How long can a 6" Pbass go without eating?

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tunerX

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Oct 8, 2007
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Thousand Islands Region Northern New York
My Feeder QT tank started leaking and I didn't have anywhere to put my 100+ feeders that I had. I figured that I would just dump them in with my 4x 6" Orinos, and they would ration them on their own. This was yesterday evening. This morning when I woke up there weren't anymore feeders and the PBass bellies looked like they were gonna bust. I was worried that they were going to die from overeating. This afternoon their bellies got a little smaller so I guess I won't worry now.

The only problem is that I don't have anymore feeders. The QT seams won't be dried out for a couple days. I picked up a trash can for future emergencies, but I still have a 7 day aquari-sol QT that I normally do. Either they wait out the QT and don't starve or they start eating the shrimp, scallops, and krill that I feed my other fish. I wasn't planning on getting them off of live foods until after the new year. They don't touch worms either.

My Rosy Red fry have all been used up and the breeders aren't producing as fast as these guys can eat.
 
They will be fine for a while, even up to a week, but definitely try to get them on froozen or prepared foods, usually Pbass dont have a problem taking pellets either.
 
I don't think I'd say they usually don't have a problem taking pellets. It's definitely possible though. I'd say a week, but through that time try to give them your frozen foods. Make sure no uneaten food sits in there.
 
lol you have a better chance getting them to eat cut up shrimp then getting them to eat pellets.... dont even try to feed them shrimp until they look skinny again... when they look hungry and you can get them to come to the top.. skip a peice of shrimp on the surface hopefully they will take it. dont cut the pieces to big and shape them kind of long like a minnow or fish
 
I would at least TRY before they look skinny. Just be sure to take it out if they don't eat it. Also try FD Krill. I've had good luck with that being the first non-live that pbass tank. It's not as cheap as shrimp and other frozen foods, but it's non-live at least.
 
sorry guys when i said skinny.. i ment wait for there belly to go down some ;)
 
It takes a while to get them on pellets. For my first set up bass it took about a month and for my latest two it took about two months. In my experience, you have to not feed them until they get good and hungry before they will eat the pellets. Once one of them starts eating, the rest follow quickly because they are competitive. Having an Oscar or something in there that eats pellets will help in that regard.

Those guys can go a very long time without eating. I travel a lot and often leave them for a week without food and they are fine. In the wild, they often go for days without eating due to climatic conditions. The bigger they get, the longer they can go.

I would get them off feeders as soon as you can, both because of the hassle and the disease. Pellets make their colors better and are way less of a hassle. You might also try earthworms; mine ate those right away.
 
I have been feeding them about 4 feeders every day. They have some bulk almost like chunky little babies. I didn't know if they need to eat every day or every other day before their bodies start eating their own mass.

They didn't eat anything yesterday. I'll try scallops again this morning. Then a little shrimp this afternoon.
 
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