I use mostly carni sticks, which he shows no interest in at all now. I supplement with the other foods. I have five filamentous barbs in there with him now. He will school with them on occasion.
Another ATF starving question
- Thread starter Charney
- Start date
Hmmm.
The objective of pellet training is to starve the fish to the point that it reaches a level of duress that it is willing to change its behavior and eat pellets from the surface. Feeding supplemental foods is counterproductive to this endeavor.
It is very important that the dithers do two things. First, they must school with the ATF like as if they are the same species. I've had great luck with tinfoils in this regard, I can't speak to the efficacy of the fila barbs. Hopefully they and the tiger will accept each other readily and form one solid pack. Second, your dithers need to be extremely aggressive feeders. This is important because the commotion that they create at the surface will get the tigers attention. If your ATF notices his packmates going nuts at the surface, that will get his attention. Its normal for him to ignore the pellets floating around, the ruckus is what gets them eating.
If you want him to eat pellets, stay the course and let him starve. Good luck!
The objective of pellet training is to starve the fish to the point that it reaches a level of duress that it is willing to change its behavior and eat pellets from the surface. Feeding supplemental foods is counterproductive to this endeavor.
It is very important that the dithers do two things. First, they must school with the ATF like as if they are the same species. I've had great luck with tinfoils in this regard, I can't speak to the efficacy of the fila barbs. Hopefully they and the tiger will accept each other readily and form one solid pack. Second, your dithers need to be extremely aggressive feeders. This is important because the commotion that they create at the surface will get the tigers attention. If your ATF notices his packmates going nuts at the surface, that will get his attention. Its normal for him to ignore the pellets floating around, the ruckus is what gets them eating.
If you want him to eat pellets, stay the course and let him starve. Good luck!
Drop in 1 feeder at a time and get him used to hitting what you drop in. Than switch to thin tilapia fillet, than cubes of tilapia, than stuff it with pellets, than just do pellets.
I used to do it with my armatus and I did it with my gatf now. Be patient. Yes this will take 3 months time, but at least it will be healthy and grow. Rather than starve for 2 weeks, feed, than starve again and see little if any growth.
I used to do it with my armatus and I did it with my gatf now. Be patient. Yes this will take 3 months time, but at least it will be healthy and grow. Rather than starve for 2 weeks, feed, than starve again and see little if any growth.
I don't starve any of my fish while breaking the tigers, I feed twice a day every day. My tigers started hitting pellets at about a week. It normally takes 2-3 weeks from first putting the barbs in till the atf is fully broken.
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In reference to the tiger, not the tankmates. Charney's fish sounds picky and not well suited for the method you mentioned.
Fair enough. I'm fairly certain his fish is only being picky because he's not been consistent so far, however.
+1 on consistency. I have a group of 7 tigers with 3 barbs. I started feeding shrimp. I made sure I fed on the same side of the tank at the same time everyday. Two times a day. I kept this schedule going. If they didn't eat they starved. After they got used to the shrimp. They hit the food really hard and swam near the too of the tank before I even threw the food in. I then switched to pellets and at first it was bite and spit but in a week they all started eating it. I did have 1 Taft that refused pellets. He starved for at least 2 months even though the rest of the tigers eat pellets. Yes he began to get very skinny. I guess that was the point of near death for him so he broke.
even though I have tried other foods i would say I am pretty consistent. They get the the hikari pellets every night and occ I offer the others. For having this fish over a month the other foods have ben offered less then ten times. I also want to offer the other fish a varied diet. I can't remember the last time any of my tanks have seen live food (the guppies became part of the 90g community tank), so will give him some more time otherwise will have to try some feeders.
Chicx Method:
Pros - cheap, no feeder tank/risk of disease, usually faster or less time consuming
Cons - poor growth, risk of death and aggression, might not work on picky individuals
FishOnCampus Method:
Pros - fast growth, stress-free
Cons - time consuming to feed, takes a long time, expensive, need feeder tank
So this is strictly a matter of preference. To me, growth is very important and risk of death is a deal breaker.
Best of luck Charney
Pros - cheap, no feeder tank/risk of disease, usually faster or less time consuming
Cons - poor growth, risk of death and aggression, might not work on picky individuals
FishOnCampus Method:
Pros - fast growth, stress-free
Cons - time consuming to feed, takes a long time, expensive, need feeder tank
So this is strictly a matter of preference. To me, growth is very important and risk of death is a deal breaker.
Best of luck Charney
