Bill Nye Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 I purchased a green banded goby about 3 days ago and so far I have only seen him eat one pellet so far... He has been out and about under his little rock since the first day but when I drop food by him he either ignores it or takes it in and spits it out. I am feeding him NLS small fish pellets and R.O.E by reef nutrition (LFS claims they were feeding him this...should have asked to see him eat total amateur move...). He is the smallest goby I have ever seen, probably about the size of the tip of your pinky in length. It was kind of against my better judgement to get him since I have a 50 gallon tank and I thought it might be hard to feed him and now I am seeing this may come true... Is this unusual for a new fish to not eat right away? I have had 2 of my fish for 3 years and the 3rd is an Occy clown so he was eating from the start. Kind of forget how the new fish thing goes... Link to comment
magikarp Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 My Yellow Clown Goby took a few days to start eating properly. Never had a green banded, but some fish are tough to get eating pellets, try frozen brine shrimp, most fish will go for that. Also, it is possible the pellets are a bit too big for it to handle being such a small fish Link to comment
Pinner Reef Posted March 26, 2015 Share Posted March 26, 2015 Yeah, sometimes they take a few days to settle in but he should be getting to the point were he's feeling more comfy in his new digs. I'd say keep trying different foods as well. Anything meaty (brine, mysis ect) seems to help get them interested. You might also try adding garlic supplements as they do seem to help stimulate a fish's appetite. If all else fails live black worms will work with any fish as a starter foods; but they're not good long term solutions. Link to comment
Maniu Posted March 26, 2015 Share Posted March 26, 2015 If it is well established tank, you should have some pods present. In that case, goby will pick live food over other food. At least at this stage. Tiny fish such as GBG doesn't need a whole lot to quench its appetite. These guys are minimal bioload and not particularly messy eaters. Other reason might be stress and intimidating presence of larger tankmates. Keep an eye on him tho. Link to comment
Bill Nye Posted March 26, 2015 Author Share Posted March 26, 2015 Thanks for the replies. I am going to pick up some brine shrimp after work tomorrow since that was the other thing they said they fed him but R.O.E. is fish eggs and all my other fish love it. The rock in my display is all new but I put all of my old live rock in the sump so I have been seeing pods all over the place. I dont think he is intimidated by the fish since he comes out on the sand bed while the clowns and firefish are swimming just above him. Hopefully by tomorrow he will eat a little more vigorously. Its weird because he will pick at the sand like something is there but I don't see anything. Perhaps there are tiny pods I am not seeing. Link to comment
righttirefire Posted March 26, 2015 Share Posted March 26, 2015 I didn't see my yellow clown goby for over a week after I added him. He'd pass up the pellets he was accustomed to eating passed on frozen mysis and cyclopeze. Weeks later he eats everything Link to comment
Bill Nye Posted March 27, 2015 Author Share Posted March 27, 2015 Last night I was feeding my fish hoping the green banded goby would eat something. I was dropping fish roe and NLS small fish pellets on his head with no success. I got frustrated and decided to just feed my other fish some mysis and low and behold he started going after pieces of mysis about as big as he was. He got a smaller piece in his mouth and chewed on it for a while and looked like he did eat some! I picked up some brine shrimp this morning and am going to feed him when the lights come up at 12:00! Looks like he is pretty bold and out all of the time so I think now that I have something he will eat I am out of the woods. Really cool fish lots of personality for a little guy now I just gotta find two more! Link to comment
ajmckay Posted March 27, 2015 Share Posted March 27, 2015 a 3/4" fish in a 50g? I'm surprised you can even find it! Probably lucky you got one that doesn't hide all the time. When I get a new fish I usually pick up some live brine shrimp because I don't have very good luck with fish eating pellets off the bat - if ever. Nothing I've presented live brine shrimp to has ever refused. Link to comment
Bill Nye Posted March 27, 2015 Author Share Posted March 27, 2015 a 3/4" fish in a 50g? I'm surprised you can even find it! Probably lucky you got one that doesn't hide all the time. When I get a new fish I usually pick up some live brine shrimp because I don't have very good luck with fish eating pellets off the bat - if ever. Nothing I've presented live brine shrimp to has ever refused. Yes I am lucky for sure! I have always had nano tanks and really wanted a green banded goby for like 5 years but never saw one locally. I finally saw one and I had to have it! He is out constantly on the sand bed from the first day even when my other fish are eating right above him. It probably helps my tank is very calm and understocked so not a lot of commotion. I have 2 Occys and a purple firefish and strangely enough the purple firefish is the "bully" in my tank! From now on I will always have some brine on hand for new fish. I bought some fish roe from them because they claimed that was what he was eating but he doesn't seem to like it in my tank. My other fish and LPS on the other hand have been enjoying it. Link to comment
smeagol108 Posted March 27, 2015 Share Posted March 27, 2015 If it is well established tank, you should have some pods present. In that case, goby will pick live food over other food. At least at this stage. Tiny fish such as GBG doesn't need a whole lot to quench its appetite. These guys are minimal bioload and not particularly messy eaters. Other reason might be stress and intimidating presence of larger tankmates. Keep an eye on him tho. Totally agreee with this, my flaming prawn goby i have never seen eat, but he isnt getting any skinnier. Surviving on pod/coral frenzy etc... Link to comment
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