Force Feeding Marine Aquarium Fishes

[leebca]

Has anyone every force-fed their aquarium fish?

If so. . .
1) What procedure and equipment was used?
2) What foods did you force feed and how prepared?
3) What fish(es) did you feed? size?
4) Why did you decide to force-feed?
5) Did it work?

I've done force-feeding myself on fish I thought were healthy, but unwilling to eat. Wasting away without turning to eating what I would consider 'normal foods' being offered.

I'm not suggesting force-feeding fish that can't be properly maintained in an aquarium (for instance, an obligate coral eating fish), but making a commonly maintained fish eat that which it should under normal circumstances. However, any information you might have on this subject would be appreciated.

I've known larger fish, e.g., puffers to have been force-fed and wondered if others were doing this on this or any other fishes.

I'll post my own answers to the above questions later, if there is any signs of input/interest.

Thanks for your time.

Regards,
LEE

 

[janakaybravo]

How would you do that to a fish? Seems like you could kill it.

 

[leebca]

1) Fish moved to water drugged with anesthetic; fish was anesthetized; fed using a new titration syringe and fine tip from a Salifert titration test kit. Carefully place syringe tip into mouth, and slowly inject a small quantity of the mix. Important not to inject any air into the fish's gullet. Release fish back to its QT and make sure it recovers fully from the anesthetic.

2) Cyclopeze mixed with liquid vitamins & beta glucan. Any liquefied fresh food could be used such that the particles would easily pass through the syringe tip.

3) Fishes 2 inches to 5 inches in length. Mostly Butterflyfishes.

4) Fish was at the end of its natural life from starvation. It was a 'feed or die' situation.

5) So far, every fish has lived through the process. Two have lived and began eating on their own; others have been fed this way multiple times and still live, but won't eat on their own.

 

[hawk66]

Is it possible to do this without anesthetic?