After weeks of research and thought, I finally picked up a juvie (about 4 inches long). I asked the guy if they were pellet trained and he said yes, they feed them pellets and feeders. I have had him for two days​ and he has yet to eat. I have tried freeze dried bloodworms/krill/shrimp and carnivore pellets.... nothing. I am reluctant to do feeders after losing a breeding pair of jags to disease from feeders. He can be pretty active at times, exploring the tank and movin around. I chose him because he was streamlined and had good colors. I kept away from ones with big ole bellies or faded colors... I am thinkin now maybe I shoulda gone with one with a big full belly? I know it takes fish days, sometimes weeks, to start eating in a new tank. I just want to make sure I am doing this right, I dont want him to starve, I thought for sure a big freeze dried krill would be up his alley but he didnt even bite at it. Any advice on feeding, or enticing a juvie to eat? Thanks in advance for the help!
Stressed about my new RTC Shovelnose cross
- Thread starter cwj108
- Start date
Don't worry, he'll be fine. Give him a few more days. Sometimes it might take up to a week before they accept food. You also could try soaking the food in garlic if you want, that sometimes helps.
Congrats on your new rtc x tsn btw
Congrats on your new rtc x tsn btw
Why? If you explain why, I may understand. As it stands, a fish that feeds well = healthy fish, a huge plus at any LFS.
It may puke from stress and spoil the water in transport - that's one reason but it can be taken care - either have them hold the fish for you and not feed it or have more water in the trasport vessel, like take a large cooler with you, and/or add a pH buffer and ammonia detoxifier.
I think he will be fine. Does he look thin? I cannot tell from that pic but the skin on the skull may be a bit too thin.
It may puke from stress and spoil the water in transport - that's one reason but it can be taken care - either have them hold the fish for you and not feed it or have more water in the trasport vessel, like take a large cooler with you, and/or add a pH buffer and ammonia detoxifier.
I think he will be fine. Does he look thin? I cannot tell from that pic but the skin on the skull may be a bit too thin.
I had read on a few forums and the guy at the shop said that it was good to look for a streamline, balanced weight TSN/RTC but after a couple of hours of reading tonight, im leaning towards your opinion of a full fish is a healthy fish. This one had some of the richest color over all and isnt thin, but he isnt beefy either.
Sure, colors are important too. Decisions, decisions for all of us... 
Activity and demeanor is important. A struggling, discomforted, sick fish exhibits certain look and behavior, mostly learned from experience but there are some general pointers, like clamped fins = likely quite sick. Not moving (for a fish that's constantly on the move) = likely sick or at least needs to be observed more. Beat up, underfed while its kin in the same tank looks well fed and healthy = likely probems. Etc.
Activity and demeanor is important. A struggling, discomforted, sick fish exhibits certain look and behavior, mostly learned from experience but there are some general pointers, like clamped fins = likely quite sick. Not moving (for a fish that's constantly on the move) = likely sick or at least needs to be observed more. Beat up, underfed while its kin in the same tank looks well fed and healthy = likely probems. Etc.
Generally the better fed they are the better unless they puke, but like said above, that can be taken care of. He should be fine though. They are voracious eaters. Give him another day or so and I'm SURE he will be eating everything. Maybe try some sinking pellets. He may not like the consistency of the freeze dried krill. I know I wouldn't if I were a fish. Ha
I hate hikari in general.. but Massivore worked great for converting my cats from live to pellets/dead, just crush it up. mine also go nutters for smelt, just cut it up into small peice. bloodowrms are junk.. krill may work, I found frozen more readily taken..
if your afriad of live you might also try nightcrawlers cut up... the wiggleing may entice it to eat.. and they are much less likely to contain contaminants and almost nil xfer for bacterias ect, the biggest issue is makeing sure they are clean of pesticied ect. I have fed out the DWF brand from canda for years now to my fish ( some almost eclusively eat them) and never had an issue. BUt I would use this after trying the other foods mentioned.
Just a warning once he starts eating like a horse... he will grow faster then anything I've ever seen. Mine broke 12" in under 6 monthes, and started at 2" The RTC I had didn't even grow like this.
if your afriad of live you might also try nightcrawlers cut up... the wiggleing may entice it to eat.. and they are much less likely to contain contaminants and almost nil xfer for bacterias ect, the biggest issue is makeing sure they are clean of pesticied ect. I have fed out the DWF brand from canda for years now to my fish ( some almost eclusively eat them) and never had an issue. BUt I would use this after trying the other foods mentioned.
Just a warning once he starts eating like a horse... he will grow faster then anything I've ever seen. Mine broke 12" in under 6 monthes, and started at 2" The RTC I had didn't even grow like this.