Fish Starvation (need help)

[arkmann]

All my fishes are being a pain in the tush! They haven't ate anything for five weeks, probably six. I have been starving them and training them to take pellets. I have been dropping 5-10 pellets a day and observing if they would eat it but to no avail. I was feeding them feeders for about a month. Then i realized that it wasn't to beneficial to them.

You guys have any idea on what to try to get them on pellets? I am thinking of trying frozen bloodworms and krill, defrosting them, dumping the pellets in and putting them in the tank at the same time with the krill and worms. I'm gonna do that this Friday.

How long would it be before they die on me? I have CKs, datnoids, P. bass, catfish and common pleco. All of them are under 5 inches.

 

[Miguel]

you're on the right path..throw in some defrosted shrimp, mussels, etc ( nothing live ), They will not starve unless they're sick.

 

[guppy]

Try the old bait and switch routine.
Use a couple live feeders. several bits of chopped fish, and some softened pellets, add them all at once. If they take them then wait a few days and do it again with only one live feeder, get them eating the chopped fish but never enough to feed them well. Hopefully they will start associating the pellets with food.

 

[Miguel]

I am always afraid that getting back to live will revert the process, but Guppy's sugegstion also works, for sure.

 

[arkmann]

Try the old bait and switch routine.
Use a couple live feeders. several bits of chopped fish, and some softened pellets, add them all at once. If they take them then wait a few days and do it again with only one live feeder, get them eating the chopped fish but never enough to feed them well. Hopefully they will start associating the pellets with food.

Great advice but I think I would skip the live feeder part. I'm pretty certain they would only take live feeders even if it was mixed with other food. I tried mixing frozen foods and feeders when I was starting the switch and they pretty much chased the feeders and that was the end of it. Although I would try the other combinations that you have suggested. Thank you.

 

[arkmann]

I am always afraid that getting back to live will revert the process, but Guppy's sugegstion also works, for sure.

I definitely agree with your fear. All they do with the pellets is smell it. I would probably try frozen bloodworms, krill, pellets, market shrimp, and probably mussels at the same time. If that isn't variety enough, I guess we can say all my fishies are primadonnas.

 

[islander671]

you can try stuffing the pellets inside the shrimp. im not exactly sure how it works, but it did for one of my dats. once he got used to the "taste' he started taking the pellets without the disguise. i really think its just an association with food for most fish to take pellets. sometimes a pellet would slide out of the market shrimp and the dat would eat it (scent maybe triggered the feeding response, or maybe he just assumed it was part of the shrimp. anyways, in the long run, the dat learned that pellets are food and eventually 'taught' the other dats the same thing.. Good Luck

 

[bigcichntwisted]

You guys have any idea on what to try to get them on pellets?


You might try using a garlic extract/additive to the food, seems as though most all fish SW & FW can't resist it. You just soak the food, frozen, flake, pellet etc. & then feed. Garlic Extreme is a very popular brand for this type application, but I have been told (Public Aquarium Biologist) you can just use garlic juice you extract yourself & produce the same result's, haven't had to try it since I was told of it, but seems like it would be the same thing & considering the source it appears as sound advice. Hope it help's.

 

[arkmann]

^Intriguing.... Let me do some research on that Garlic Extreme.