New pick ups.
- Thread starter Blaz1n1t
- Start date
Generally 5" mark is good to start training onto dead foods and pellets. I wouldnt suggest anything smaller than that.
I'll agree that starving them right off the bat is dangerous, as the fish is most likely stressed and not comfortable ... however, trying a couple pellets for the first few days is not a bad idea, especially if there are other fish in the tank that do eat pellets ... its more difficult to get a fish off something he's already eating .... I'm also a firm believer that a tank change can often get the fish out of his comfort zone, and can break habits, so I think trying pellets for the first few days is a great idea, if no takes on pellets then try tilapia or silversides, then finally, if no success try live ... the Armatus I currently have was very small 3-4 inches when I got him, and the pet store said he'll only eat live and laughed when I said I wanted him on pellets ... within 2-3 days of getting him home he was eating sinking carnivore pellets ... I probably got lucky, but theres something to trying to break a fish right away before feeding anything else ... first 2 Armatus I got also only ate live, and I got them on silversides .... 1 started on the first day, the other took almost a week ... most pet stores dont overfeed, like many of us do, thus when the fish gets home and settles it is already very hungry, perfect time to hope for an instinctive strike .... dont get me wrong, it can be risky and dont starve, as the fish is already trying to cope with being moved and adjusting to new water, just watch carefully, and if he looks stressed then get him eating right away ... if he looks comfy then hold off on live and try pellets and frozen ... I also understand its scary getting a new fish, and getting him to eat right away is very reassuring that he's going to make it, but like I said, getting a fish off something he is comfortable eating is more difficult than starting right off the bat
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