Species that usually aren't picky but are.

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Modest_Man

Modest_Man

Polypterus
MFK Member
Jul 5, 2006
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Washington
If that makes sense. I have a F1 male midas from Jeff Rapps who I cannot get to eat much of anything. He's about 5".

He will not come up to the surface at all, so floating pellets are out (I still toss in small Hikari gold for the convicts). He will not eat chopped live earthworm, nor will her eat massivore (which I just bought to feed him a larger sinking pellet).

All he will eat right now is very small amounts of very small Omega One marine pellets with garlic.

I've treated the tank with metro, and would treat his food if he'd eat consistently.

He's in with 4 small convicts (2") who are always out and about and he's been in the tank for almost a month now.

I'm at a loss for what to do to get this guy to start pigging out. He does not have a sunken belly, though I have not seen him excrete feces at all.

Jeff said he was being fed on all sorts of floating pellets so I really don't know?

A side bit of odd behavior, is that he hides most of the time, except when the room is dark and his tank is lit. Then he goes nuts glass banging, digging, and flaring at everything.

Any thoughts or ideas?

4467484541_1587601223_b.jpg
 
A side bit of odd behavior, is that he hides most of the time, except when the room is dark and his tank is lit. Then he goes nuts glass banging, digging, and flaring at everything.
Click to expand...

It sounds like it may still be acclimatizing to its new surroundings, which is probably why it is also being finicky about its diet. You could try pre-soaking some of your sinking pellets in garlic extract.

Great looking specimen, and fantastic photo. I'm sure that he'll come around in due time.
 
After a month in the tank?

Might not be a bad idea about the garlic, as the only pellets I can get him to take have garlic in them. Worth a shot at least.
 
For that size of fish, sure, 30 days is not exactly a long time to settle in.
I've had clown loaches in the 6" range that didn't eat anything for a month when they were moved to a new tank.
 
I use garlic xtreme for when my discus go on hunger strikes and I have always have success when I use it.
 
Chopped garlic and shrimp/krill or peas. Let the shrimp or peas sit in chopped garlic for a couple of hours if they get a little piece of raw garlic even better. Basicly feed him Italian food! I never saw a pisano with a bad appetite. It works, my mother could cure anything with garlic lol.
 
Maybe some barbs or some schooling fish will make him feel more comfortable.

I have some wild Cichlasoma boliviense that are supposed to be gluttons...but only seem to like flake and live worms (not NLS or other pellets).

Matt
 
The only reason I'm worried is I've not seen him eat or defecate, the only thing I have to go off of is that his belly is not sunken. *shrugs*

I'll give garlic a shot, I have that and peas.
 
Hikari, Bio gold has worked for Me with finicky eaters.Of course it's probably the garlic in it,so Your already on the right track. Hope He comes around, He's got very good potential, to be a real stunner!
 
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