new P. menchacai from Colombia refuse any food

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R

red3dragon

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Oct 13, 2009
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ISRAEL
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Hi guys,

Any help would be greatly appreciated,

I recieved 2 P. menchacai (Tigerrays) a week ago. They came from a supplier from Colombia (wild caught) 7-8inch and still refuse any food. I tried frozen bloodworms and shreded market shrimp and also dry sinking food.

any suggestions?

temp. is 32 celcius
pH is 6.8-7.0
good filtration

The other fish in the same tank (3 baby Geophagus) look very healthy active and eating well so I suppose water parameters are fine.
The rays looking healthy with no skin damage/marks.

TNX AGAIN

here is some of my collection for you to enjoy (the new rays still not videotaped):

http://www.youtube.com/user/shanydav#p/u/7/Ea5MUUXshs4
 
When did you recieve them. Tigers like Flowers are very finicky when freshly imported. So
you must have patience and very clean water. Try cut up nightcrawlers/earthworms if they are
available in Isreal. Or even small whole redwigglers/troutworms. Red wigglers will live for a long time in the tank
so don't have to remove right away if not eaten. Keep lights off and even cover the tank
especially if it is in a high foot traffic area. Do you have live blackworms available or ghost shrimp. It is ideal
to have live (Not Goldfish) food available so they can eat at their leisure. Be sure to remove any uneaten foods
that can foul the tank after a few hours if they don't eat it.
Also be careful with the geos, I know that many people keep them but the can be stressing the new rays. When I
tried geos with my rays they tended to pick at the tip of the rays tails and since these are fresh imports they could
be stressing them or even eating the food.

Like I said Patience and clean water and as little stress as possible.
 
Thanks alot SHADOWSTRYDER,
In a few hours I will get some live Tubificid worms. They are similar to blackworms I think. If this will not triger anything I will try chopped earthworms and small live Caridina shrimps (ghost shrimps are not available here) as you said.
I keep doing daily water changes and vaccuming and the tank is already covered and kept dark & quiet.
I put the Geo's in the intention to have something like "a canary in a mine" something like a pre -alarm for any deterioration of the general condition of the tank but I will double check about them picking up on the rays.
THANKS AGAIN FOR YOUR FAST RESPOND AND GOOD ADVICE.

I will try to update as soon as I see any change so other members may get something from this experience.
 
For my flower and tiger I had to divide the tank and isolate them to get them to eat, they were so shy that they won't compete for food at all with any thing in the tank, even with each other. When they did finally eat, it was only live food blackworms and earthworms. Best of luck :)
 
Don't assume, but test to make sure your water is good. Blackworms to start is ideal, but Tubifex might do. I noticed my fish respond differently to them but it is worth a try. Tigers are lazy eaters so have patience with them.
 
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