How do I get my Piranha on dead food?

[DigginDirt]

I simply cannot get my Piranha to eat anything that isn't moving. I've tried a ton of different foods including the following:

Catfish
Tilapia
Crappie
Shrimp
Krill
Beef Heart

My RBP's in the past have eaten anything I decided to chuck into the tank, the second it hit the water... I now have a Ser. Scapularis, and he'll go a week without eating rather than touch anything other than live feeders.

I've tried morning feeds before I go to work, as well as night time feeds when I go to bed. He is naturally a skittish feeder, but no matter what I do, he'll hold out until I put something that swims in the tank.

Should I hold out longer than the week max I've been going? Will this hurt my fish by starving him into taking something else? Doesn't really seem the right course of action to me, but what do you all think?

What has worked for all of you in the past?

Thanks in advance!

 

[PhantastickFish]

offer one thing at a time. they'll start to eat it. watch your ammo spikes if you leave it in there for a long time though..

 

[jp80911]

how big is your fish?

 

[DigginDirt]

5 1/2", maybe 6?

I've also tried silversides as well...

All things listed have been tried individually for 2 or 3 days each. Typically each one gets left in for 12 hours or so.

 

[jp80911]

when did it last eat? it can go weeks without food unless it looks really skinny already. cut the food to bite size chunk it may help.
can also try soak food in garlic water/juice, may help as well.
or try to slice food to thin pieces so it sinks slowly that might trigger it to go after it while it sinks.

 

[ruckaisawesome]

try dead feeder pinkies.. my piranhas cant get enough of em.

 

[Piranhaman]

i have a lone RBP that sounds just like just as fussy as your guy. i just let him starve until he started eating beefheart . now he eats anything i throw in there

 

[half cab]

Tie the piece to a piece of string?

 

[DigginDirt]

Well, it's been about 2 1/2 weeks since the last time he ate... still nothing. He hasn't changed his behavior really, still just sits in his corner and ignores the food. Still keep starving him until he takes it? Having a hard time convincing my wife he's ok atm, but don't wanna keep breaking down and chucking goldfish in...

What's with the garlic JP? Do P's really like it? If so, how come? Should I just be trying bite size white fish chunks until he bites?

 

[ballinouttacntrol]

Well, it's been about 2 1/2 weeks since the last time he ate... still nothing. He hasn't changed his behavior really, still just sits in his corner and ignores the food. Still keep starving him until he takes it? Having a hard time convincing my wife he's ok atm, but don't wanna keep breaking down and chucking goldfish in...

What's with the garlic JP? Do P's really like it? If so, how come? Should I just be trying bite size white fish chunks until he bites?

there's health benefits behind garlic but pet food manufacturers put it in some pellets and flakes to attract fish to them. So the trick usually works.

if it's been over two weeks, i'd feed him something it'll take and then attempt to break it again. have you not tried fillete fish as you suggested at the end yet?