Help: New fish refusing to eat

[Flaffy]

Hi,
I've recently introduced a Chinese High Fin Banded Shark to my goldfish tank. However, it hasn't eaten since it arrived.
It has been 4 days already and I'm afraid it'll starve to death, any suggestions on how to get him to eat?

I have tried feeding him Algae wafers and bottom sinking Hikari goldfish food.

Thanks!

 

[kno4te]

Hi,
I've recently introduced a Chinese High Fin Banded Shark to my goldfish tank. However, it hasn't eaten since it arrived.
It has been 4 days already and I'm afraid it'll starve to death, any suggestions on how to get him to eat?

I have tried feeding him Algae wafers and bottom sinking Hikari goldfish food.

Thanks!

New fish can get like this. Still trying to settle in. Would wait and let it settle before trying to feed again.

 

[krichardson]

Your high fin certainly won't starve to death after four days of not eating or even a few more days.Just leave alone,let it settle in to its new surroundings and it will start eating when it is ready to do so.

 

[Flaffy]

I see, it looks like it's getting skinny though. How long should I wait before worrying?
I currently have separated him in a net breeder separation box in fear of the goldfish causing him to stress out, should I let him out to explore the tank?

 

[kno4te]

I see, it looks like it's getting skinny though. How long should I wait before worrying?
I currently have separated him in a net breeder separation box in fear of the goldfish causing him to stress out, should I let him out to explore the tank?

I would let it out to explore. Try feeding every other day.

 

[krichardson]

Yep,let it out,its not going to be any less stressed out cooped up in that cage.

 

[tlindsey]

Hi,
I've recently introduced a Chinese High Fin Banded Shark to my goldfish tank. However, it hasn't eaten since it arrived.
It has been 4 days already and I'm afraid it'll starve to death, any suggestions on how to get him to eat?

I have tried feeding him Algae wafers and bottom sinking Hikari goldfish food.

Thanks!

Welcome aboard Ronald.

 

[neutrino]

Keeping it in a breeder net is counter-productive, it should only be a temporary option if he was seriously being hassled by another fish until you moved him or the other fish. Otherwise, it will only create more stress, delay him adapting to your tank, and prevent him eating any available algae, leftover bits of food or microbes in your substrate, etc.

It can be nerve wracking waiting for a new fish to settle in and begin eating, trying to figure out what foods, they'll eat, etc., but some fish just need time, which might take them anything from a few days to a few weeks in some cases. Sometimes the less you fuss with them the better, some will eat a bit at night or get by on bits of algae, leftover particles of food on the bottom, etc. before you see them eat.

First of the year I got some wild angelfish, been through the drill many times of new fish not eating for a while, but these went for weeks, as in 5 or more weeks of eating little to nothing before they came around. Tried various foods and nothing, was starting to worry about them. They finally came around and are doing just fine.

I assume you know Chinese sharks get big, need cool water and eventually a big tank, etc?

 

[Flaffy]

Thanks for all the tips!
And ye I know he'll grow to be a big ugly fish one day, I just hope he manages to pull through now.

 

[Ash]

Let him out to explore, he won’t adjusted being seperated. He may nibble on things when your not watching and will have a better shot freely swimming around and fully adjusting. You can offer a little food every other day and take it from there. Just give the fish time to come around, it’s ok if he doesn’t eat for several days. You can try changing up the food options as well. Good luck!