To Feed or Not to Feed?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
ShadowStryder

ShadowStryder

Bronze Tier VIP
MFK Member
Apr 4, 2007
6,365
971
749
Nunya
That is my question. As some of you know I have a 9" marm that I have been trying to get on prepared foods since I aquired her 5 months ago. This recent try has it at 10 days without food. I have tried all the suggestions from multiple varieties of pellets to frozen and freeze drieds. Krill and Mysis shrimp and salad shrimps soaked in minced garlic and all types of worms. Placed in front of power heads
also.
She still turns her nose to them. I know she is hungry cause she is very active swimming and looking in all the corners, all around the top looking for feeders.
My question is how much longer should I wait before I should give her at least one feeder?
I don't want her to emanciate on me.
This is turning out to be a power of wills.
And by the way I have finally got my Johanna and Xingu I on pellets.
2 down and 1 not willing to budge.
 
Is she in with the other pikes? What is she in with? Sometimes puttin them with fish that are already eating certain foods helps them learn to try and eat them. I've fasted my pikes for almost 16 days before trying to get them to eat. If she hasn't eaten in 14 days, give her two or three feeders. But GUT LOAD the feeders. Its not exactly enjoyable, but you'll need to do it. Not only will it help her get a more rounded nutritional diet, but it will also allow her to taste those other foods. You'll have to PHYSICALLY gut load them....either puree the pellets and inject it into the belly of the feeders, or some other way.
 
She is in with a 8" female Johanna, 6.5" Xingu I, 4 Viejas, 1 neet, and 1 male Nicarquense and 4 Silver dollars.
All others eat prepared foods including the other pikes.
I will give her another 4 days then do as you suggested.
Should I go ahead and start starving her again afterwards?
 
Give her a week to fatten up on fish first, as she is still young and doesn't have much of a 'fat' reserve per say. Then start the process. How are you feeding her live foods though and the other pikes eating them as well? Almost seems like it would be a step back for all of them. Perhaps you may need to isolate her....maybe she isn't gettin enough of a chance TO eat the prepared foods.
 
I was wondering the same thing about her getting a chance. I put extra pellets and other foods to make sure there is plenty and pull extras out after and hour or so.
She swims to the pellets and other foods, but shows no interest in them. She doesn't even take them in her mouth. Where the other pikes took them in then would spit them out, I didn't really have to starve them but a few days, cause they would eat worms and krill.
But if I was to throw a feeder in with her, she hits it before the others could even think about it.
I always feed the other pikes till they show no interest in more, then I would throw the feeders to her.
 
Maybe you should give her to me for a few days...lol!! ;)

Move her to another tank, sometimes changes can be the catalyst to get them to eat...or not to eat. Its iffy either way. Might have to just gut load your minnows/feeders with vitamins and other foods.....:(. Feeding plain feeders is a bad idear, definately don't feed goldfish. If you can, feed her shinners, shad, catfish fillets, convicts, africans....hybrids....lol
 


Thats what I am figuring ( bout the feeders) Wont give up just yet.
I can be a bull head myself.
I don't really want to move her from the other pikes cause they seem to be doing so well together. Afraid it will mess up the chemistry they have so far.
Ive read and heard of people who couldn't convert them.
She probably has never eaten anything other than live fish before.
She just looks at the prepared foods, even watching the other fish eat the same things she is looking at.
 
Its kinda odd, cuz I've never had a pike that hasn't eventually converted to some form of conventionaly prepared foods. Either frozen, pellets, or wafers, they always seem to take it. I guess your marm is just super stubborn! LoL!
 
She is a stubborn B**CH
 
None of my svenis will touch pellets. My lentic on the other hand loves them.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom