SunCatfish Dilemma

[richardhmc]

I have a 8.5 in sun catfish in a 50 gallon wide tank at the moment.
The problem is that it just won't eat. I've tried frozen bloodworms, monster pellets, shrimp, flakes, and even live guppies. Nothing seems to make it want to eat.

It is in the tank all by itself, and a large piece of PVC pipe to make it its home which it always stays in.

a few days ago, I tranferred it from a 20 gallon to this 50 gallon since it needed more space and it began to spazz and twitch and swim everywhere. I thought it was going to die but it didn't.

What are some ways to make it eat? Thanks.

 

[SalmonAfrica]

Try feeding whe the lights are out. It may also help that you walk some way away from the tank. My catfish refuse to eat unless its 100% dark and I'm a good distance away.

 

[Cichla dude]

my 7'' sun cats the same way.

 

[blurock]

I never see my suncat eat, but if I take its driftwood out of the tank it has a fat lil belly, so I figure it eats. I feed bloodworms and sinking cichlid pellets.
Another thought to try would be try a bit of garlic extract... its supposed to help picky fish eat...

 

[Gene0514]

just try pushing the food into the pipe and turning off the lights. It'll eat eventually. My 2 sun cats were the same when I got them at 2-3 inches. Now they're almost 5 inch "monsters" who are very active and eat as soon as you throw food it no matter if the lights are on or off.

 

[HPIZZLE]

try throwing in a big ole chunk of fish fillet and turning out the lights. or try some brine shrimp (from hikari) and turn out the lights. he has to eat sooner or later.

 

[richardhmc]

The problem with my monster pellets are they dissolve after a few minutes.. so the catfish never gets it and with bloodworms, they disperse from their cubes into the filter

 

[Gene0514]

you could try taking small pieces of market shrimp and putting them into the pvc pipe where it hides

That usually works

 

[richardhmc]

Does the garlic trick work?

 

[blurock]

Does the garlic trick work?

I have heard it does, and I've asked a couple times... but I can't seem to find it around here... but as soon as I do, I'll tell ya'll since my little RTC isn't eating at the moment either