Three Banded Butterfly Fish Owner needs help

[fishschool]

Just had a west African Chaetodon robustus Three banded Butterfly delivered. Researched everything I could find prior to ordering. Omnivorous, non- coral eater and potentially hardy was all I could make out. Info was scarce. Very rare fish.

I've had him 2 days. He's beautiful. Acts healthy. Gets along with friendly tank. Very outgoing. Pecks continuosly at the live rock.

But wont eat what I feed the tank. Live Brine, Frozen Misis, frozen Brine, Formula 1 which nobody ever eats (but I just don't want to through it out).

Wont even eat Reef Caviar (fish eggs) that I've seen Copperbands go nuts for. And that was my go to food.

He just seems to want to peck at the reef continously. Especially when there is food in the water. It seems to make him hungry but he just ignores what's in his face and keeps pecking on the reef. He definately is tearing off pieces of turf algae.

Can he possibly survive on the live rock alone. It's almost like he only wants to eat what he finds there and picks off. Ignoring anything that floats or swims.

Does anyone have experience with this kind of fish. Maybe I'll try putting and Oyster attached to his shell so he can pick it off the bottom. But this guy seems to prefer Algae. And I have never had any luck with any fish liking any of the prepared frozen or dried Algae Foods, including him so far.

Any suggestions would be greatly appriciated. Fotunately he has a 2 week stay alive guaranty.

[Allan]

Apparently these fish are one of the most difficult fish to keep successfully.I tried but failed.They peck at the the rock because as far as they are concerned this is their only source of food the little live creatures on the rock.I was warned against trying to keep any of these because they are so finicky. Good luck anyway.I hope you are more successful than I was.

[fishschool]

You described him to a tee. How long did yours last?

[Reefing Madness]

Mine got really big, had em for a couple years I think. fed him Mysis Shrimp, and once a week I would turn over some rocks so he could clean off the Aiptasia for me. I don't have him any longer cuase of my mean old freakin Clarki Clown killed him....Got rid of that mean suka too. Fixin to get me another one soon. Gettin them to eat is the tough part. Find out what they were feeding him wherever it is that you got him from.
And they are not all that hard to keep, just like all the other fish, you have to get them to eat what you have, then your set. Finding out what they ate before is a good key to go off of.

My New Fish Won't Eat! Tips

[leebca]

I very much like these fishes. The are relatively easy to get to eat BUT they need to be quarantined to train them. In a quarantine system, they will train with dilgence and effort on the hobbyist. The reasons to quarantine new fish goes beyond just for diseases -- it is an opportunity to train them to eat prepared foods, which is essential for their well being and proper nutrition. Had about 4 of them over the past decades.