Smallmouth refuses feeders

[jakessvx1]

Hey everyone

I have a smallmouth bass that I have been raising for about 3 months. He's about 4" and I got him at about 2". He pellet trained very quickly and in addition I feed him frozen bloodworms, frozen brine shrimp, and live earthworms. He has not seen a feeder since I have had him, until yesterday when I received me long nose gar in the mail. I put a couple 3/4" Gambusia in there for the gar, which I plan to feed him till I can ween him off. Anyway, the gar ended up getting both of them but it took about an hour and the bass wouldn't touch them, which I'm fine with. I was just wondering if anyone has experienced a predatory fish that isn't predatory anymore? Does it last? Can it be trusted?


Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app

 

[MN_Rebel]

I had an juvenile bullhead that won't touch feeders and it is odd sight to see a full grown brown bullhead chilling out with guppies, tetras and corydoras in same aquarium. Never lost single fish to her. Even housed a betta with her, had to remove him from the tetras that were nipping on his fins.

 

[divemaster99]

I've tried offering dead (frozen that I thawed) minnows to my bullhead but he won't touch them. He's mainly a pellet guy now. Not weird IMO, they've just adapted to what they're now used to eating.

 

[Gill Blue]

it can be trusted as long as it lasts, after that, not so much. smb are active hunters, I wouldn't count on it lasting too long.

 

[MN_Rebel]

I've tried offering dead (frozen that I thawed) minnows to my bullhead but he won't touch them. He's mainly a pellet guy now. Not weird IMO, they've just adapted to what they're now used to eating.

that said, many predators don't like frozen minnows but loves frozen silversides. I know I tried frozen minnows but with limited success.