Lionfish Will Not Eat

butch bezek

New Member
I have a Lionfish about 6 inches long who hasn't eaten in the last 6 days. Everytime I try to feed him he approaches the food, but he won't open his mouth to eat it. Is this normal? How do I get him to eat?!?
 

sepulatian

Moderator
Welcome to the boards!! How long have you had this lion? What kind of lion is it? What are your water readings for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, PH, SG, and temp? What have you been feeding him?
 

kaliman33

Member
I know people hate this, but my LFS swears it is fine, he is my friend and i am positive he will not steer me wrong or he will hear about it, he has had these fish and others for over 20 years, he feeds rosies, My lion did'nt eat for over a week, shrimp, krill, nothing. put in some rosies and it was christmas, just my experience.
 

usc932000

Member
Refusing to eat is a common occurance with lions and depending on what Lion you have it could be a long battle. But it could also be something as simple as your params being out of order as to why Sepulatian asked what your params were. Its hard to give any advice without knowing your params.
 

butch bezek

New Member
Originally Posted by sepulatian
http:///forum/post/2618206
Welcome to the boards!! How long have you had this lion? What kind of lion is it? What are your water readings for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, PH, SG, and temp? What have you been feeding him?
P. Volitans lionfish. Had water tested and all okay. Feeding him freezed dried krill.
 

butch bezek

New Member
Originally Posted by kaliman33
http:///forum/post/2618700
I know people hate this, but my LFS swears it is fine, he is my friend and i am positive he will not steer me wrong or he will hear about it, he has had these fish and others for over 20 years, he feeds rosies, My lion did'nt eat for over a week, shrimp, krill, nothing. put in some rosies and it was christmas, just my experience.
What are rosies and where do I buy them?
 

kaliman33

Member
i get them at my fish store, they are like guppies, mine went crazy.
when i was there 2 other people came in to buy them, one guy has had his lion for 8 years and been feed rosies with no problem every couple weeks,
as far as not being salt fish, i dont know, but it worked.
i know when your fish has'nt eaten in a while you get worried and glad to see him eat anything, mine has a nice fat belly now.
 

sepulatian

Moderator
Originally Posted by Butch Bezek
http:///forum/post/2618931
What are rosies and where do I buy them?
They cause fatty liver disease, organ failure and constipation. Would you like me to post threads of lions in bad shape because of them? Feed the lion ghost shrimp and get him on frozen.
 

sepulatian

Moderator
Originally Posted by kaliman33 http:///forum/post/2619548
are'nt ghost shrimp freah water? i believe they are.
show use the threads.
Ghost shrimp are fresh water, but they are invertebrates, not fish. They are fine to feed.
Here you go they all contain posts about feeding FW feeders to SW fish:
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/316999/lionfish-starving-itself
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/314105/help-me-with-feeding-my-lionfish
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/320196/volitan-lionfish-has-stopped-eating
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/133006/feeder-goldfish
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/319065/baby-dwarf-lion-feeding
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/318353/lion-fish
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/17918/what-to-feed-my-lion-fish
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/207744/is-it-ok-for-a-porcupine-puffer-to-eat-goldfish
I promise, I am not making this stuff up

The effects of FW feeders over time have been well documented. Do a google search on it.
 

nelson

Member
Feed the lion ghost shrimp and get him on frozen rosies are bad so are goldfish sepulation is right
 

wgc

New Member
Soak the freeze dried krill in garlic guard, then tie a piece of dental floss to one of the legs and bob in tank. When the fish sucks in the food the leg will break away. This worked for me when anything else didn't.
 

kaliman33

Member
OK,I am taking everyones advice and i stopped feeding rosies to my lion, went out and bought frozen silver sides, he ate them right up, I was told these are salt fish and much better. Is this fine?
 

sepulatian

Moderator
Originally Posted by kaliman33
http:///forum/post/2622688
OK,I am taking everyones advice and i stopped feeding rosies to my lion, went out and bought frozen silver sides, he ate them right up, I was told these are salt fish and much better. Is this fine?
That is wonderful! You can feed your lion different kinds of meaty foods too such as squid, scallops, shrimp, etc.
 

windlasher

Member
I am going through the same thing. If he does not eat for more than a few days, I feed him Live MARINE Shrimp, which can just be left in your tank until eaten.
YOU can order them @ http://www.*******com. ( I hope SWF doesn't mind). LOok 1/2 down the page next to the ghost shrimp. I ordered 500 of them and keep them in a 10 gallon tank to breed.
ALso, DO NOT drop too many in there at once. Your lion will keep eating them until he explodes.
Also they are excellent cleaners.
Please do not post links to other competitors of SWF.com its against the board rules!
 
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