Well hopefully, you will already know that quarantining new fish is essential. It gives your new fish the best possible chance of settling in well into your main tank. If you don’t quarantine then I highly suggest you take a look at our guide on setting up a quarantine tank for new fish.
If your new fish has gone straight into a new tank and is not eating after a few days, I would set up a hospital tank. You will then be able to treat it without being concerned that the medication with interfere or harm other fish and especially invertebrates and coral.
Another reason this can be beneficial is that you are removing the stresses that come with being the ‘new fish’ in a tank full of territorial fish and their sometimes aggressive behaviour. That being said, you will be stressing it out even further and even once in a hospital tank, it may have proven to be too much for the fish to handle and nothing you try will help it survive.
BUT, we have to try! So here are a few ways in which to help your new saltwater fish start eating: