Clowns not eating

[HomerJ]

How much should clowns eat?  I've had them for a week, and they appear to be on a hunger strike.  I tried feeding a bunch of different things (frozen mysis(sp?), NewLife flakes, NewLife pellets, and another brand given to me by ordi260, but they either take a bit and spit it out, or watch the food drop at the bottom without touching it.  The crabs and snails ate at the all you can eat buffet all week!

I'm starting to be worried, but at the same time, they appear playful, enjoy playing in front of the powerheads, and chase each other around the tank.

Any tips on things I could try? 

Thanks in advance.

[Wooki]

I got some true perc clownfish about 3-4 weeks ago.  First week sounded just like yours.  Then one started to get white spots - due to the stress.

I tried mysis shrimp, marine pellets with garlic.  Finally, I got them eating with frozen brine shrimp.  They are now eating everything I give them.  Curiously, it seems their favourite now are the pellets.


Wooki

[cdylnicki]

I would ask the store where you purchased them what/and if they were eating.

If they were wild-caught, the store may have not had time to train them on flake/frozen foods prior to sale.  I suggest in future to ask the store to show you a feeding prior to purchasing them.  Its only fair.

It may also be worth it to try a garlic enhancer.  For example: http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+4245+5016&pcatid=5016

They may be picking up copepods/amphipods they find throughout your tank.  

I personally only feed my clowns every few days.  I would not stress as most (not all) fish can go about 5-7 days in an established ecosystem without food.

Good luck!

[HomerJ]

As a follow up (and probably because the fish knew I created this post yesterday), one of the clowns ate last night.  I guess he gave up on the hunger strike and decided he was hungry enough.  The other one still hasn't had anything to eat that I could see, but at least it now has the reflex of chasing food around.  He just spits it back out.  I assume he'll be hungry too at some point and will give up too!

So good news all around.  Now if I could get my wrasse to stop eating like a pig!