Pike feeding question

[jalepeno]

So I bought an atabapo II from my LFS. I debated back and forth for a week before picking up a nice 5" pike. I put him in a 180 gallon with a few other mostly non aggressive fish, and I sold some stock and moved some other fish around.

Well, the pike basically hasn't eaten as far as I can tell. He doesn't seem stressed, he dug out a little cave under some slate and chills out most of the time. once in awhile he comes out and swims around the tank. The other tankmates completely ignore him. He doesn't show interest in pellets, bloodworms, krill, flakes, or shrimp.

I called the LFS after a week to ask what they were feeding the pikes. They responded with, feeder goldfish. I said that when I bought him they told me they were eating pellets. The clerk said that the employee must have been mis-informed.

His belly doesn't look sunken at all, and his colours are still the same, very vibrant. I have little convicts ranging from a fraction of an inch on up to an inch in the tank. Could he be picking those off when he feels hungry? I haven't noticed a huge decrease in convict numbers but I have no idea how many I have in the tank, there are too many hiding places.

 

[Peanut_Power]

They are predators, and if they can make a meal of a live fish, they are probably gonna take it. So yes, it would be safe to assume the convicts are disappearing and being digested. LoL

 

[ryansmith83]

It's probably a safe bet that it's eating well on live fish in your tank, especially if they were feeding him live fish at the store.

I recently got a 5" saxatilis pike from my LFS and they were doing the same thing. The woman is very knowledgeable about fish but she told me when I bought him that I would always have to feed live. I set out to prove her wrong.

He took bloodworms after a couple days and I fattened him up in quarantine before moving him into a community setup with other cichlids. I feed that tank almost exclusively with pellets. It took over two weeks and lots of grabbing and spitting them out, but finally he caved and decided that pellets were wonderful. Now he's the first one out at feeding time and he stuffs as many into his face as he can.

 

[jalepeno]

I hope one day I can get him to eat a pellet. I'd be happy right now if he showed a little interest in food.

In a way though, if he just can manage to thin the convicts out a little, that would be cool with me

 

[FISHKILL PRODUCTIONS]

It took over two weeks and lots of grabbing and spitting them out, but finally he caved and decided that pellets were wonderful. Now he's the first one out at feeding time and he stuffs as many into his face as he can.

I need to hear stories like this. Gives me hope. I'm just not strong enough a person to keep from feeding my pikes what they want after a day or two of begging, and blank, confused stares.