pellet training pikes
- Thread starter ssthor
- Start date
Hello,
May need a bit more information about the pike. Size, species, tankmates, feeding schedule (x's per day), and what kind of pellets are you feeding your other fish?
I would suggest dropping everything in the tank at once..worms and pellets..the same spot for a couple of days in a row. Try to soften the pellets with a small amount of tank water.
Then for 2 or 3 days after that, only feed pellets. If your pike doesnt take the pellets, he'll see all of the other inhabitants eating, and a few times afterwards he should hit the pellets. He may spit them out, but he'll hit them.
After those 2-3 days, add some worms with the pellets for one feeding, dont want him to starve too long.
Then for 2-3 days only feed pellets. Be consistant with the place you put the food, and make sure you dont give in to the fish. Pellets are the best staple diet for fish.
If the pike will eat frozen krill or frozen mysis shrimp, it will be easier on you if you place the pellets in a small plastic cup and place the frozen food on top to let the taste of the good stuff soak into the pellets. If you can feed them softer pellets(softened by a little bit of tank water and frozen food sauce) it'll be easier for them to crush it up and eat it.
Good luck
May need a bit more information about the pike. Size, species, tankmates, feeding schedule (x's per day), and what kind of pellets are you feeding your other fish?
I would suggest dropping everything in the tank at once..worms and pellets..the same spot for a couple of days in a row. Try to soften the pellets with a small amount of tank water.
Then for 2 or 3 days after that, only feed pellets. If your pike doesnt take the pellets, he'll see all of the other inhabitants eating, and a few times afterwards he should hit the pellets. He may spit them out, but he'll hit them.
After those 2-3 days, add some worms with the pellets for one feeding, dont want him to starve too long.
Then for 2-3 days only feed pellets. Be consistant with the place you put the food, and make sure you dont give in to the fish. Pellets are the best staple diet for fish.
If the pike will eat frozen krill or frozen mysis shrimp, it will be easier on you if you place the pellets in a small plastic cup and place the frozen food on top to let the taste of the good stuff soak into the pellets. If you can feed them softer pellets(softened by a little bit of tank water and frozen food sauce) it'll be easier for them to crush it up and eat it.
Good luck
Not to thread jack but to join in. I've been doing all of what you said for weeks and weeks and nothing.. And i mean everything you said.
What type of pellets are you using? My 4 lents wont touch NLS but crush Hikari Massivore, and I used the exact method stated above to get them on a straight pellet diet.
Many kinds. NLS large fish, Xtreme big fella, omega one shrimp, nutrafin shrimp, hikari predator, random vegitable based tablets.
Sent from my cave
@ Runitis, you may be confusing your pike with all of the different types of pellets. I would suggest Massivore, and then work off of that. If Massivore is to large for your pike, you can cut the pellets in half. Too many different foods, and they may not know what they are supposed to be eating. Hopefully you'll get them to take Massivore, its supposed to be the last step for stubborn fish.
@ ssthor, I would try to see if your pike eats frozen krill or mysis shrimp. Those should have better nutrient value than worms, unless you grow your own worms which is a pain. It will also allow you to soak pellets in the frozen food sauce, to get that taste on the pellets as stated above. Your other fish will enjoy the extra flavor as well. Hopefully your pike will come around, it just takes some persistance and trickeration!
Good luck