Baby dwarf lion feeding

[leftyblite]

Yesterday I was given a very small dwarf lion by one of my neighbors. He had bought it a couple of weeks ago and didn't realize that it and his trigger weren't compatable. He removed it from his tank after a few nipped fins and was going to try and return it when I came over. My dwarf lion died about a week ago and my neighbor said that I could have this one. My question is this. He is very small, maybe 1.5 inches at most and I'm not sure what to feed him. Should I try like the regular diet(shrimp, krill, silversides etc) that I had been feeding my other lion in just smaller sizes? Or is there something else I should try? He is currently in my QT tank. Any help and or advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[rcreations]

I would try some frozen foods like krill, silverside and so on, but in small chunks. If he eats that, you're in good shape. If not, feed it small ghost shrimp to start with.

 

[leftyblite]

I totally forgot about ghost shrimp. That is how I got my last lion to eat. My neighbor was feeding small live guppies.

I know not good. I'm going to hopefully wean him very soon.

 

[leftyblite]

No luck with the ghost shrimp. He investigated them but then swam away.

 

[srfisher17]

Originally Posted by leftyblite
http:///forum/post/2595931
I totally forgot about ghost shrimp. That is how I got my last lion to eat. My neighbor was feeding small live guppies.

I know not good. I'm going to hopefully wean him very soon.
Baby guppies, AS A LAST RESORT AND SHORT TERM, may be the only way to get this particular fish to eat; he's been through a lot. As soon as he's eating these, start weaning him onto the live ghost shrimp, then other foods. I've had good luck with small pieces of raw squid or shrimp, with fresh garlic, at this point. IMO, the harm from FW feeders comes over time, they are very fatty; or getting the fish so spoiled that he won't eat anything else. Live baby mollies, if you can find them, work great and are better than the guppies. A lot of folks I respect say never to FW feeders; but (again, IMO) I think sometimes they have a place.

 

[rcreations]

Guppies are unhealthy but dead is even unhealthier. So I agree, try some little guppies just to get it eating. Then switch to other things. Though to be honest... it's not a good sign that it's not eating ghost shrimp.

 

[srfisher17]

Originally Posted by RCreations
http:///forum/post/2598234
Guppies are unhealthy but dead is even unhealthier. So I agree, try some little guppies just to get it eating. Then switch to other things. Though to be honest... it's not a good sign that it's not eating ghost shrimp.
Yeah, unless I've missed something (not unusual), the main concern about FW feeders is that they (and all FW fish) are much fattier than SW; and this fat can build up, especially around the liver. I believe it is more of a long term problem, IMO,no fish is going to have problems eating a FW feeder every once in a while. I suspect a big part of the problem is that watching lions hunt live fish is great, so its done way too often. As a result, they not only get the fatty food, but miss the healthy stuff they need. I think, in all fish, but especially lions, variety and vitamins are the key to long term success. I suspect there may be valuable nutrients in the "innards" of their wild diet that they need to have replaced.

 

[leftyblite]

I'm hesistating to use FW feeders also but as said before its better than dead. I'm going to try one more time this morning and then if no luck i'm going to go to the LFS and get some small ones.

 

[srfisher17]

Originally Posted by leftyblite
http:///forum/post/2598432
I'm hesistating to use FW feeders also but as said before its better than dead. I'm going to try one more time this morning and then if no luck i'm going to go to the LFS and get some small ones.
IMO, don't worry. A short term eating FW feeders isn't going to hurt his liver any more than a martini or two, once in a while, will give me cirrhosis. If he scarfs them up, he should eat ghost shrimp; and after a good meal, he may go on a hunger strike in between.

 

[leftyblite]

Success!!!

I took a really small silverside and wved it around with a feeding stick today. He seemed curious and swam over to investigate, I released it near one of my powerheads and let the current take it so that it looked like a fish swimming in distress. He immediately snapped it up. I did this with a second one and the same thing happened. Hopefully I'm on the way to success. I still have to try and get him to eat other foods, so it is still a work in process, but its good news for now.

 

[srfisher17]

Originally Posted by leftyblite
http:///forum/post/2598970
Success!!!

I took a really small silverside and wved it around with a feeding stick today. He seemed curious and swam over to investigate, I released it near one of my powerheads and let the current take it so that it looked like a fish swimming in distress. He immediately snapped it up. I did this with a second one and the same thing happened. Hopefully I'm on the way to success. I still have to try and get him to eat other foods, so it is still a work in process, but its good news for now.

Great! The hard part is over, thinking food is alive is a real key to getting them eating. It shouldn't be long before he knows you bring food and will scarf all kinds of foods.

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by leftyblite
http:///forum/post/2598970
Success!!!

I took a really small silverside and wved it around with a feeding stick today. He seemed curious and swam over to investigate, I released it near one of my powerheads and let the current take it so that it looked like a fish swimming in distress. He immediately snapped it up. I did this with a second one and the same thing happened. Hopefully I'm on the way to success. I still have to try and get him to eat other foods, so it is still a work in process, but its good news for now.

That is how I got my lion to start eating frozen, except it was krill. He was only about an inch and a half as well. He eats anything now. Congratulations

 

[leftyblite]

Yeah, I'm really excited. I was worried because he is so small but think now he is on his way. My 6 year old just loves him. her favorite was my last lion and when he died, she cried. When she saw the new lion in my QT she just started jumping up and down. I was somewhat concerned with his size and had acutally not planned on another dwarf lion so soon, but for the price it was hard to resist, plus my last lion had a ton of personality and I'm hoping for the same. Thanks to all for the advice and support. I'll update again in a day or so when I try to feed again.

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by leftyblite
http:///forum/post/2599091
Yeah, I'm really excited. I was worried because he is so small but think now he is on his way. My 6 year old just loves him. her favorite was my last lion and when he died, she cried. When she saw the new lion in my QT she just started jumping up and down. I was somewhat concerned with his size and had acutally not planned on another dwarf lion so soon, but for the price it was hard to resist, plus my last lion had a ton of personality and I'm hoping for the same. Thanks to all for the advice and support. I'll update again in a day or so when I try to feed again.

It will not be unusual if he eats well for a week and then decides to only eat two or three times the following week. Mine did it, again he was the same size as yours. As long as he doesn't go without food for four or five days, there is no reason to worry. Post some pictures when you get a chance!

 

[leftyblite]

Originally Posted by sepulatian
http:///forum/post/2599130
It will not be unusual if he eats well for a week and then decides to only eat two or three times the following week. Mine did it, again he was the same size as yours. As long as he doesn't go without food for four or five days, there is no reason to worry. Post some pictures when you get a chance!
My last lion did that too, so I will not be toooo worried if it happens again. I got him to eat again today using the same method. The real test and or puzzle will come soon when I start trying different foods for him. I'm working on pictures right now hope to have some up soon.