GATF Feeding Issue

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the asian
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Mar 29, 2005
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I haven't been keeping fish for a while, so I've lost some of my old knowledge so bare with me here.

I just got a GATF, it's living with a clown pleco and a turtle. It's been feeding on feeders with no problem, but I'm trying to convert it to shrimp.

The problem is, it's about the most skittish fish I've ever had and will swim away from anything that I drop in the tank.

I don't think the old "starving" method would work, because it's not only uninterested in the shrimp but also just plain scared of everything that moves.

I've kept tiger fish before and I've dealt with food conversion before, but I've always had other fishes in the tank that will swim up and eat the shrimp and pretty much show the new comers that shrimp is FOOD. Obviously, in this case there are no other fish (other than a pleco that never comes out) to help me.

What should I do?
 
You could sprinkle the entire tank with food so that no matter what he will swim by some shrimp. Just remove what he doesnt eat once finished...
 
Try hand feeding him dead feeders? (Use a pair of chopsticks if your afraid of its teeth) After it gets use to it try a shrimp.
 
Throw in his feeders 1 at a time so he sees you do it. Once he starts anticipating where you will throw them start throwing dead feeders or silver sides. Once he's used to that try throwing in whatever it is you want him feeding on. The trick is to get him used to being fed by you instead of him feeding when he wants.
 
Get some dither fish like G. Danios. I had 30 G Danios at the beginning but now I only have 4 left and my ATF, Godric is Twice as big since I got him now.
 
I got lucky with my gatf.. I had him in a tank with some tiger scats and like you referenced they, taught him that hikari sticks were food. Before that I had no idea if and when he would ever take prepared foods. This same gatf now eats hikari algae wafers and pretty much anything else I throw in. Good luck to you.
 
i have discus, a jardini, and dats with mine and he was a pain. I get krill and silver sides and i use tongs and practically drop the food in his face. he's still a little girl when it comes to eating but after a couple attempts he eats. just have a lot of patience.
 
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