Hoplo not eating

[Grubby Sculpin]

I recently purchased a small hoplo (2.5") for my 90 gallon tank. In it are 3 cichlids (2 Nics, 1 t-bar) and a bunch of tetras. The cichlids are nice, so far I havent seen any of them bother the new cat at all. I had one hoplo in the past and I remember him being crazy at feeding time, eating everything in site. This one is different. At all times he hangs out at about mid tank level, usually around the same plants. But the problem is at feeding time he still cruises the middle of the tank. Its tough for him to find food at that level. I watch and sometimes he doesnt find any. He gets very active at feeding time, he can tell what is going on but he isnt very successfull. Sometimes he will move to the bottom of the tank but he usually moves back up again quickly. There are plenty of hiding places for him if he needed to hide. And he has found food if he stays on bottom, but he usually doesnt. Also sometime either at the fish store, or in transport, he lost all but one of his whiskers, therefore making it even more difficult in his quest for food. So I guess I have two questions, will the whiskers grow back, and will he ever realize that the food is on the bottom?