How to hand feed

[Meus]

I was wondering how one teaches their fish to eat from ones hand. So, how did you do it?

 

[IslandCrow]

Mostly it's a matter of your fish getting used to you, and it varies with the fish. Every fish I've owned has eventually accepted hand feeding (not that it was necessary, but I just enjoy doing it). I'll usually start by just having my hand in the tank when I feed. Once they seem comfortable with that, I'll try holding a bit of food and letting it go when the fish gets close. Eventually, they should start taking it right from your hands. My newest fish (Meiacanthus mossambicus. . .a.k.a. Harptail Blenny) was eating from my hand after the first week. My maroon clownfish would actually let me pet her. My Purple firefish goby, on the other hand, has just finally started coming out of his hiding spot with me near the tank.

 

[JHemdal]

I got my reef shark to hand feed for me after only a few seconds of trying.


Lefty

 

[Blackhawk708]

My clown, six line, and cleaner shrimp all eat out of my hand. Think by only the 3rd feeding or so. I'd say just make sure they see where the food is coming from. Hold some food in your hand above the water until the fish aren't darting away at any move, and slowly put some in the water.

 

[southernfish]

I have a yellow tang, sailfin tang, 3 ocellaris, and they all eat from my hand and a cleaner shrimp too that rushes to my hand and arm and provides his services to me. My sailfin likes me to pet it as well. I think it is just a matter of them getting used to you. Some faster than others.

 

[Mustang Boy]

I got my reef shark to hand feed for me after only a few seconds of trying.


Lefty

2 weeks before Hemdal here started feeding his reef shark by hand he went by Righty but that changed lol

 

[Meus]

Well, I tried giving some nori to my CB angel. He went for my fingers instead of the algae. I guess it is a start, but as soon as I cliped it in he scarfed it down...

 

[billdogg]

I hand feed using a 3 foot plastic rod. Of course, the tank has a 4' undulated moray, sometimes I think maybe a 6' stick would be better.

signed: Mr I still got all my fingers...........................so far

 

[JHemdal]

So Mustang boy got it....

Seriously, when I used to do this, I would use a length of really hi test fishing line, like they use for shark leaders. Then, I just grip up on it a bit more each day, and soon the fish is feeding out of my hand.

Jay

 

[Kweli]

I try not to scare them when i approach the tank, and let them see my fingers in the tank when i drop food...

Now its to the point where they rush to my fingers when i put them in the tank....

Im going to try my full hand next and the petting thing, that sounds awesome

 

[aleonn]

Great tips, guys. I guess I have to slowly condition my fish to get used to myself first, and then my hand. Right now they're kinda scared of me because of my frequent aquascaping and general husbandry practices. But I would love to pet them eventually!