Feeding dwarf lions
- Thread starter nazz13
- Start date
brandoncena
Member
i use to have a dwarf zebra and i had the same problem but try feeder guppies thats what i ended up getting mine to eat but after you start feeding him guppies he wont eat anything else except live fish
kanicky
Member
Please do NOT use goldfish or guppies. They are freshwater fish and will cause fatty liver disease in saltwater fish.
You should get a feeding stick and use silversides or some other hunk of raw meat (clam, mussel, crab, etc.) and wave it front of your lionfish, simulating live prey.
You should get a feeding stick and use silversides or some other hunk of raw meat (clam, mussel, crab, etc.) and wave it front of your lionfish, simulating live prey.
lion_crazz
Active Member
Originally Posted by Kanicky
Please do NOT use goldfish or guppies. They are freshwater fish and will cause fatty liver disease in saltwater fish.
You should get a feeding stick and use silversides or some other hunk of raw meat (clam, mussel, crab, etc.) and wave it front of your lionfish, simulating live prey.
I fully agree. Live feeder fish will do nothing but bad things to a saltwater fish.
Please do NOT use goldfish or guppies. They are freshwater fish and will cause fatty liver disease in saltwater fish.
You should get a feeding stick and use silversides or some other hunk of raw meat (clam, mussel, crab, etc.) and wave it front of your lionfish, simulating live prey.
I fully agree. Live feeder fish will do nothing but bad things to a saltwater fish.
jmesmcm
Member
I have only had my dwarf lion about two weeks but I have noticed that he doesn't like to eat when the halides are on. in order to get hime to eat I need to have only the actinics or nightlights on and then he will eat the mysis once it has fallen to the sand. So far he seems very timid about eating but is eating none the less.
promisetbg
Active Member
Live feeders is better than nothing for a start, just to get it to eat. It needs to eat something, and the stress of capture and moving the fish around causes it not to eat for sometimes weeks. Then you will need a feeding stick to train him onto frozen or fresh from the grocer food. Place the food on the stick & wiggle in front of his face. Dwarf zebras are one of the hardest lions to keep, success rate is low.
v-lioness
Member
Weaning a dwarf zebra is the same as a fuzzy dwarf, if your lion is young it needs foods, young lions can starve to the point of no return. They cannot go long without food.
I just got a young dwarf zebra
How long did the LFS have it before you brought it home?
Hmmmmm, Lions will normally go for ghost shrimp, the ghost shrimp need to be enriched before feeding them to your lion. Try feeding the ghost shrimp at night when the lights go out, see if your lion is hunting at night, it is possible your lion is eating pods or crabs, considering it is young.
Are you sure it is not hunting with the lights out?
Silversides may be to big for a young lion, see if you can pick up frozen sand eels, they are usually smaller than the silversides. Try small chunks of shrimp, Crab, Clams, Scallops, frozen mysis (see if it snaps at the food) anything until you can get this lion to eat. Don't give up try and try again. Young lions can be a challenge.
Try feeding with the lights out, make your frozen food look live, not a easy task but it can be done.
If you have to use live for now, so be it. Yes, live feeders can result in a nutritional deficiency, Yes, they can cause fatty degeneration but neither of these develop overnight, they develop overtime. Your lion is young it will be in more trouble not eating than feeding it live right now, It is a decision you need to make with this lion.
Kaye
I just got a young dwarf zebra
How long did the LFS have it before you brought it home?
Hmmmmm, Lions will normally go for ghost shrimp, the ghost shrimp need to be enriched before feeding them to your lion. Try feeding the ghost shrimp at night when the lights go out, see if your lion is hunting at night, it is possible your lion is eating pods or crabs, considering it is young.
Are you sure it is not hunting with the lights out?
Silversides may be to big for a young lion, see if you can pick up frozen sand eels, they are usually smaller than the silversides. Try small chunks of shrimp, Crab, Clams, Scallops, frozen mysis (see if it snaps at the food) anything until you can get this lion to eat. Don't give up try and try again. Young lions can be a challenge.
Try feeding with the lights out, make your frozen food look live, not a easy task but it can be done.
If you have to use live for now, so be it. Yes, live feeders can result in a nutritional deficiency, Yes, they can cause fatty degeneration but neither of these develop overnight, they develop overtime. Your lion is young it will be in more trouble not eating than feeding it live right now, It is a decision you need to make with this lion.
Kaye
mx#28
Active Member
How big is the lionfish? That can make substantial difference in what they’re willing to eat. Make sure the ghost shrimp you’re trying are not too large and intimidating for the fish. I would also try live brine shrimp and small feeder guppies. I agree with Kaye here – something is better than nothing. Liken the freshwater feeders to a Big Mac – a few are fine – but you don’t want to live on them. You couldn’t for very long
Also, it can take time to wean some lionfish from their nocturnal nature – try feeding late at night. Not just right when you turn the lights out, but maybe 3 or 4 hours later. I had to do this for a baby radiata lion for about 3 weeks before he was comfortable eating during the day.
Also, it can take time to wean some lionfish from their nocturnal nature – try feeding late at night. Not just right when you turn the lights out, but maybe 3 or 4 hours later. I had to do this for a baby radiata lion for about 3 weeks before he was comfortable eating during the day.
prk543
Member
if your lion is really small i would suggest possibly some mysis shrimp, but if it is large enough i agree with the above about trying small chuncks of frozen foods. While feeding live isn't great for the fish, it will stimulate a feeding response which could be what your lion needs.
As stated above, Dwarf lions are noctrunal, and will need to be trained to eat durring the day with the lights on.
-prk543
As stated above, Dwarf lions are noctrunal, and will need to be trained to eat durring the day with the lights on.
-prk543
nazz13
Member
last nite tried to feed him after i turned out the lights some live brine hes real small about 2 inches but he pays no attention doesnt move or nothing i have pretty much tried everything that everyone has wrote and stiil he wont eat.But i wont give up thanks to all.disregard newer post that i wrote i didnt see that i had some many responses to this 1 before i posted a new.
grabbitt
Active Member
My new fuzzy dwarf was being stubborn in the beginning as well... Eventually he resorted to eating the pieces of krill I would dangle in front of him with a toothpick (leaving my hand a little too close to the little guy than I am comfortable with), but if it's too big, he just starts choking it back up.