Pencilfish Wont Feed

[frothhelmet]

Hiya, I got 3 nannostomus unifasciatus in a 30l nano. I wanted this species real bad and had never seen them in the shop before, so I bought all three when I saw them (I hope to get more soon) even though one was rather emaciated. Well over the past week I have done everything to get this little guy to feed. He spends almost all his time hiding in this corner or that, and rarely comes out to play - though he does right when I turn the lights out. I have tried Flake, Frozen foods, live adult brine, live tubifex, live bloodworms, live daphnia. He wont chase or eat them. In fact even the other two pencilfish barely take notice of this stuff too. Though on occasion they will pick at it - it seems a bit too big for their mouths. The only thing they all hunt are the few tiny ostracods (seed shrimp) and copepods I have on the glass and driftwood.

I just bought a brine shrimp hatcher so I can try to feed them nauplii in a few days after that arrives. I also just bought a starter microworm culture to try to feed them.

Does anyone have experience of this kind or any suggestions to help me get these pencilfish - especially the emaciated one to feed?

Thanks

 

[thereverendturtle]

They do have small mouths so feeding can be difficult. I've used flightless fruit flies in the past and pinhead crickets. You'll probably have good luck with the baby brine. You might even try frozen bb just to get something in them.