ID Not eating

[Blue Butcher]

I have a 25" ID shark that goes through long periods of not eating. In the 15 years that I have owned him, he has done this three times now. Any ideas why? Last stretch was 10 months. He got pretty skinny. He is ok now

[duke33]

did'nt you just put him in a differant pool? That could be it. 15yrs. Man, I've never had a girlfriend that long.LOL

[AquataHolic420]

10 months is hard to believe.. i think it would have had to eat something in that time.... I have no idea.. maybe stress?

[Blue Butcher]

Yes duke, I moved him Jan 07 and I finally saw him eat begining of november. I have always hand fed him. I could roll the food off his nose and he would not eat. He might have been eating plants. Hard to tell. The last two times he was in his tank. That lasted a few months. I was just wondering if they fast (lol) or if anyone else has had this experience. I dont know anyone who has these fish. I have more experience than the LFS does. I love that tiger shovelnose of yours. I had one for 5 years got to 27".

[duke33]

Thanks on the TSN. He's gonna break me up feeding him, won't eat nothing but feeders. I got him at 13+" so I guess he was raised on them. Anyway, I have 2 ID's, for a little over a year. I have'nt had that problem. They're a good 13", my worry is them outgrowing the 300 before I get my pond done. I guess since he's still alive it might be some instinct type thing? He's the biggest I've heard of.

[Red Devil]

Do You only have the one ID shark..the reason i ask is because i have had my columbians now for about 4 years and they just recently went into a similiar thing ..they may have been trying to breed.. i just thought maybe every so often ....possible that their body shuts down in the spawning mode ..mine are completly back to normal but i am sure they will go through it again.. just an idea..

[Blue Butcher]

Blue has been by himself for many years. I recently found an Imperial ID @17". It took me a year to find another ID big enough to be in his pond. He had starting eating before the new one showed up. As far as breeding goes, there has been no known successful breeding in captivity. Not sure if Blue is m/f, I assume male. Big and stubborn. Not sure if he would go through any breeding symptoms by himself. There is no pattern to his fasting. thanks for the tip though.

[Red Devil]

Blue has been by himself for many years. I recently found an Imperial ID @17". It took me a year to find another ID big enough to be in his pond. He had starting eating before the new one showed up. As far as breeding goes, there has been no known successful breeding in captivity. Not sure if Blue is m/f, I assume male. Big and stubborn. Not sure if he would go through any breeding symptons by himself. There is no pattern to his fasting. thanks for the tip though.

i know theres no successful breeding but that does not mean he won't feel like it :D good luck with him..i hope he starts eating for you..your welcome..

[Blue Butcher]

Incase anyone would like to know. Blue is now eating like a pig. His new companion, the imperial ID is a pig also. They now eat like a couple of great whites going for a kill. It's amazing to watch. Thank you to those of you that posted a reasponse. It's nice to know that there is other fish fanatics like me. 15 years with a pet is a blessing. 15 years with a fish is the ultimate fish story. He (they) really do get bigger and bigger.

[Red Devil]

Incase anyone would like to know. Blue is now eating like a pig. His new companion, the imperial ID is a pig also. They now eat like a couple of great whites going for a kill. It's amazing to watch. Thank you to those of you that posted a reasponse. It's nice to know that there is other fish fanatics like me. 15 years with a pet is a blessing. 15 years with a fish is the ultimate fish story. He (they) really do get bigger and bigger.

Thats great .......!!!!and now it won't be so terrible when he fasts again..mine are back to normal too and eating like crazy..:D

[ZCciVic22]

Blue, may I ask if your pond is indoor or outdoor?