Gar not eating,

[skylineiz]

Hi,
Now ive done a search and tried everything suggested in the threads i found, but still need some more advice, so here goes.
so ive got a new 18cm spotted gar, in my Display tank.
Tank mates are = 2 motoros, 1 flagtail.

he seams to spend most of his time just chilling out of the way of current. (there is alot of water flow in my tank)

Now ive tried frozen bloodworms, prawn(shrimp as you guys call it), and feeders, and pellets too.

But the guy just does not seam interested. I was under the impression that gars would always be up for a feeder or 2. So any ideas?
I do 50% waterchanges once a week, and i did an extra one last night too.

thanks in advance for the help,
Cheers.

 

[SnaKeheAdSrAwSomE]

you shouldn't do such large water changes every week. but what kind of filtration do u have, and what are the parameters?
edit:try 20-25% wc a week

 

[Conner]

Hmm, I don't have any problems with 40-50% water changes every week. Once the fish get used to them its no big deal.

As for not eating, how long have you had the gar? Are the other fish getting to the feeders before he can? If he hasn't been in the tank long, he might just need some time to adjust.

If its just a case of he's not going after the feeders, you could try using a pair of tongs, pliers, whatever, to hold a feeder by the tail and wave it right in front of his face. If he still doesn't show any interest, then I'm not sure what to do then.

Good luck.

 

[skylineiz]

good points!
yeh i do the big water changes due to the rays in the tank.
ive only had him for 3 days.
so ill give him a few more days to adjust.
other fish are not touching the feeders. (as they are all on pellets)
Ill try your feeder holding method next week.
so well see how it goes...

Cheers for the tips guys.

 

[ettfettbranamn]

3 days is nothing.. don't even expect him to eat in say.. 3 weeks..

 

[Conner]

3 days is nothing.. don't even expect him to eat in say.. 3 weeks..

While true of some gars, mine ate within about 10 minutes of being in the tank. Some will eat readily, some will take a while. I would continue to offer feeders, but if he doesn't eat them with 10 minutes, remove them from the tank. Then try again the next day. Eventually he'll get hungry and eat .

 

[skylineiz]

crisis over!!
busted my gar punching down a feeder.

woohoo

 

[Lepisosteus platyrhincus]

my first gar ate a feeder just out of the bag. litterly. i let him out and he grabbed a guppy on the way out of the bag. hmmm, fun time fun times.
any ways try a bunch of feeders and give him time to calm down. the tank mates might just freak him out right now or he might not be able to get close enough to his food.