feeding dwarf lion help please

[izzie]

I cant get my dwarf lion to eat. He came in 65F water so he is kinda stressed. His eyes are merky so i would really like to get him eating. How can i do this. I tried feeding him live fresh water feeder goldfish and he would go for them but would not make a big enough attempt to catch them. Just nip and miss. They would move befor he could eat them. Then i tried the wooden stick with the fish on the end. I could put it right in his face and he would not eat. What can i do to get him eating. And how can i fix the merky eyes. I was told to get him eating feeders then to feed them befor with garlic soaked food. Anyone have any ideas to even get him to eat befor he dies. Thanks.
Izzie

 

[boxfishpooalot]

This is a tough one, but ill give you a bump.

The cloudy eyes are a bacterial infection due to enviromental stress. If he can eat the eyes will recover. But I suspect he has a hard time eating because his vision is dimmed.

Only sugestion I got is to put the lionfish inside a small container inside the tank with a feeder goldfish. That way his visibility will be enhanced cause the goldfish can not go too far.

You may want to try a mollie from freshwater because they can live much longer in saltwater.

 

[JENnKerry]

First off, how long have you had him? If you just got him then it might be a little too soon to get him eating anything other than live foods. You should never feed them goldfish, as they are not good for them. I would start him on live ghost shrimp, then try weaning him onto frozen foods. There are a couple of good threads in the aggressive tank and fish only forum on feeding lions.

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

He might just not be hungry enough. They can go a while without eating. I feed mine about twice a week. I started with live FW guppies and ghost shrimp. After a few weeks he would hit anything that went into the water, so now I just throw in silversides, krill, and chunks of fish and squid.

Describe the cloudy eyes. These creatures are active at dusk/night, so their vision is different from ours. If it looks like the lens of the eye is green or teal this is probably normal. Rabbitfish, which are also active in periods of less than full daylight also have this. My parents say they both look like they have cataracts.

 

[izzie]

The eyes are a milky blury not a green blurry. Its like there is a cloud over them. One is worse then the other.
Izzie

 

[izzie]

ok today he isnt moving that much he will sit in one spot for awhile then move to another. His eyes are starting to clear but still not clear. Not eating anything yet. Any idea on how to get him to eat. thanks.
Izzie

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

How long have you had him?

 

[scunan]

The lion fish will just sit in one spot for a while and then move to another. That is what the one my friend has does all the time.

 

[phoenix3717]

i had a lion that didn't eat for a good 5 days. quarantined him then put in a few guppies....now he's a glutton and will eat till his mouth is full