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I just picked up a small shoal of harlies for my 10g on Saturday nite. I have not seen them eat since I brought them home. I've seen them take a brief sniff at food and that's about it.

I have fed flakes, cichlid pellets, sinking shrimp pellets, algae wafers, bloodworms, krill, all to no avail

My tank is cycled, good water params, mid 70's temp 8.0 pH.

Does anyone have any ideas? I have even changed the flow rate on my filter for more or less current.

Thanks!

maybe put pne f the rummies in to show them "how" to eat? or another fish taht would be smallish...


\\\\\\\"an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of the cure\\\\\\\"

brandeeno's got a good idea. It's a technique that has worked with trying to acclimate the infamous saltwater Moorish Idol, an expert level fish that experienced fishkeepers only have marginal success with despite its popularity, frequency of import, and decades in the hobby.

The flip side is that sometimes the fish that is there to show another how to eat becomes a real porker and you have to put in some extra food so that they don't outcompete the more timid feeders for food.

However, I'm surprised though, because unlike Moorish Idols and the fish that I often have to wean on to processed foods, harlies are most definitely not wild caught. Having been at a fish farm, a wholesalers, an LFS, and now your home, they should know by now what food looks like and how to go for it. There is cause for concern, and I'm confused why harlies would be behaving this way at all. Sorry I can't help you more, but I hope you get this straighted out straight away.

The only possible thing I think of at this moment is that I remember you mentioned you only have 4 harlies. Although it seems counterintuitive to go out and buy a fish you are not yet having success with, it is possible that the harlies are stressed from not being in a large enough school, which goes double if they're with large fish that tend to go at food pretty hungrily.

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The aquarist is one who must learn the ways of the biologist, the chemist, and the veterinarian.

well, a little update on the feeding... I swear I saw a couple harlies make attempts at eating a bit as the wcmm's were feeding. Hopefully we're getting somewhere...