feeding a Volitan Lionfish ?

[stash]

just got it from a LFS yesterday...i asked the lady about feeding it, she said to feed it feeder fish.i asked about siversides which i alread have to feed my eel... no they perfer live fish....ok what to do ?
what to feed it and how the best way to get it eat ??
i had to buy it ...just to beautiful to leave in that itty bitty tank
help
thanks

 

[lion_crazz]

Definitely do not feed it feeder fish. This was terrible advice. Feeder fish (goldfish, rosies, and even guppies, if you give them enough of them) will cause fatty liver disease, a fatal disease that encases and enlarges the liver of the fish with fat.
Pick up some krill, prawn, mysis shrimp, squid (when it gets bigger), clam, mussel, and use the silversides you have and give it those things. It will be happy with a varied diet like that, and certainly, MUCH healthier.

 

[sepulatian]

I agree with Lion_crazz. If the fish is used to live then get some ghost shrimp. Put the ghost shrimp in a small tank or, if you are just getting a few, put them in a bowl. Add fresh garlic to them and let them sit for 30 mins to an hour. Then feed them to the fish. Get him used to the flavor of fresh garlic, then start soaking some frozen in garlic and feed a small amount of live with the frozen. This was not my creation, I believe it was nicetry that first posted this idea, but it is a great way to ween the fish to frozen.

 

[k-rok]

Yeah my lion has never eaten a live fish as long as I've had him. I feed silversides but now he hasn't eaten in a month or so. I'll have to try the garlic thing for him I guess. I use a "grabber" thing with orange "claws" to feed....now when my fish see that they know its time to eat. Hope that helps.

 

[hammerhed7]

get yourself a feeding stick, don't buy one, a piece of rigid airline tubing for a dollar will work, just cut the tip on an angle to make a slight point, then put the food on a stick (krill, squid, clam, silversides, etc) and wiggle the stick to make the food appear to be swimming. the lion should chase it if he is hungry enough, don't worry if he doesnt eat for a few days, it won't hurt him. in no time he will be eating from the stick, and as soon as he associates you and the stick with food he will be waiting at the top of the tank for dinner, in fact mine wont even chase the stick anymor, he just waits at the top for his food.
far too many lions die from eating feeder fish, once in a while a few live ghost shrimp or feeders wont hurt, but I dont feed them to my lion, and I only feed silversides occasionally because they are fatty too.
patience, and food variety are key. Most lions take to frozen foods quickly, and once they do they are not picky eaters.
Good Luck

 

[stash]

thanks for the info ....

 

[triga22]