Yes, I read about using a baster, so I got one. The problem is, in his favourite little corner he doesn't seem to open up his fans, so I don't think there's any point in suirting food at him. I did try, to see if he would open them out in response, but to no avail
Lucky you! I really fancy those, but never find them in my LFS. All my experience is with the wood/mountain shrimp (Atyopsis moluccensis) but as a fellow filter feeder, yours is perhaps not dissimilar.
Because filter feeders don't have large claws to defend themselves, they tend to be shy and retiring. They tend to hide during the day, coming out at night to feed.
Having said that, they
do have tiny claws, which they will use to pluck up small pieces of left-over food and algae from rocks and substrate. Also, once feeling safe and at home, they
will appear during the day.
I have four, in a planted 10 gallon tank, with bumble-bees shrimps, and a few endlers as tank mates. I have slightly-curved cork bark glued to the back wall – giving a small gap at the top where I can root plants, and a gap at bottom where the shrimps can hide, feeling safe. There is a weak internal filter (not strong enough to suck baby BBS's into the inlet, but strong enough to give a water current.
I feed them in the evening at lights-out, with a frozen cube of algae or other tiny food placed over the filter outlet – so, as it melts, a stream of food is slowly sent out.
Other may be able to better advise you, but this works for me.
P.S. If desperate to see him, pop downstairs with a torch during the night – like all the tribe, his eyes will be easy to pick out...