How to handfeed the bichirs?

[Stas]

Hi all. I got my first 4 senegals about a week ago, they are between 4-5'' and live in a 300l (about 80 gal) planted tank. Since then I'm working on handfeeding them, with some success - they don't take the food from my hands yet, but gather very close to my fingers and catch it when my patience runs out and I release the food. I'm feeding them with pieces of defrosted shrimp and squid.
I wonder if there are any tricks that make the training process easier, or it's just a lot of patience - waiting for the bichirs to get used to the hand ?
Did anyone train their bichirs to do some other cool stuff? It is really a fascinating fish

 

[beblondie]

it's just a lot of patience - waiting for the bichirs to get used to the hand-Anne

 

[Stas]

I thought so . . .

 

[beblondie]

Now the downside of handfeeding is everytime your hand is in the tank they will be right there waiting and looking for food lol but it can be fun too-Anne

if they bite you insted fthe food it doesn't hurt it not much more than a pinch

 

[mcblack]

be patient before i was handfeeding my endy took some time before they get use to it, and if they do, whenever you place your hand above the tank they will think its feeding time

 

[Stas]

if they bite you insted fthe food it doesn't hurt it not much more than a pinch

- that's part of the fun, that's for sure
Thank you guys for the replies.

 

[meatorchid]

if they bite you insted fthe food it doesn't hurt it not much more than a pinch

i'd have to disagree there - my ornate has drawn blood from my hands and arms on several occasions... i stopped handfeeding after the first time.

of course, hes also quite a bit larger.