training a BGK to eat from hand/feeding tube

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IKeepPacu

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Jan 2, 2008
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Long Island, New York
after my silver arro found a tiny opening and jumped for freedom, i replaced him with a BGK.

my rays are used to being fed their live/frozen foods from a turkey baster. they were able to associate the tube with worms after a few days, and now attack the tube just on sight of it, knowing it contains food.

is there anyway to get the BGK eating out of the tube?? if not, how did you guys get yours used to hand feeding?? i want to ensure he's completely fed as well as possible.

he'll be eating live blackworms, and frozen bloodworms, mysis, and brine along with the rays for now. sound like a decent diet, or do i need to add something for him as well??
 
I agree with the concern, the rays could eat and the bgk may never get anything.
What I use to do was just take a piece of shrimp and hold it near him and keep my hand still and let him find it on his own. He would get it and then become use to it. Then it got to where he would follow my hand after the food. Just takes time.

They don't see well so i guess they are going on electrical impulses and smell.
 
he readily took the shrimp from you?? or did it take several times before he ate?
 
At first he would find the shrimp in my hand, and swim around it and take a few moments to come and eat it. After a week or so of doing this, he would come right up to my hand and take the shrimp without concern.
 
Aqua Sanctuary;1517796; said:
What I use to do was just take a piece of shrimp and hold it near him and keep my hand still and let him find it on his own. He would get it and then become use to it. Then it got to where he would follow my hand after the food. Just takes time.

They don't see well so i guess they are going on electrical impulses and smell.
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thanks for that tip. i finally got him to take a piece of krill from my hand today :headbang2 nice to see the little guy eating something more than blackworms finally
 
IKeepPacu;1535892; said:
thanks for that tip. i finally got him to take a piece of krill from my hand today :headbang2 nice to see the little guy eating something more than blackworms finally
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Your well on your way to hand feeding him,that's the way i started with mine...now soon as i lift the lid on my aquarium she's out from her hiding place like a bullet and finds my hand in seconds....
 
I started with frozen bloodworms, and as they fell off, he would follow them to my fingers, and now I have no problems feeding him at all.;)
 
i_ganjaman;1535900; said:
Your well on your way to hand feeding him,that's the way i started with mine...now soon as i lift the lid on my aquarium she's out from her hiding place like a bullet and finds my hand in seconds....
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Ditto, my BGK races to the top of the tank whenever the lid is opened. Also rubs up against me when I do WC's I think he is trying to get me to give him some food. With patience it doesn't take long.
 
Valkyrie;1539270; said:
Ditto, my BGK races to the top of the tank whenever the lid is opened. Also rubs up against me when I do WC's I think he is trying to get me to give him some food. With patience it doesn't take long.
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I'm convinced that they like our weak electric field that we give off,mine will just lay on my hand,not doing anything,she never got taught to do this,she just does it..its pretty cool.
 
when i had a BGK,they ate from my hand or a feed stick on the first day.
first they would go back and forth and just check out my hand.
but in a few mins they learned that my hand meant food.
whatever your feeding them is fine for now.
 
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