Need help with Wild Caught fish...

[xEchOx]

So its been just over a week since I received 5 festae from rapps. They are still a bit skittish and they are still a bit beat up.

They definitely don't eat as much as I'd like them too. I thought by now I'd have fat bellies on all of them but so far, this is not the case. Are WC fish just harder to convert to pellets?

A few of the fish are banged up a bit and I'd like to add some salt to help protect some of these scrapes from infection, and in general to help the healing process. Is there any harm in adding a medicinal dose of aquarium salt to the tank?

I just added some more cover/decor to the tank to help with their shyness but is there anything else I can try?

 

[Blue Demp]

yeah, it's going to take some time. Try to feed some live worth and slowly ween them off live. Good luck!

 

[Dominator]

Wild caught festaes are fear of people. i don't recommend salt, i put 5 spoons of salt in a 29g and fish died due to internal infection this morning.

 

[Polyptasaurus]

they are definitely more difficult to get on pellets. they dont always convert to be honest. i caught some wild carp and baby pickerels once and they never converted, i eventually just got rid of them

 

[gnuisance]

try frozen bloodworms - I bet you can get them fat on those!

 

[xEchOx]

Wild caught festaes are fear of people. i don't recommend salt, i put 5 spoons of salt in a 29g and fish died due to internal infection this morning.

Kosher salt/Aquarium salt acts as a basic antibiotic. It does not cause infection. I was only worried about their tolerance or acclimation to it being as they are not accustomed to tap water, let alone salt.

 

[xEchOx]

they are definitely more difficult to get on pellets. they dont always convert to be honest. i caught some wild carp and baby pickerels once and they never converted, i eventually just got rid of them

Rough bro. I'm definitely not going to give up on these guys... cost me too much!

 

[xEchOx]

try frozen bloodworms - I bet you can get them fat on those!

That is my next try... hopefully they take a liking to something... its making me a bit nervous...

 

[Freshwaterpredators]

I have five WC and im getting two more tommorrow. and i havent had any problems feeding them. they eat everything i give them. but i also feed new arrivals frozen brine shrimp and bloodworms to get them eating. i feed twice a day, starting with flake and pellets then when im finished with all my tanks i come around with frozen. but i only give enough of each that is eaten. then again in evening, and all the festae i have ever owned take real good and grow fast. good luck. im sure they're wating just not in front of you.

i also think you would be fine adding some salt. keep up on w/c and if your still worried throw a lil malefix in. but they'll be fine. do you have any pics?

 

[1 ill g]

my wild festae from rapps took pellets on the first day and was never too skittish..

maybe try adding a few tank mates or dithers..