Polypterus Ornate overeating

[Vettech716]

I have an Ornate polypterus that I currently buy feeders for a couple of times a week. Usually I just buy 2 dozen roseys and 2 dozen smaller goldfish (there's another Polypterus and a large Mpimbwe Frontosa in the tank) but this time I bought 4 dozen goldfish. I came home yesterday and noticed that she was a little full. Today it's worse. She swims and is active for as huge as she is currently. I've never had her do this before so I'm a little concerned about her being this full. Size wise she is between 14 and 15inches. She's 3ish (I got her in 2013). Has anyone else had this happen? Do I need to be concerned. Obviously I'm not going to be purchasing any feeders for a few days. If I had to guess I'd say she ate 2 dozen 1" goldfish by herself.

 

[Vancouver_98683]

Make it easier on feedings. No food for 3-4 plus days to fast. Then get her on sinking pellets and cut up tilapia. Feeder fish is not necessary in my opinion.

 

[Vettech716]

My preference would be not to spend the extra money on feeders but I can't get her to eat anything else. She's been picky like this since day one. The delhezi will eat whatever is put in the tank, including other polypterus. Maybe I should stick to roseys instead of goldfish which are a bit a bigger?

 

[DMD123]

A lot of captive fish dont seem to have an 'off' mode when it comes to feeding. This is an example where you need to control the amount of food available since it cant control its eating. Like Vancouver mentioned get that fish on tilapia and pellets and then you can portion control her meals.

 

[Hoplo]

As said get off live feeders, and I would feed just once or twice a week until it looses a lot of it's weight.

 

[Vettech716]

If she would eat something else I'd feed her that but she will not. I've tried all the suggestions out there. She's a little brat.

 

[DMD123]

If she would eat something else I'd feed her that but she will not. I've tried all the suggestions out there. She's a little brat.

Your 'little brat' will absolutely eat something else. A healthy fish will not starve itself to death. You have been giving in to the fish and it has trained you on what it likes. Put it on a diet and feed nothing but pellets and guess what? It will eat the pellets. Ive trained wild caught bichirs to accept pellets with very little effort and Ive had super stubborn feeders like my weeksii that Ive trained to eat what I feed it. It can be done! Your giving up way too soon.

 

[Dr.B]

+1 on giving up feeders. Just because kids don't eat broccoli right away doesn't mean you give up and let then eat candy. It might take a while but it's Definitley doable to train your ornate onto pellets or other healthier foods.

 

[Dr.B]

I would Definitley watch your ornate for bloat, but as long as you monitor the ornate and make sure that she digests it, she should be fine. Understandably you have to feed the other fish so try to watch and make sure the ornate doesn't eat too many when you feed the others.

 

[HumanBean]

My preference would be not to spend the extra money on feeders but I can't get her to eat anything else. She's been picky like this since day one. The delhezi will eat whatever is put in the tank, including other polypterus. Maybe I should stick to roseys instead of goldfish which are a bit a bigger?

Shrimp pellets is the missing key. Smelly the better