Spot fin Butterfly

[MadReefer]

I traded some frags for a wild caught Spot fin Butterfly, it was captured in Manasquan inlet. The person told him it only eats clams and research confirmed that and said live blackworms. No LFS has blackworms and will get clams later today as I don't want it to starve.
I tried frozen butterfly food and Mysis but no luck.
Any thoughts on how to eventually ween it off clams and eat frozen, flake, dried or whatever?

 

[reefsandrotts]

Mastick food,you can get pre-mixed pellets on Amazon.
This stuff is amazing,I stuck it to the glass and rock where my chima wrasse would hang around. In 2 days he was crushing it,then I began mixing flake and thawed mysis into it.

 

[radiata]

Per something I read somewhere, I experimented with some frozen blood worms for my Copper Band. They need to be chopped into smaller pieces. The CB ate them, but all my other fish turned up their noses at them.

The Mastick is worth a shot. I got my Moorish Idol going on it. Then I began mashing small pellets into the mix. That got the Idol eating plain pellets.

If we have a meeting any time soon, I can bring you some live blackworms.

 

[MadReefer]

Per something I read somewhere, I experimented with some frozen blood worms for my Copper Band. They need to be chopped into smaller pieces. The CB ate them, but all my other fish turned up their noses at them.

The Mastick is worth a shot. I got my Moorish Idol going on it. Then I began mashing small pellets into the mix. That got the Idol eating plain pellets.

If we have a meeting any time soon, I can bring you some live blackworms.

Thanks all for the info.
Bob, that would be great.

 

[radiata]

Here's a site that sells live blackworms:
https://easternaquatics.com/

I'm not too sure how reliable they are. My LFS won't do business with them. You can buy a 1/8th pound from them and keep them alive in one of these:
https://www.amazon.com/Blackworms-Stackables-Tropical-Container-Supplies/dp/B07R3VYWQD
You keep them in the fridge (assuming your spouse allows) and change the water occasionally. Believe it or not, they can be kept alive that way for months.

Here's a link if you're crazy enough to attempt breeding your own:
https://aquariumtidings.com/how-to-culture-blackworms-black-worms/

 

[MadReefer]

Here's a site that sells live blackworms:
https://easternaquatics.com/

I'm not too sure how reliable they are. My LFS won't do business with them. You can buy a 1/8th pound from them and keep them alive in one of these:
https://www.amazon.com/Blackworms-Stackables-Tropical-Container-Supplies/dp/B07R3VYWQD
You keep them in the fridge (assuming your spouse allows) and change the water occasionally. Believe it or not, they can be kept alive that way for months.

Here's a link if you're crazy enough to attempt breeding your own:
https://aquariumtidings.com/how-to-culture-blackworms-black-worms/

Thanks Bob. I remember many different live worms for my FW fish as a kid. Now no one sells live food.

 

[horseplay]

There is no guarantee it will eat the blackworms. If it eats clams I will keep feeding him that then eventually it will eat pellets with other fish. They all eventually do.

When I had my CBB I bought frozen oysters from Chinese super market and chop them into small pieces and feed the fish. It's cheap and you don't have to shuck clams all the time. No fish can resist frozen oysters.

 

[radiata]

Thanks Bob. I remember many different live worms for my FW fish as a kid. Now no one sells live food.

Ah, yes ~ good old Tubifex worms. Useless for us, they lasted about three seconds in salt water. They used to be collected from open sewage lines but lost popularity because of fecal bacteria they would carry.

 

[eholceker]

I had one for about 4 years. Didn't survive when I moved to my new house. It only ate clams for about a year then started eating everything including flake and pellets. Hope you have it in a fish only tank. 100% not reef safe. Will eat all corals.

 

[MadReefer]

I had one for about 4 years. Didn't survive when I moved to my new house. It only ate clams for about a year then started eating everything including flake and pellets. Hope you have it in a fish only tank. 100% not reef safe. Will eat all corals.

Yes it's in a separate tank. Its eating clams and seem interested in the Aqueon Stick em's

 

[reefsandrotts]

Yes it's in a separate tank. Its eating clams and seem interested in the Aqueon Stick em's

I wonder if you could 3d print a feeder that sticks to the glass and try frozen mysis cubes if he's picking at the stick um cubes