Cant get my TSN to eat Massivour any suggestions?

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M

Mr.AzulBass

Candiru
MFK Member
Jan 11, 2011
411
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46
Utah
Iv been trying for 4 weeks now and all he will do is take them and spit them out. previous owner had him eating them in 1 week. All the TSN wants to eat is earth worms and cut market shrimp or tilapia. its hard enough as it is to get anything to sink to the bottom because of how ferosious my pbass are.....any suggestions because if bever had a catfish not take to massivours quickly. Hes currently 8" and i want to make him beefy but dont wanna feed market shrimp every time its feeding time.

I was thinking of trying to put some massivour pellets in the thawed shrimp bag and shaking it up a bit so the pellets get some shrimp smell on them. any other ideas?

thanks
 
Soaking them a bit in the shrimp juice might work if that's what he's taking. IMO catfish will get beefy and do not require expensive massivore. Just my opinion of course :) I've read the diets in research studies of many hundreds of species of catfish, and their stomach contents are usually, crustaceans, fish, birds, small mammals, fruits, even pieces of junk in the rivers they swallow, but never massivore. :) I always try to feed as natural a diet as possible though. I would definitely give the soaking in shrimp juice a try though if you are dead set on getting him on massivore. Also some stuff shrimp and tilapia pieces with them for extra nutrients.
 
It would appear your problem is that there is a choice. TSNs are profoundly more predatory than RTC, Leiarius, Pimelodus, etc... kind of like Sorubim and Brachyplatystoma. All ten TSNs of mine always held out for fleshy foods, refusing or barely eating anything dry. Flesh gets them excited to no end.
 
think you are on to something with the soaking, they seem to rely a lot on their smell.. I do however believe you could just starve him.. never heard of a catfish that doesn't eat everything.. :)
 
Try cutting a slit into the shrimp or talapia (if thick enough) and slip a few pellets in there. Do that for a while (I did for 2 weeks) and then keep the fish hungry for a few days. During this time only feed pellets.

Worked with my Orbignyi stingray that never even bothered to chew on one and was also only taking shrimp, talapia and silversides.

After awhile they learn to either like the taste of the hidden massivore or maybe associate it with the meaty food they prefer. Once a fish is on massivore they FIEND for them. Best of luck
 
If your concern is nutrition why not just keep feeding various foods (shrimp, smelt, etc) and add supplement for vitamins
 
Try soaking the pellets in "garlic juice" for a few minutes before feeding, they go crazy for it. You can also try starving him until he takes pellets.
 
My fish always wins when it comes to starving, he will starve to death or eat massivore. He goes crazy for it.. he will dash any other fish that gets to the pellet before he does..
 
spidyshan said:
My fish always wins when it comes to starving, he will starve to death or eat massivore. He goes crazy for it.. he will dash any other fish that gets to the pellet before he does..
Click to expand...

Are you talking TSN? Just wanted to make sure.
 
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