new polypterus is not eating

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downset21

Fire Eel
MFK Member
Nov 6, 2005
1,211
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Quincy, MA
I just purchased an 8" polypterus (i'll have a pic because I'm not sure on ID). it's not eating yet and I've tried ghost shrimp, krill, silversides, earthworms, and pellets.. should i try dropping food in there at night? are they particularly picky eaters?
 
when i got my smaller (about 8") poly i got him eating first on bloodworms, then after a few days he started taking prawns and silversides aswell..
 
give it a little time to adjust and adding food at night would be better but then it would be harder to tell if hes eating
 
thanks a lot. He is still not eating and doesnt really move for that matter, but it's only been 2 days so we'll see what happens.
 
Two days isn't much. I recently picked up a small del that didn't eat the first two days.

It will snap out of the hunger strike on it's own.

A good idea would be to keep it in a Q tank and offer no food for a few days, that way there are no smells to keep it thinking it has a readily available supply of food. Then after a few days offer some and see what happens.

You should get a very excited to eat bichir using that method :D

hth
 
2 days aint much.
my lap didnt eat until 3 days after i got him.
my first ornate would go on regular 3-5 day hunger strikes.
 
I would try putting food in at night. I had a Lap that just refused to eat when the lights were on.
 
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