Suggest me a good teacher fish? Please

[Pyramid_Party]

Well, I been starving my Perch for a few days now. Still wont take pellets or krill, its being very stubborn. I bought an oscar that was slightly smaller than the perch to use as a teacher fish. Well, when the oscar was set loose from the bag, not long after that the perch attacked the oscar. I removed the oscar now and will be returning it. I just know the oscar has no chance because its too slow and the perch is hungry and aggressive.


So what should I use as a teacher fish? Its gotta be pretty fast where theres very small chance it will be caught by the perch. Plus I'd like for it to eat krill and pellets because thats what I want the perch to eat. Any suggestions?

[buckeyenut222]

Big tinfoil barbs, not sure if they would eat krill but they should eat pellets no problem.

[Pyramid_Party]

Do tinfoils eat live plants? I got some nice plants in there and dont want them to destroy it. Plus I dont know if I can find tinofoils here. I dont know, i'll keep it in mind.

[Pyramid_Party]

Any more suggestions? C'mon, need answers from the pros! Tell me what you used and were successful with!

[Fish on Fire]

What kind of perch is it? Possibly try a Dat that is eating pellets already?

[Pyramid_Party]

Chinese Perch 5 inch. I dont know if I can get a DAT easily. Plus I worry that the DAT will be attacked.

[gcull6]

how big is your tank, are there any other tank mate in the tank and what filtraction have u got

[Knowdafish]

http://sketchedout.files.wordpress.com/2007/11/school-of-fish.jpg

[Pyramid_Party]

how big is your tank, are there any other tank mate in the tank and what filtraction have u got


55 gal, 2 other fish - 7 inch BGK and a 4 inch pleco. They all get along pretty good. Once in awhile the Perch will try to bite the pleco if it gets in his territory at the top. I got a penguin 350 and aquaclear 110 on the tank.

[gcull6]

u should try a barramundi or a australian native about the same size or a little bit bigger that eats pellets and krill,
WARNING: some of the australian native can get very aggressive.
u should keep an eye on them if u do pick this way

but the barra are not very aggressive to other fish except for there own kind, make shore the barra can not fit any of the fish in it's mouth or it will eat it.
I have done this once before and it worked, it may or maynot work for u

Keep use updateed on how the situation goes

[Pyramid_Party]

Some poeple suggested I try Tinfoil Barbs, well heres what happened:


Just got 3 tinfoil barbs, medium size. He caught one already and its halfway out his mouth right now. When I put the bag in he was trying to strike the bag. Once I set the tinfoils loose he charged in and started chasing them for a little and caught one. Then after awhile the tinfoil got loose from him and then he started chasing them some more and caught 1 again. Its in his mouth rocking back and forth with its tail. It got loose again but it was weak or something and he got it again. Its been in his mouth halfway for about 20 mins now, I dont know if hes able to swallow it because its pretty big.


This is getting frustrating so I dont think I will try teacher fish anymore. Now hes got himself a meal and Im back to square one.

[gcull6]

don't give up, try the australian native

[Pyramid_Party]

Well, I had to take the fish out of the Perches mouth! The perch literally had been trying to swallow if for 7 hours or so. For a while I was watching and knew he was having trouble, but after checking a little later he had the fish down more in his mouth so it looked like he would be able to swallow it.


Well for hours after that it was still in the same position. His mouth was so wide open too, it didnt look right. Plus I can see the angle was bad in the way he was swallowing. So I was wondering if he would be able to swallow it and leave it alone, or take it out.


I knew something was definitely wrong when I saw the perch staying low to the ground and breathing heavy, and a few times I saw him laying on his side. So I knew he was having trouble and I didnt wanan risk going to sleep and leaving the perch in that condition, he could be dead when I wake up. So I got my net and got him, and he didnt try and get away or anything, I basically just put the net by him and scooped him up with ease.

Another sign he was exhausted. Well, I brought the fish in the net up to the top of the water and grabbed the barbs tail and held it firm but gently I pulled on it, at that time the perch was rocking around and I put him down back in the water.


Then I noticed the barb was about half way out his mouth. I scooped him again and did the same and it was almost out. 3rd try It came out.


The perch went to the bottom now and his mouth was stuck in that form. It wide open as if he cant close it. That isnt right, so I took out the other 2 barbs so they dont stress him and he doesnt try and eat those barbs. turned off the light on his side and hes staying on the bottom breathing and hes got his mouth shut almost to normal now, still jsut a tiny gap open.


I feel bad for him because I know how hungry he is, I feel like givign him a goldfish now. But I will wait till tomorrow since now isnt a good time. But dependign on how he loks I may not give the fish and just continue on how I was starving him so he would take pellets and krill.

[DRgrits]

Some Leporinus should work.

[Muggin]

When they are ready to eat they will eat. Feed your other fish like you normally would and when the perch are ready they will eat and then you can feed more to include them.

[voss345]

severums......