anyone got their pb off live food?

[arapaimag]

I've never been able to get peacock bass that I have owned(4 ever) off live food. I know Milo in Chigago was succesful about 20 years ago weaning them off live food.
Has anyone in MFK been able to do this for a year or more???????????

If so what are they eating now? and how long since they last ate feeder/live food??? How big are they and what species?

[retiredrunner]

I have my mono eating cut up raw shrimp. I just bought a pack of raw frozen shrimp and then thaw them out and cut them into small pieces since my mono is still pretty small (4 inches or so). Ive only been feeding the shrimp for two weeks. At first I tried to cut them up so they looked like a worm as I have fed him earthworms in the past. After only a couple of tries he took the shrimp. Sometimes the shrimp sinks to the bottom and then you have to get it off the bottom with the net.

[bOOsteN aUdI]

got my newest guys 2 weeks and there off live food... i feed them shrimp and still live food as a treat... i also feed them cut up smelt sometimes too. if you want to get them off live food is a piece of cake it doesnt matter the type of pbass.. it may take a few tries but you can give up easy... PM if you want them off live foods....

[K.O.D]

My 2 12" Monoculus eat nothing but dead prepared foods, they eat prawns, whitebait, cockle and mussel and they have earthworms too are growing well on this

Steve :)

[bOOsteN aUdI]

what is cockle? how long have you had them on marine food also? i heard its bad for pbass b/c its high in iiodine.

[arapaimag]

I have my mono eating cut up raw shrimp. I just bought a pack of raw frozen shrimp and then thaw them out and cut them into small pieces since my mono is still pretty small (4 inches or so). Ive only been feeding the shrimp for two weeks. At first I tried to cut them up so they looked like a worm as I have fed him earthworms in the past. After only a couple of tries he took the shrimp. Sometimes the shrimp sinks to the bottom and then you have to get it off the bottom with the net.


Great! please keep me posted on how he is growing and if he stays off live food.

[arapaimag]

got my newest guys 2 weeks and there off live food... i feed them shrimp and still live food as a treat... i also feed them cut up smelt sometimes too. if you want to get them off live food is a piece of cake it doesnt matter the type of pbass.. it may take a few tries but you can give up easy... PM if you want them off live foods....


Wow...... I've never had your success. I will have to try again.........thanks

[arapaimag]

My 2 12" Monoculus eat nothing but dead prepared foods, they eat prawns, whitebait, cockle and mussel and they have earthworms too are growing well on this

Steve :)


thanks for the reply. I am really impressed that they are 12inches and eating food other than live.. Please keep me updated and if you have pictures of your 12" pb that would be a bonus. thanks

[blacktip]

My two monos, 10" and 9", are currently eating frozen krill and shrimp. Before attempting to switch them onto the frozen krill, I started feeding them goldfish one at a time by tossing them into the tank. They quickly came to associate something splashing into the tank as food and would hit the krill as soon as it hit the water. Of course, they would spit it right out for the first few days. But a couple days without food convinced them that krill was better than nothing. They were about 5" - 6" at the time and now that they are larger they will eat whole raw shrimp with the shell removed.

The one thing I have noticed is that they don't eat as much shrimp as they do live fish, but that is probably a good thing considering how fast they grow. I've had them for 2 months and they have grown 3" - 4" in that time.

[redtailfool]

Im kind of a cheater because i already got my pbass eating pellets. But with their huge appetite , weaning them on shrimps doesnt seem like mission impossible. Have you tried starving them for a week ?

[bOOsteN aUdI]

DONT STARVE YOUR PBASS!!!!! thats is the wrogn way to get them off live food.. there immune system will drop... you will ahve dead peaocks! peacocks on prepped foood is extremely common!!!!!!! like i said if you want peacocks off live fods ASAP>>>THEN PM ME!!!!!

[redtailfool]

A healthy adult fish can go for a long time without eating. In the wild they do not eat every day, but whenever they get lucky enough to spot a prey and capture it.

[K.O.D]

These are my Monoculus

[bOOsteN aUdI]

those arent monos my friend... those are actually ocellaris :D

[K.O.D]

Well there you go, I was sold them as Monoculus and others have said they were Mono's, am more into the rays and Aro's so I took their word.

Thank you :)

[Steve_89]

Ive had my cichla on prepared from day one when they were under 1 inch.

You can starve them boosten ;) Just not at juvie stage.

If you are having problems getting them on prepared at juvie stage then grow them out a bit and then start the starving method.

Another method to get them off live is to throw food into the tank as if its alive and moving. The cichla may come up and hit it from the surface. I never had success with this though.

I had my cichla on pellets for a while but then found it cheaper to just feed food like whitebait, krill, beefheart and bloodworms. It also pumps them up faster.

I got my cichla on pellets by using a red coloured pellet soaked in beefheart. This is because at the time the only thing they were eating was small pieces of beefheart. The cichla thought the red pellets was beefheart and ate them. I dont know if this will work or I was just lucky :confused:

[bOOsteN aUdI]

nice, but i still dont agree to starving .. that is the wrong way to do it if you ask me! but no one has the same 2 ideas on how to do things ;)

[arapaimag]

Ive had my cichla on prepared from day one when they were under 1 inch.

You can starve them boosten ;) Just not at juvie stage.

If you are having problems getting them on prepared at juvie stage then grow them out a bit and then start the starving method.

Another method to get them off live is to throw food into the tank as if its alive and moving. The cichla may come up and hit it from the surface. I never had success with this though.

I had my cichla on pellets for a while but then found it cheaper to just feed food like whitebait, krill, beefheart and bloodworms. It also pumps them up faster.

I got my cichla on pellets by using a red coloured pellet soaked in beefheart. This is because at the time the only thing they were eating was small pieces of beefheart. The cichla thought the red pellets was beefheart and ate them. I dont know if this will work or I was just lucky :confused:


Thanks that's a great idea soaking the pellets. I will give it a try.

[Steve_89]

Thanks that's a great idea soaking the pellets. I will give it a try.

Somthing else I should have added,

I soaked them until they were soft and you could push multiple pellets together to make one big one. (If needed)

I found that if I didnt make the pellets soft they wouldnt take them.

The only downside is that it can make the water quite dirty but if you are doing weekly water changes it shouldnt be too much trouble.

[Hasi]

Mine have been on Hikari carnivorous pellets since i got it and has never had a feeder even before i had it as a juvie.

My mono SMASHES these pellets and the only other thing i have gotten it to eat is a bit of frozen bloodworm and brineshrimp but it DEFINITELY loves the hikari pellets.

Getting another 2 from the same guy as i love knowing they have been brought up on pellets.

[arapaimag]

Mine have been on Hikari carnivorous pellets since i got it and has never had a feeder even before i had it as a juvie.

My mono SMASHES these pellets and the only other thing i have gotten it to eat is a bit of frozen bloodworm and brineshrimp but it DEFINITELY loves the hikari pellets.

Getting another 2 from the same guy as i love knowing they have been brought up on pellets.

I'm truly amazed & humbled that you and so many others have gotten their pb off lived food. Eating pellets is great. Both my friends and I have never been successful :cry: . Now I must give them another try.....thanks

[bOOsteN aUdI]

can i see some pics? for they look diff on pellets... pllleaasse

[bOOsteN aUdI]

dont give up.. as long as u get them eatting feeder at a time.... dont give in and at first they may spit it out

[Hasi]

can i see some pics? for they look diff on pellets... pllleaasse


Sure, i will get a good camera and get some up for you

[Sescil]

I have 3 Temensis, 3 Orinos and a Mono. They eat prawns and silversides. No problem what so ever to get them to eat the frozen stuff. Persistence is the key.

[arapaimag]

I have 3 Temensis, 3 Orinos and a Mono. They eat prawns and silversides. No problem what so ever to get them to eat the frozen stuff. Persistence is the key.

Nice collection of PB's

What sizes are they and how long have you kept them

[arapaimag]

dont give up.. as long as u get them eatting feeder at a time.... dont give in and at first they may spit it out

Thanks for the advice I will keep trying.

[BigPleco]

Just got two Mono's (I think) and one chowed on a rosy red right away while the other loves the cichlid pellets!!! It's amazing! He chews and chews it until he can swallow! They're only about 3" long, but theyre some awesome fish!!! I'll post pics if I can figure it out. Maybe then you can tell me if they actually are Mono's!

[bOOsteN aUdI]

hmmm monos on pellets? you are very lucky... the one that doesnt eat pellets is probly a mono and the other 2 are probably wild caught. show some pics dude

[neoprodigy]

mike, pbass feeding problem? :D i got all my pbass on shrimps, smelt, beefheart and pellets

i have about 15 temensis 13"+ and half dozen baby pbass (ornino, temensis, and ect)

its easier to train them when they are young.

starving is my #1 method of converting them... and of course some fishy tricks to get them eat...

what you been feeding them mike? feeders?

if you feed them feeder try swtich to smelts? or dead feeder mix in the smelts... then mix smelt with shrimps..

[bOOsteN aUdI]

HEY NEO.... WHERE ARE THE PICS OF THOSE TEMS LOL.. HOW DID YOU GET THEM ON PELLETS? I STILL HAVNT MASTERD THAT!

[jed3ell]

First I fed my Peacock Bass feeder guppies, then I switched over to feeding ghost shrimp. I then ceased feeding for a week and introduced frozen (thawed) Silversides. The fish loves it.

[arapaimag]

First I fed my Peacock Bass feeder guppies, then I switched over to feeding ghost shrimp. I then ceased feeding for a week and introduced frozen (thawed) Silversides. The fish loves it.

How big were the PB's when you did this?

[Steve_89]

if you feed them feeder try swtich to smelts? or dead feeder mix in the smelts... then mix smelt with shrimps..

Agreed.

This is now the main diet of my cichla. Try and get the size closest to the size of the feeders.

[bOOsteN aUdI]

im thinking about getting some silver sides and packing them with pellets... hmmm where did you guys order them from?

[neoprodigy]

HEY NEO.... WHERE ARE THE PICS OF THOSE TEMS LOL.. HOW DID YOU GET THEM ON PELLETS? I STILL HAVNT MASTERD THAT!

you have to train them when they are young.... starve them.. i have a threory when 1 start eating other will follow... it will take some time... you gotta show who is the master!!! i have gotten all my M. tigrinus catfish on pellets too... :D

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=2/medium/DSC05361.JPG

my temensis pbass thread (http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10093)

[neoprodigy]

you can try diffrent food.... check this thread!

Yes! I found SMELT fish in the supermarket (http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5691)

[bOOsteN aUdI]

nice... i left you a message on your thread :D

[quix]

neoprodigy...wad's the longest u have starved them to get them on pellets? i am trying but the fellas are looking so damn hungry..haha

[neoprodigy]

neoprodigy...wad's the longest u have starved them to get them on pellets? i am trying but the fellas are looking so damn hungry..haha

better to train them young...

starving doesnt mean dont feed..

if you want them on pellets then "throw" few pellets (1 pellets at a time) down every other day... then net it out 10 min later...

make sure the pellets is smallest enuff for them to swallow ez.. but big enuff for the "thowing effect"

thow = make sure it hit the water hard... so it act like an insect hitting the water

make sure you throw the pellets 1 by 1 so the pbass doesnt need to think which pellet to attack... do it slowly... after a dozen pellets and no intrest net it out.. and try again in 2 days... soon... you will have a pellet eating pbass....

here is a thread of

VIDEO :Handfeeding : Cichla Temensis (http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=308&highlight=HandFeeding) (beefheart)

[quix]

cool! i'll try it..hope my orinos start on pellets soon! :)

[bro]

I have 2 Pbass, and they will eat anything! Live. dead, frozen, freeze dried, sticks, pellets, whatever, they don't care what they eat. I have had them since they were about an inch long, and now they are about 14 and 17 inches long. They would only eat live at first, but they started showing intrest in frozen food at about 5-6 inches.

No, I never starved them!

[polomax24]

My pbass eats pellets like crazy, so is my datnoid. :naughty:

[bOOsteN aUdI]

my guys now eat hikira gold

[soulfly]

all my pbass eat frozen foods and krill. ill still feed my babies feeders every once in a while. my big boys won't even touch feeders though. I never really fed them feeders so they don't like em.

[bOOsteN aUdI]

lol thats bull dude... pbass' favortie food is any fish that live!!!!!!!! ASK ANYONE!!!!!!! :D

[Steve_89]

lol thats bull dude... pbass' favortie food is any fish that live!!!!!!!! ASK ANYONE!!!!!!! :D

Not true.

I know ppl with cichla that leave feeders alone.

Weird. Very weird.

But true...

[bOOsteN aUdI]

never seen it all my life...

[dovii88]

i got mine of live, feeders, but on occasion he eats bloodworms live and i throw in the pellets and frozen in at the same time so he gets a little of it all.. :woot: :woot:

[bOOsteN aUdI]

still eats bloodworms? must be a small pbass. am i correct? ;)

[viperman100]

mine eat red worms, earth worms, boiled chicken, shredded beef, freeze dried shrimp, cocktail shrimp, hikari cichlid pellets, and well pretty much anything I put in the tank. However since I got them off the feeders I havent fed them feeders again but I'm sure they'll still eat them up.

[justin]

My two peacocks are about 13 inches and 9 months old. They get feeders and crayfish every 3 months. Imbetween that they enjoy frozen prawn (won't eat krill), frozen mysis (to small for them now but will still eat it) and unusually enough their two favorites are sinking algae waffers and large cichlid gold. I also dig up earthworms for them and my pacus on occasion. They go crazy for those. Also some fish stores or even pet stores with reptiles sell Super meal worms. The Pbass and Pacus enjoy those as well.

[michael]

Still can't get my orino off live food. Never starved him more than 4 days though.

[TankBuster]

Try dropping the food in front of a powerhead in order to give the food action. The bass tend to go towards something moving rapidly so give that a shot. I ffed my 4 2 inch pbass frozen brine and when it thaws and hits the power head flow, they blow everywhere and the bass love it, all that chasing around. These things are living lightning bolts.

[arapaimag]

Try dropping the food in front of a powerhead in order to give the food action. The bass tend to go towards something moving rapidly so give that a shot. I ffed my 4 2 inch pbass frozen brine and when it thaws and hits the power head flow, they blow everywhere and the bass love it, all that chasing around. These things are living lightning bolts.

Very good idea I will try that

[milk_and_mallard]

It's a type of clam or mussel

what is cockle? how long have you had them on marine food also? i heard its bad for pbass b/c its high in iiodine.

[rocsorcs]

is there any way to do this if they are already about 10" long ?

[jed3ell]

My pbass is 7" and I just got him on Hikari carnivorous pellets.

[jed3ell]

How big were the PB's when you did this?
My pbass is 7" and I just got him on Hikari carnivorous pellets