Yellow Watchman goby not eating?

[will0wtr33]

So about 8 days ago I introduced my FIRST EVER MARINE FISH into my FIRST EVER SALTWATER TANK!
Awwww yissss!
So my YWG circled the tank a few times, and finally decided on a little section in the back of the tank (of course) to dig his hole. He comes out periodically throughout the day, but darts anytime he sees me creeping in to watch him. Late at night when the lights are off he'll peek out and isn't quite so shy, lets me look at him, etc.
I feed meaty pellets and frozen hikari mysis, but he seems to have no interest. First day or two I would drop food in over top of his hole, and he wouldn't come out to eat. I decided to try to target feed late night, when he seems more tolerant of me messing with his home. I dipped my loaded turkey baster in carefully, and dropped a good amount of mysis in front of him. Nothing. Literally millimeters from his face, food falling like mana from the heavens! I left the small pile in front of him with my pumps off, and left the room. When I came back it looked like it had been eaten (or scavenged by my scarlet reef hermits) so I turned my pumps back on. I've been target feeding like this once a night, but after that first time the pile is usually left untouched as far as I can tell. I've had him for over a week, and I don't want the poor little fellow to starve. Advice, tips, or tricks?

 

[FartyParty]

I no longer purchase any marine fish without first seeing them eat in person, in the LFS. I've had about a dozen fish like you describe and all of them except one miracle fish have died.

As for what to try, I would try different foods like flake or frozen brine to see if he adjusted to something else at the store. There is a chance in a mature tank that he would be filling up on pods and simply doesnt want frozen food, but it doesnt sound like that is the case in your situation.

I once acquired an aquacultured clown that would not eat anything except flake food. He was on the verge of starvation, then he started accepting frozen mysis after almost a week of not eating.

 

[will0wtr33]

I no longer purchase any marine fish without first seeing them eat in person, in the LFS. I've had about a dozen fish like you describe and all of them except one miracle fish have died.

As for what to try, I would try different foods like flake or frozen brine to see if he adjusted to something else at the store. There is a chance in a mature tank that he would be filling up on pods and simply doesnt want frozen food, but it doesnt sound like that is the case in your situation.

I once acquired an aquacultured clown that would not eat anything except flake food. He was on the verge of starvation, then he started accepting frozen mysis after almost a week of not eating.

I know my LFS was feeding him pellets, and he had been in stock at the shop for at least two months, so he had to be eating. Looked nice and healthy when I got him, looks nice and healthy now. My tank isn't mature by any means, but I do see a lot of what I think are small micro pods all over my glass and thermometer. They're about the size of a dust mote, and swim around looking almost like little sperm cells. tiny dot with a little "tail." Could he be eating these?

 

[FartyParty]

I know my LFS was feeding him pellets, and he had been in stock at the shop for at least two months, so he had to be eating. Looked nice and healthy when I got him, looks nice and healthy now. My tank isn't mature by any means, but I do see a lot of what I think are small micro pods all over my glass and thermometer. They're about the size of a dust mote, and swim around looking almost like little sperm cells. tiny dot with a little "tail." Could he be eating these?

Its possible, but if they were feeding pellets at the LFS its more likely hes grown used to them. also, fish sometimes dont eat when they are adjusting to a new tank, but if he made a cave and is standing watch, Id say its adjusted well already.

 

[will0wtr33]

Its possible, but if they were feeding pellets at the LFS its more likely hes grown used to them. also, fish sometimes dont eat when they are adjusting to a new tank, but if he made a cave and is standing watch, Id say its adjusted well already.

Ill try target feeding again tonight, but with the pellets instead. I saw him eat ONE small mysis shrimp that floated by his face, but only saw him do it once. I'm just paranoid, I want my first fish to LIVE!