Getting goonch cat off live food

[Alexkoj]

Hey guys, just wondering how long it normally takes for a goonch to finally take pellets. Mine hasn't been eating for almost a month now. This morning, however, it swallowed 2 pellets before spitting it out - that's the first time it's actually taken the pellets in its mouth. Should I take that as a good sign?

I've been reading the stickied thread and some other goonch threads on this forum and hobbyists have had food strikes lasting from days to month(s).

I'd really hate to start giving it feeders but it's getting rather gaunt recently. Any tips/tricks please?

Further info: this should be a bagarius sp 'indochina' with black dalmatian spots.

Thanks!

 

[Just Toby]

I would feed 1 small live worm and then add the pellets (ideally try a few pellets soaked in chopped worm). Then leave it 3-4 days and give just one worm and the pellets again. The live worm stimulates the urge to eat and hopefully it starts to recognise the pellets.

I am trying to get my fire eel on to pellets, it took about 3 weeks to get it off live food and on to frozen, now it eats anything and has recently take 1 or 2 pellets when gulping down the frozen.

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

Solid advice above.

That's a great sign. Keep at it. Goonch wouldn't lose much weight if at all in one month. I think it's the guilt talking in you. If you started with a healthy goonch, you have a few months time to accomplish what you want.

 

[Alexkoj]

Thanks for the solid advice guys!

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

headbanger_jib your input would be helpful here.

Aw3s0m3 Ivan, you too.

Not to mention C Chicxulub

When it comes to goonches, I feel as if on thin ice.

 

[headbanger_jib]

For me getting goonch on prepared foods and Pellets has always been easy, these fish live in fast currents and sit against the current waiting for food, anything that comes towards them is checked out.

I have had great results with sinking foods, such as Hikari cichlid gold sinking, and Hikari Massivore. I used to put Pellets in the flow and the pellet when it comes near the cat, the cat strikes for the Pellets.

They can go without food for long periods of time. And once used to the tank, they will even recognize you, and also search for food in the tank by swimming around and letting their barbels probe for food.

I used to feed Pellets, but now I rarely feed Pellets, it's always fish fillet.

 

[Chicxulub]

J Just Toby and headbanger_jib both have given really solid advice.

Personally, I have never really had trouble getting goonch cats on pellets. Massivore seems stinky enough to get any catfish's attention, and like Jib said, I run lots of current which pushes the pellets past the goonch which will occasionally trigger an instinctive feeding response.

It's also worth noting that I've noticed that goonch cats prefer to feed at night after the main lights have gone out. Mine would actively patrol the tank like any other catfish after the lights went out. Moonlights are your friend.

 

[headbanger_jib]

I would feed 1 small live worm and then add the pellets (ideally try a few pellets soaked in chopped worm). Then leave it 3-4 days and give just one worm and the pellets again. The live worm stimulates the urge to eat and hopefully it starts to recognise the pellets.

I am trying to get my fire eel on to pellets, it took about 3 weeks to get it off live food and on to frozen, now it eats anything and has recently take 1 or 2 pellets when gulping down the frozen.

Hey, have you used the same technique for the fire eels too

 

[Just Toby]

Hey, have you used the same technique for the fire eels too

Yes

 

[headbanger_jib]

Yes

Thank you