New Flower Pup Won't Eat

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo

swedeboy78

Candiru
MFK Member
Sep 21, 2011
778
48
46
My crib
So I finally got a hold of a Flower. She's 5" or so and I've had her for a day now and although she's somewhat active she is showing no interest in food. This worries me cause all my rays always eat immediately, sometimes while in the bag!

Is it more common for new Flowers not to eat?

She seems healthy, little skinny but no bones showing.


Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
 
Damn, 5"?

When I got my flower ray, it took me about two weeks to get her eating. I've tried everything. Black worm and ghost shrimp got her eating. I would also do a treatment of prazi-pro, just in case.


Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
 
Give it some time and try what she was eating before.

Sent from my DROIDX using MonsterAquariaNetwork App
 
flowers are one of the most notoriously difficult rays to raise (no pun intended) I have kept two, after having kept rays for years, and still found them to be the most stressful to get totally stable.
Flowers are one of the few species of stingray that are almost impossible to breed in captivity, because of that, 99% of the ones coming into the US are wild caught. This means that they have a much higher chance of having parasites, which can lead to decreased appetite and eventually death. Both the flowers I kept, came in with parasites even after the wholesaler (whom I trust) had treated them.
Since you've only had her a day, I would let her relax for at least another 3 with low lights, no tank mates, and pristine water. After a while, try throwing in some black worms. If she eats, great, if not, you may have a problem, but I have had pups starve themselves for a week before eating and then turn out great, so you never know. If you notice green stringy feces in the tank, this is usually a sign on internal parasites, in which case, you should treat with Prazi Pro. Hope this helps, good luck with her, they are IMO one of the most beautiful rays and very rewarding to own once they are stable in your tank.
 
Thanks fellas!
She has been treated according to the seller but I'll keep an eye on her.
Lights were off for the first day but I'll leave it off for a couple more.

She was eating black worms for the sellers so I know she's not hopeless.

Here she is:


Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app

ImageUploadedByMonsterAquariaNetwork1362960639.248572.jpg
 
Black worms wil definetly get ur ray eating worked for my 1st ray which was a 4.5" rectic wouldn't eat anything until I put blackworms in there
 
MonsterFishKeepers.com