy or a feeder. or some black worms live, he may just need to be slowly weened onto prepared foods.

 

Has it talked to you at all yet? Or during acclimation?

 

I float most of my fish, no worries I am right with you on that one there.

And how long has he been with you?

 

its not all that uncommon for these fish to not eat for several days after being moved. I would try some clams on the half shell and or maybe some squid.

 

Mthomp is dead on, its still early yet, and he looks to be pretty big and hardy. I would give him a couple days yet before you start to worry. Clam is a good suggestion as well as it will help with his teeth/plates, live food might entice him to eat. I would continue to monitor for a couple more days and start listening to him, he will talk to you at some point. not a hippy 'listen to your fish man... they know what they want man...' kinda thing, Blue throats are known to talk when they get happy and comfortable, or really upset.

 

Its the hard shell of the clam that helps to cut his teethplates back a bit I would cut back on the feeding for a bit. maybe till Friday and see. Don't want to cause an explosion from over nutrients in the system. let him get hungry and drop some black worms in there or a feeder fish. I would wager he would go for the black worms. and if not anything else in the tank will. Even my picky mandarin who only eats form live rock will snag a worm or two.

 

Yup just let us know!

 

So what's the word?