Baby Lionfish (Need help)

[blueturtle]

Well this is the fourth day since I've gotten my lil Volitan Lionfish, he's a lil guy, bout 2 1/2 inches in body length. Now my issue is this.... he hasn't eaten. Well except for whatever he's pecking at on the rocks. Don't know if he's getting anything or what oughtta that. I've bought some frozen Krill and Silversides, both of which I have to break off due to them being too big for him. I also purchased a small acrylic tube to try to slip the food in to feed him, he's not buying that, he just scatters away. I've heard about the Ghost shrimp idea but I don't like the idea of having them die in my tank all over, plus they might be too big for him also. Any ideas, I'm totally open for suggestions! I've done some serious research, but nothing tells ya how to feed a tiny Lionfish.

 

[wanabebell]

first off relax your lion will be fine
second ghost shrimps will not die in saltwater (in their life cycle they go from salt to brackish then to fresh or vice versa
I would try mysis too being that small he might be interested in it
and if that dosent work then maby a peice of sand eel might work
good luck

 

[blueturtle]

Thanks I'll try out the Ghost shrimp then, hopefully the lil guy can get em before the Triggers. Yes, they get along fine together hehe. I've gotten flamed for keeping Triggers with a lion, thought I'd just put out that they are doing fine together. But if anyone else has any suggestions other than Ghost shrimp, I'm all ears.

 

[lion_crazz]

Do the ghost shrimp. The lion won't get them before the trigger. You will have to hand feed him at first to get him used to eating in captivity if you have triggers in there. What kind of triggers do you have him with?

 

[v-lioness]

It may be getting pods if you have LR, you can try the mysis to see if the lion will snap at it, frozen sand eels are usually smaller than silversides.
I agree with the ghost shrimp BUT you need to feed the ghost shrimp something nutritional before putting them in your tank. Other wise your lion really gets nothing nutritional from them, feed the ghost shrimp something like cyclopezee, flake food or pellets.
If you have triggers (what kind?) you can wait until the lights are off to drop the ghost shrimp, your lion will hunt at night.
Kaye

 

[blueturtle]

Good news!! I split a piece of Krill drew through it with a needle and fish line all the way till only fish line was present. Dipped it in, wiggled a bit, and he snapped it up. (Talk about being creative) .Now it looks as though he's having trouble eating it, but I think that that is normal? Has the tail of shrimp hanging out his mouth and looks as though he's gobbling it in and out. He's not letting go of it so I think that has to be the way they eat.
Oh to answer your question, I have him in an aquarium with Nigers, the most docile (argueably) of Triggers.

 

[seannmelly]

if he hasnt eaten anything dead yet try live, thats the only way i could get mine to eat when i had 1 he was about 5 inches though he didnt eat anything dead for a month, i tried everything. he was starting to get skinny so i fed some live feeders and he went to town on them.

 

[v-lioness]

Good Job, If you keep this lion on the krill make sure it is soaked in vitamins, next try the silverside, raw shrimp, crab, clam, scallops and so on.....
Oh to answer your question, I have him in an aquarium with Nigers, the most docile (argueably) of Triggers.
LOL.... you mean more docile than aggressives but not as docile as others ..... they are medium aggressives.... LOL But so is the Pinktail which I have had with my lions for a few years. Good luck with the mix, it will depend on the individual fish.
Kaye

 

[blueturtle]

Gah!!!! The Lion has spit the shrimp out! This guy is really trying to give me heart ache

 

[v-lioness]

Try again tomorrow, it will eventually come around, also try a smaller chunk....lol
Kaye

 

[blueturtle]

OK will do, thanks all for the help. Just getting a bit nervous, don't wanna lose the guy to starvation.

 

[lion_crazz]

What shrimp did he spit out? The ghost shrimp??

 

[v-lioness]

It spit out the krill........
Kaye

 

[lion_crazz]

Oh, thanks for clearing that up. I still stand behind using the gut-loaded ghost shrimp until he becomes comfortable and aggressive in the tank.

 

[blueturtle]

Gutpacking Ghost shrimp now, hopefully this works out. Poor Lionfish hasn't eaten in at least 5 days. I'll keep you all informed, hoping for the best.

 

[blueturtle]

Well he ate 3 Ghost shrimp, so I think that's a good meal for him since he's only 1 1/2 in to 2 in. I'm ecstatic, now I don't have to worry about him dying due to not eating. Thanks all for you help!

 

[lion_crazz]

There you go. I am happy to hear he is eating. Now, continue to feed him ghost shrimp until he gets comfortable. Then try some frozen foods like krill, silversides, and mysis shrimp.

 

[v-lioness]

I agree, feed ghost shrimp if you have to but try the frozen again tomorrow or friday. Good move gut loading first.....

Kaye

 

[unleashed]

i do reccomend the mysis shrimp also its much smaller and packed with more protein than all the other foods your offering.how i got my smaller lion to eat to begin with was i would hold a chunk of frozen mysis in front of the powerhead as it thaws it will blow out as if it were swimming.thats how i get them used to dead foods.you can also add a drop or 2 of garlic extreme on the mysis shrimp the scent may help get his attention.

 

[v-lioness]

Did you try feeding the frozen again? If so how did your lion do?
Kaye