feeding new lionfish

[debbie]

My lionfish I have had for 2 days now. I was told they were being fed bringshrimp where they were shipped in from. I have offered it some brine but will not take it. I have offered small bits of krill to but nothing.
He is our and about in the front, perches on a rock in the front so it does not seem really shy to me.
Would these fish prefer being fed at night when the lights are out?
One thing that i did today was get rid of two nasty, nasty pink damsels that were causing trouble in the tank. So maybe he needs to feel comfortable now that they are gone.
Any info would be great.
Deb

 

[jcrim]

I'd try some live ghost shrimp. Most aggressives cannot resist. In time you'll want to wean it onto frozen food but the shrimp should help to get him started.

 

[debbie]

Thanks, but we don't have those shrimp here where I live and when I contacted the LFS they told me to be patient as they were never fed live foods of any kind. So will it eventually take when it is hungry?
Deb

 

[mitzel]

I'm having this same issue with my fuzzy dwarf. He snaps up the live food but doesn't even move for the frozen brine or either of my special frozen mixes.

 

[rberhow]

Debbie and Mitzel-here are a few ideas for you. HOpe you can find something that works and definitely let us know, how it goes and what works.
Here is some general advice on how to get dwarf lions to switch over that I have gathered over the last few months in preperation for ours and then for switching him over. Hope you can find some info in there that will help.
Live fish such as guppies, goldfish, and such are not good in the long run for him. They will lead to fatty liver disease and cause death. They are ok on an occasional basis as a treat and to start him out but you will need to convert him over to frozen meaty foods. There are many different methods to do this, if he isn't converted already.
One is to soak his live food in selcon, zoecon, or garlic before feeding to him. Then slowly add in silversides soaked in the same. ONce you have him eating non-live food, you can try things like mysis shrimp, krill, or any other meaty food. You may have to soak them as well at first to get him to take notice.
Another is once you have him settled in your tank and eating the live food, you can skip feeding him for a couple of days. Then get some silversides (I have to rip mine in half since they are too long for him to swallow in one gulp) and dangle them at the surface of the water. When he looks interested and about to snatch it up, let go and he will grab it. Let him digest for awhile and then give him another. This is the method that worked for us.
Another is to get him used to a feeding stick. Place the live food on the stick and have him come to the stick to grab it. Once he is used to this, switch over to frozen foods on the stick.
Hope you find something that works for you guys. Rhonda

 

[debbie]

Yippee.....

My Fuzzy is eating frozen brine. What I did was last night when the lights went out of course they are on the prowl. I had a light on by the computer so I could see a tiny bit of what he was doing. I shut off my filters and dropped some brineshrimp in one area that he was, he stocked it and then gulped it down. So exciting.
This morning he is of course perched on a rock, so I did the same thing with the filters again plus shut the lights off for a bit. Dropped the brineshrimp with some krill to and in no time he was right there and ate it all. Hopefully I will get to the point of being able to feed him with the lights on but as long as he is eating I am happy..... :cheer:
Something you might want to try mitzel.
Deb

 

[mitzel]

Originally Posted by Debbie
Yippee.....

My Fuzzy is eating frozen brine. What I did was last night when the lights went out of course they are on the prowl. I had a light on by the computer so I could see a tiny bit of what he was doing. I shut off my filters and dropped some brineshrimp in one area that he was, he stocked it and then gulped it down. So exciting.
This morning he is of course perched on a rock, so I did the same thing with the filters again plus shut the lights off for a bit. Dropped the brineshrimp with some krill to and in no time he was right there and ate it all. Hopefully I will get to the point of being able to feed him with the lights on but as long as he is eating I am happy..... :cheer:
Something you might want to try mitzel.
Deb
I was thinking of this but I hate the hasle of turning everything off.

 

[debbie]

The only reason I turn off the filters is so the food sinks to the bottom and does not blow around the tank. If your lionfish has not eaten in a while it might be worth the hassle till it gets use to the food being there.
Deb

 

[mitzel]

I tried it and he just looked at the food like it was not even there. but on the up side this did get my dog face to eat some silver sides.

:happyfish

 

[debbie]

I don't know what else to suggest to you. Hope that he eats soon, they are the coolest fish ever.... :cheer:
Happy to report that this morning my lion was waiting lights on at the same place I have been feeding him. Will not eat bloodworms though, so now I need to get some mysis shrimp too. He is out on the prowl right now full belly and all.
Hope yours eats real soon.....Deb

 

[mitzel]

Oh he eats . he just doesnt eat frozen food. He's a stone cold killer when it comes to ghost shrimp.

 

[mitzel]

Well .

I'm sure to get some flames for it and some told you so's . but we lost him yesterday . We didn't see him all day and so I started to move rocks around. I found him drug under the rock that my larger SFE hides under . Not eaten just under the rock. He just never seamed adjusted right. I don't know .

 

[lionfu411]

try feeding him live shrimp until you have a regular schedule. the lion needs to recognize YOU as the feeder and once it does it will eat almost anything you put in. get him on live for a few weeks then start throwing in frozen food soaked in garlic but not all at once.
and those damsels would have just become food eventually

 

[debbie]

mitzel, what happened? Are you talking about your fuzzy dwarf lionfish?
LionFu411 just wanting to know who your reply is focused at?
Deb....

 

[debbie]

Okay, just bought some mysis shrimp for my lion tonight. This darn stuff floats too just like the krill. How the heck do you get it to sink and why does it float?
The brineshrimp sinks. The lionfish will not come to the top yet, it waits for everything on the bottom.
I would also like to know what makes mysis a better food than brine? Just curious.
Deb

 

[lionfu411]

Originally Posted by Debbie
mitzel, what happened? Are you talking about your fuzzy dwarf lionfish?
LionFu411 just wanting to know who your reply is focused at?
Deb....

anyone trying to wean a lion. i guess it could help mitzel or you ***)

 

[pasafire]

 

[cartman101]

 

[redleg]

 

[debbie]