How do I get a dat off live?

[aznfab213]

I just got a Thin bar approx 4-5 inches that only accepts live. What methods do you guys use to wean them off of live into market shrimp or pellets?

 

[vaine111]

I just kept tossing shrimp in and he ate it after the first few days. It helps to have another fish that will eat it in the tank also.

 

[bigspizz]

My dat ate pellets the minute I put him in a community.

 

[rdx1555]

Easiest way is to put the dat with another pellet feeding dat. They seem to respond well to teaching fish.

Otherwise you can drop in one feeder wait until the dat eats it, then drop in a pellet or a small piece of shrimp. Try and drop it so it'll pass near the dat. If he chews and spits thats still good cause then he'll eventually just eat it. Drop another feeder followed by a non live food. Gradually drop more non live food than live food. Clean up any uneaten food.

Dunno if other people had the same experience but I dropped some chopped shrimp in the tank at night while my tank was very dimly lit and the AT and NTT which were previously on live immediately ate the shrimp that was blowing around in the current.

 

[aznfab213]

Easiest way is to put the dat with another pellet feeding dat. They seem to respond well to teaching fish.

Otherwise you can drop in one feeder wait until the dat eats it, then drop in a pellet or a small piece of shrimp. Try and drop it so it'll pass near the dat. If he chews and spits thats still good cause then he'll eventually just eat it. Drop another feeder followed by a non live food. Gradually drop more non live food than live food. Clean up any uneaten food.

Dunno if other people had the same experience but I dropped some chopped shrimp in the tank at night while my tank was very dimly lit and the AT and NTT which were previously on live immediately ate the shrimp that was blowing around in the current.

How long were your at and ntt starved before they took that piece of shrimp?

 

[MFM]

It helps to have other fish eating the food you want him to eat.
This is how I trained my spotted gar and cichla temensis.

 

[Ade]

Simple..... Just STOP feeding feeders
or any live food.
Be warned, it may take weeks or months! before they convert to eat what u want.
Don't take any extra effort by extra feeding or overfeeding which will mess with water quality. Just feed normal amounts. Tiger WIlL eventually eat what u want.

 

[aznfab213]

Simple..... Just STOP feeding feeders
or any live food.
Be warned, it may take weeks or months! before they convert to eat what u want.
Don't take any extra effort by extra feeding or overfeeding which will mess with water quality. Just feed normal amounts. Tiger WIlL eventually eat what u want.

Thanks. I am reluctant to do this method because I was told that they will starve themselves to death

 

[Ade]

Thanks. I am reluctant to do this method because I was told that they will starve themselves to death

True , it has happened to a couple of mfk members, but it is very unlikely to happen..
Ask yourself, do I want my ntt's eating feeders their whole life time?
If u do decide to do it, fatten them up on whatever they will eat first

my ngt would ONLY eat bloodworm. It took 8 months before he would eat frozen prawn & muscle, and during that 8 months, I only fed bloodworm x2 per month to make sure it did not starve. All other time prawns and other frozen. Guess he got sick of being hungry,

good luck.

 

[aznfab213]

how long would you starve a 1 inch ntt?