CBB eating tips?

[Kensington Reefer]

If that fish didn’t feed at the lfs…it hasn’t eaten in weeks!
Sad for you and the fish
But you did make the lfs happy with the purchase of the fish before it died and the took the lo$$

You should INSIST to see it eat before purchasing

 

[Turkeysammich]

@Chrism1330 we have all been there. You’ll learn. It’s just unfortunate that we all learn the hard way. Do your best. Keep going. Ask questions first. Impulsive buys are usually bad in this hobby.

 

[ashburn2k]

Even those that eats at lfs, they will stop eating once you get to your home, 8 out of 8 times when I bought eating CBB from lfs, they ended up dying. Only ones that survived is the ones I bought from take take downs with existing cbb that has been in the tank for a while.

 

[Bruce Spiegelman]

Even those that eats at lfs, they will stop eating once you get to your home, 8 out of 8 times when I bought eating CBB from lfs, they ended up dying. Only ones that survived is the ones I bought from take take downs with existing cbb that has been in the tank for a while.

I agree with this. I have restarted them eating but it's hit or miss. I normally only recommend someone acquire them from a long time reefer that has had them in their own tank for a long time. I am a firm believer that this is one species that should not be imported.

 

[Coral reefer]

I believe the source is important as well. Some are still caught with cyanide I believe.

 

[salty_taste]

Supposedly Australians are a bit easier to train however they come in larger if you really want to give it a shot.

Here’s a quick pic of my little one that I’m trying to fatten up. Key to my success also is not having potential competition for food

 

[RandyC]

They’re just super finicky. I’ve tried many times and have given up trying. I’ve got them from LFS, online, from an established tank where it was eating. They are just tough. I don’t even want to admit how many times I’ve tried. Longest I’ve ever kept one is around six months.

 

[Turkeysammich]

Supposedly Australians are a bit easier to train however they come in larger if you really want to give it a shot.

Here’s a quick pic of my little one that I’m trying to fatten up. Key to my success also is not having potential competition for food
View attachment 55711

I’ve been looking for an Australian one for years. I’ve never seen one in a lfs.

 

[Kensington Reefer]

Supposedly Australians are a bit easier to train however they come in larger if you really want to give it a shot.

Here’s a quick pic of my little one that I’m trying to fatten up. Key to my success also is not having potential competition for food
View attachment 55711

I’m glad to hear it’s eating
But what does the poop look like?

That pictured fish is quite thin

 

[IOnceWasLegend]

I believe the source is important as well. Some are still caught with cyanide I believe.

:-/

@Chrism1330 Keep us posted on how your CBB is doing, fingers crossed for you.

 

[salty_taste]

I’m glad to hear it’s eating
But what does the poop look like?

That pictured fish is quite thin

Had it in my care for about 3 weeks so far so working on it! Was sitting in a tank with copper for about 3 weeks prior so pretty new tbh.

Poop is chunks with a little stringy

 

[Chrism1330]

:-/

@Chrism1330 Keep us posted on how your CBB is doing, fingers crossed for you.

Will do, I’m gunna try and head to aquatic collections to get some massticks and I’ll give the clams a try as well

 

[Darkxerox]

Will do, I’m gunna try and head to aquatic collections to get some massticks and I’ll give the clams a try as well

Try stuffing the masstick in the old shells too for behavioral reasons.

Also if you need any small bristleworms and ever swing by oakland, I've got a ton lol

 

[CaseyP]

Will do, I’m gunna try and head to aquatic collections to get some massticks and I’ll give the clams a try as well

If you're going to aquatic collection I'd pick up some live brine shrimp also if you plan on trying to wean your cbb onto frozen brine or mysis. Masssticks and clams are great options on getting them to eat but you need to decide if that's what you want to feed exclusively going forward.

Also another note on frozen. At the start mine was very particular about eating only the whole looking mysis and brine that were fully intact with head and all. It inspected each piece carefully didn't like the broken bits. My experience has only been with one cbb which i've had a litte bit over a year, so behaviors may differ with others.

 

[Chrism1330]

Try stuffing the masstick in the old shells too for behavioral reasons.

Also if you need any small bristleworms and ever swing by oakland, I've got a ton lol

Thank you if I’m around that area I know who to message now thanks @Darkxerox

 

[Chrism1330]

If you're going to aquatic collection I'd pick up some live brine shrimp also if you plan on trying to wean your cbb onto frozen brine or mysis. Masssticks and clams are great options on getting them to eat but you need to decide if that's what you want to feed exclusively going forward.

Also another note on frozen. At the start mine was very particular about eating only the whole looking mysis and brine that were fully intact with head and all. It inspected each piece carefully didn't like the broken bits. My experience has only been with one cbb which i've had a litte bit over a year, so behaviors may differ with others.

Live brine. I’ll definitely pick some up. Makes sense I’m assuming because the masstick will eventually get expensive on the pockets? Is live brine cheaper? I don’t mind spending the money I just want to make sure it eats. I hope mines isn’t that picky haha

 

[gmdcdvm]

I don’t think live brine is cheaper when you factor in the need for a reliable source, time spent to go get it, and how long it lasts without a proper system to keep them alive. It adds up.

 

[Coral reefer]

Live brine is not nutritious after the first day or so post hatch btw. It’s a stop gap to get them to eat something similar to what you can feed frozen

 

[MichaelB]

Live brine. I’ll definitely pick some up. Makes sense I’m assuming because the masstick will eventually get expensive on the pockets? Is live brine cheaper? I don’t mind spending the money I just want to make sure it eats. I hope mines isn’t that picky haha

I think it was $5 a bag AC last time i picked some up, I keep them for about 4 days, three times more than I could feed all of my tanks in 4 days from a single bag if I had to guess. 3 saltwater tanks and even added someone to 2 freshwater ones.

I never researched what it would take to keep them alive longer, but I wouldn't imagine it could be extremely complex as the breeding kits for them are fairly simple. Maybe worth considering if your able to get yours to actually eat them.

 

[Coral reefer]

I think it was $5 a bag AC last time i picked some up, I keep them for about 4 days, three times more than I could feed all of my tanks in 4 days from a single bag if I had to guess. 3 saltwater tanks and even added someone to 2 freshwater ones.

I never researched what it would take to keep them alive longer, but I wouldn't imagine it could be extremely complex as the breeding kits for them are fairly simple. Maybe worth considering if your able to get yours to actually eat them.

You don’t want to keep them alive really. They won’t be worth anything to the fish at that point