weaning pike off live food

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baracuda

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Oct 2, 2005
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SoCal
Whats the best way to wean my pike off live food? I have an orange pike and another pike (not sure what kind but has alot of green) and the orange took krill right away even though it was being fed feeders at the lfs. The green pike however wont take krill and i got it about 2 weeks ago, it was also on feeders at the lfs. I tried fd krill, frozen krill, cichlid gold, silversides, but he wont take it only feeders. So I would like to know how to get it to eat these foods because i dont want it to get a disease from the feeders. thanks.:)
 
have you tried starving them? Thats your best option. Don't given in no matter what
 
My Pike also was fed Feeders at the LFS,but after a week of starving he eats any and everything,try Plankton,Raw Shrimp(my Pike loves this)and Smelt,my Pike also takes cooked Shrimp,and even Hamburg!!Also try raising the temp a bit,I've been told to also get some mid level swimming fish that will feed floating food(i used 2 Red Hooks)this really helped as it seemed my Pike figured it was safe to come out and eat,Good luck!!Dont give up!!:naughty:
 
mine took one and a half week to eat frozen shrimp .. brought him home at 4.5" long a month ago ... he's the pig of the tank now at 5" and fatter ...
 
Patience....its very important. Without it, you will not succeed. Fasting your pike is one of your best options. Continue to feed your other fish, but don't put any live feeders in the tank. Continue this for 5 days. If by then your pike hasn't tried to eat the food, feed it some feeders, then repeat the process for 6 days. Gradually increase the days of fasting until the pike is eating the other food with regularity. Keep your temps in the 80's if possible as this will help to fight off any parasites and what not that might be included during feedings. Make sure you try to use a variety of foods, as it presents more of a possibility that the pike will eat it. Experiment, there are no boundries...;). I've never known of a pike to starve itself to death, they are gluttons.
 
Thanks guys I will try to starve it longer and feed different foods. this little guy is stubborn. I had one just like him a couple of months ago that took krill and shrimp right away but sadly i lost that one in a power outage along with some other fish. So now i bought this one and the orange pike to start over. :)
 
Score on startin over with pikes!! yay!! On a side note, might could be a good idea to get a portable gas powered generator or battery powered air pump incase this power outage thingy might could happen again.
 
Peanut_Power;607912; said:
Score on startin over with pikes!! yay!! On a side note, might could be a good idea to get a portable gas powered generator or battery powered air pump incase this power outage thingy might could happen again.
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Hahaha yea i love pikes they are awsome gluttons. I will look into buying a generator cuz i wouldnt want it to happen again. Thanks peanut!!!:headbang2
 
Its eating krill!!!! yay!! Today it started eating krill i guess it was very hungry lol. Thanks for the advice MFKers. Once again it worked. :)
 
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