So, my needle nose gar eats freeze-dried krill. Now what?

[MeiTnerium109]

I recently acclimated my needle nose gar (Xenentodon cancila) to krill. The problem is, though, I'm not sure whether or not this is a good staple. Is it? If not, what else could I give it? It has to be strongly intact (it can't break down) and capable of being swallowed in one piece.

In other news, I started feeding my knifefish, morymyrid, and other carnivorous fish HBH African Cichlid Attack Sinking Pellets. Is this sufficient for them? I've been feeding them frozens (bloodworms and shrimp) for years, but they've now become so expensive...

 

[hybridtheoryd16]

They are predators that eat fish only, in the wild.

So maybe some feeders from time to time would probably be beneficial to its diet.

Or maybe bye some fish fillets uncooked from the grocery and feed the needle small chunks of that.

I enjoy watching my predators predate so I would do feeders.

 

[MeiTnerium109]

They are predators that eat fish only, in the wild.

So maybe some feeders from time to time would probably be beneficial to its diet.

Or maybe bye some fish fillets uncooked from the grocery and feed the needle small chunks of that.

I enjoy watching my predators predate so I would do feeders.

Yeah, but the point was to wean him off feeders so I don't have to maintain them. Plus, my dad is vegetarian and convinced that feeding live is morally unattractive.

I was thinking I could maybe try silversides, I've heard a lot of people feed their predators that. I might try fish fillets but isn't there a chance they'll start to break apart when I put them in the water?

 

[hybridtheoryd16]

Yeah, but the point was to wean him off feeders so I don't have to maintain them. Plus, my dad is vegetarian and convinced that feeding live is morally unattractive.

I was thinking I could maybe try silversides, I've heard a lot of people feed their predators that. I might try fish fillets but isn't there a chance they'll start to break apart when I put them in the water?

everyone has there reasons. IMO if your that into vegatarianism then you should have gotten fish that eat only veg matter. Not predators that naturally eat other animals as part of there very existence.

But its just my opinion. And you have yours.

Fresh raw fish fillet will not fall apart in water. Unless it sets there long enough to rot. Like a few days.

Silver sides are another option. Some say not to use them because they are salt water fish. But some needle's live in salt as well so its probably fine.

 

[MeiTnerium109]

everyone has there reasons. IMO if your that into vegatarianism then you should have gotten fish that eat only veg matter. Not predators that naturally eat other animals as part of there very existence.

But its just my opinion. And you have yours.

Fresh raw fish fillet will not fall apart in water. Unless it sets there long enough to rot. Like a few days.

Silver sides are another option. Some say not to use them because they are salt water fish. But some needle's live in salt as well so its probably fine.

...I didn't say I was vegetarian, I said my dad was vegetarian. I'm against it; too much inconvenience for what it's really worth. Also, two more reasons for weaning off live: disease and nutrition.

And I was thinking about silversides, too. Not sure if my gar is big enough to eat them though... The minnows are about 1" when I feed and when purchased at the store, each piece of fish is roughly 1.5-2".

 

[furcifer158]

everyone has there reasons. IMO if your that into vegatarianism then you should have gotten fish that eat only veg matter. Not predators that naturally eat other animals as part of there very existence.

But its just my opinion. And you have yours.

Fresh raw fish fillet will not fall apart in water. Unless it sets there long enough to rot. Like a few days.

Silver sides are another option. Some say not to use them because they are salt water fish. But some needle's live in salt as well so its probably fine.

they eat fish in the wild just feed them that. If you want to feed frozen or what ever so it does not get parasites and what not, thats cool but really just get feeders and treat them. If you think feeders are bad for your gar your right goldfish and rosies really are not that great, mostly cuz of there slim coat and that the fattening. I feed my armatus cichlids cuz I hate goldfish.
Also congrats to even being able to get one of those to eat none live, I always heard it was impossible

 

[hybridtheoryd16]

...I didn't say I was vegetarian, I said my dad was vegetarian. I'm against it; too much inconvenience for what it's really worth. Also, two more reasons for weaning off live: disease and nutrition.

And I was thinking about silversides, too. Not sure if my gar is big enough to eat them though... The minnows are about 1" when I feed and when purchased at the store, each piece of fish is roughly 1.5-2".

Sorry man when I reread that today it sounded like I was being a d**k. That was not what i was trying for.

You could cut the silver sides into peices if needed. Or you can buy the right size feeders and freeze them to feed later for conveineince.

 

[MeiTnerium109]

they eat fish in the wild just feed them that. If you want to feed frozen or what ever so it does not get parasites and what not, thats cool but really just get feeders and treat them. If you think feeders are bad for your gar your right goldfish and rosies really are not that great, mostly cuz of there slim coat and that the fattening. I feed my armatus cichlids cuz I hate goldfish.
Also congrats to even being able to get one of those to eat none live, I always heard it was impossible

I wish I could feed him something better than minnows or goldfish, but that's all my LFS carries.

And thanks. Because of don't leave feeders in my tank, my gar naturally has attributed me, or rather, my net, with food. So, whenever I move over to the tank, he'll wait for me near the lid, and eat whatever I drop in there (without realizing what it is). The trick is to not letting him see what it is he's eating.

Sorry man when I reread that today it sounded like I was being a d**k. That was not what i was trying for.

It's alright. We've all done it before.

 

[zpetrichko]

why not try breeding guppies??

 

[Otherone]

Chances are your Gar won't eat off the bottom of the tank so anything that sinks probably won't work. Kudos on the krill. To ween my Arrowana off of live I used small chunks of silverslide on the end of a wooden skewer proped up in the tank by the lid.
Cyprinids - goldfish rosies comets etc.... contain an enzyme that inhibits vitimin b transfer, these guys shouldn't be a fishes only diet, in the long run it'll shorten your fishes life. Mollies are live breeders and a far better option for live foods. However if you can get the gar to eat off of wooden skewers - talapia chunks, earthworms, silverslides, and krill will give your Gar a good balanced diet w/out the use of live cyprinids. After they get used to the smell and taste, the skewers will be no longer nessasary.