Hello all,
I have a 75 gallon native tank with 2 red ear sunfish recently collected from a spring-fed river. We also collected a bluegill from the same location, and she is doing just fine. The red ears (shell crackers) are not eating, and only one of the two shows any interest in food at all. This is day 3 that they have been with us and haven't eaten.
We've offered: live ghost shrimp, live earthworms (on which they were caught), freeze dried mysis shrimp, floating cichlid pellets and flakes, and a frozen food called Cichlid Delight comprised mainly of turkey heart.
I know that these fish are primarily bottom feeders that love mollusks and crustaceans, but does anyone have any ideas on a food which may entice them to eat? Also, how long should I wait before returning them to the wild if they will not eat?
I have a 75 gallon native tank with 2 red ear sunfish recently collected from a spring-fed river. We also collected a bluegill from the same location, and she is doing just fine. The red ears (shell crackers) are not eating, and only one of the two shows any interest in food at all. This is day 3 that they have been with us and haven't eaten.
We've offered: live ghost shrimp, live earthworms (on which they were caught), freeze dried mysis shrimp, floating cichlid pellets and flakes, and a frozen food called Cichlid Delight comprised mainly of turkey heart.
I know that these fish are primarily bottom feeders that love mollusks and crustaceans, but does anyone have any ideas on a food which may entice them to eat? Also, how long should I wait before returning them to the wild if they will not eat?
