Quiverfull
Member
Have three Anthias in QT doing well on mysis. I would like to get them eating flake or pellet for auto feeding on the days when I can't feed them in the middle of the day. Any suggestions or tricks to getting them to take dry food?
Best way to wean from music to pellet/flake
- Thread starter Quiverfull
- Start date
brett559
New member
My buddy does the old "pellets or else". Basically just starves them out. He says that usually works really well.
You could try throwing in some pellets/flakes in the mysis. Start with just a little (i.e. mostly mysis) and each day, add a little more pellets/flakes and less mysis.
You could try throwing in some pellets/flakes in the mysis. Start with just a little (i.e. mostly mysis) and each day, add a little more pellets/flakes and less mysis.
Quiverfull
Member
I would be afraid to starve them out. I tried soaking the pellets in the mysis juice and feeding together. They mouth and spit it out. I guess I need to just keep trying.
jraker
New member
it sure does. i have done this with each one of my fish and they will eat whatever i give them. i usually put them in QT then wait 2-3 days before feeding
ThRoewer
New member
That's pretty much the only way to do it.
Though it helps to have at least one other fish to go after pellets like crazy.
Also, I would try a couple of different pellet brands and flavors to see if there is one they like better.
Another option for auto feeding is to try dried foods like freeze dried cyclop eeze.
Quiverfull
Member
Great suggestions. I may try over the weekend so I can watch them more carefully if I go the starvation route.
Will be following this thread, I have 3 Anthias I made the mistake of starting them off with grated mysis, my other fish love NLS pellets and I planned on getting an auto feeder. I just didn't have the heart or the will to starve the anthias, they came in pretty shrunken bellied to begin with.
I typically go to my house for lunch break just to feed my anthias, I dont live too far from work, but its a pain.
I did see a bloke on here made a brine shrimp hatchery/ doser via air pump pressure which I have though about building, but getting them to eat pellets would be the ideal situation.
I typically go to my house for lunch break just to feed my anthias, I dont live too far from work, but its a pain.
I did see a bloke on here made a brine shrimp hatchery/ doser via air pump pressure which I have though about building, but getting them to eat pellets would be the ideal situation.
LobsterOfJustice
Recovering Detritophobe
I use the opposite strategy... I feed them whatever they will eat until they get so comfortable eating it that they stop paying attention... then you start throwing in other stuff and they gobble it up before they even realize what it is...
It does also help if the fish you are trying to train is housed with a fish already eating pellets/flakes.
It does also help if the fish you are trying to train is housed with a fish already eating pellets/flakes.
Silly clownfish
New member
I hear what you are saying about being nervous about the "starve them
, method. But I don't think you have to really starve them, just let them get a little hungry. I would start by replacing the first feeding of the day (when they are hungry from no food all night) witht the dry food. If they only pick at a little bit, thst is fine because they can still get frozen for lunch and fill up.
Also, I think most fish take to flakes quicker than pellets. Freeze dried is more appealing too, but be sure to soak it first so that it is not hard and unpalatable. Think of what your reaction would be to expecting to bite into steak and getting beef jerky.
, method. But I don't think you have to really starve them, just let them get a little hungry. I would start by replacing the first feeding of the day (when they are hungry from no food all night) witht the dry food. If they only pick at a little bit, thst is fine because they can still get frozen for lunch and fill up.
Also, I think most fish take to flakes quicker than pellets. Freeze dried is more appealing too, but be sure to soak it first so that it is not hard and unpalatable. Think of what your reaction would be to expecting to bite into steak and getting beef jerky.
Yeah, me too. I want them fat and eating first; then I'll try slowly mixing in new foods.
A lot will also depend on the species. If it's a hardy species, leaving them mildly hungry and trying pellets should work.
HTH
:wave:
