just got "Antennata Lionfish" what its eat?
- Thread starter Ocean2k
- Start date
Live food. Preferably small live fish. After a while you can wean him onto frozen food, but probably will need live food at first.
"This fish hides in crevices under rocks and coral formations during the day and hunts at night. Typically they hunt with head towards the safety of their hide-out or a nearby narrow passage. They feed on shrimps and crabs in the wild. In the aquarium they can be fed meaty foods and small fishes."
"This fish hides in crevices under rocks and coral formations during the day and hunts at night. Typically they hunt with head towards the safety of their hide-out or a nearby narrow passage. They feed on shrimps and crabs in the wild. In the aquarium they can be fed meaty foods and small fishes."
velvetelvis
Active member
This is something you should have researched before buying the fish. Good luck!
namxas
Things With Stings R Us!
Get the fish started on live ghost shrimp (preferably gut-loaded with a quality marine flake food, spirulina, beta glucan, etc.). If you can't find ghost shrimp, feed it gut-loaded guppies or mollies (NO GOLDFISH OR ROSY REDS!). Feed the fish until it has a slight bulge in its belly 3 times a week (if it's a juvie, or is very thin, feed it every-other day).
After 2-4 weeks, you can begin the weaning process (get rid of the krill now...they aren't good for lions as they have been associated with lockjaw). Here is a good article on weaning your fish: WEANING YOUR FISH
Also, if you haven't done so, give Frank Marini's lionfish care article a read...lots of good info there: Lionfish Info Sheet
Finally, get yourself a copy of Frank's new book, Lionfishes and Other Scorpionfishes. It's a "must-have" IMHO. Amazon has it.
After 2-4 weeks, you can begin the weaning process (get rid of the krill now...they aren't good for lions as they have been associated with lockjaw). Here is a good article on weaning your fish: WEANING YOUR FISH
Also, if you haven't done so, give Frank Marini's lionfish care article a read...lots of good info there: Lionfish Info Sheet
Finally, get yourself a copy of Frank's new book, Lionfishes and Other Scorpionfishes. It's a "must-have" IMHO. Amazon has it.
velvetelvis
Active member
I actually kind of feel like I owe you an apology, Ocean2k. My comment was snotty and not particularly helpful. We've all made impulse purchases more than once. Good luck with him! 
cindre2000
New member
A good switch-over food is frozen silversides. You are far more likely to get the lion to lunge w/ those, as apposed to frozen shrimp,etc.
I actually kind of feel like I owe you an apology, Ocean2k. My comment was snotty and not particularly helpful. We've all made impulse purchases more than once. Good luck with him!
While it was mildly snotty, it was also good advice. Impulse purchases in this hobby often don't work out well. :sad2:
velvetelvis
Active member
As I have discovered, to my sorrow...luckily, in most cases I was able to return or rehome the impulse purchase before disaster struck. But still, it was a waste of money, and more importantly, unfair to the animals involved, who have no power over what happens to them, after all.
I'm with you; I'm a very vocal advocate of doing your homework before you go shopping. Better to post several dozen "Which fish?" threads than to find out that you've bitten off way more than you can (or maybe should) chew. :fish2:
milhous3er
Member
I can help here-
Just got my Antenneta 2 weeks ago. It likely won't eat the first 5-7 days once you get him into your tank. I tried krill right off the bat and he had no interest. So after 3-4 days, I went and got some FW mollies (that if you acclimate, can live in your SW tank. Perfect !!) and some ghost shrimp. He ate the 3 ghost shrimp right off the bat, and had no interest in the mollies.
So this past Tuesday I noticed only 1 mollie left....then Wednesday there were no mollies left. Assuming he ate them, thats the route i'm going until I can switch him over to frozens.
I've been using fish line with a small knot on the end to keep the krill/SS from falling off. I dangle the fish line from a chopstick that is outside the water. He seems to get spooked and hides whenever I place it into the water. He seems interested in it, but hasn't bit yet.
Don't be frustrated after the first week, he'll be shy and won't come out alot. But they are beautiful fish !!
Just got my Antenneta 2 weeks ago. It likely won't eat the first 5-7 days once you get him into your tank. I tried krill right off the bat and he had no interest. So after 3-4 days, I went and got some FW mollies (that if you acclimate, can live in your SW tank. Perfect !!) and some ghost shrimp. He ate the 3 ghost shrimp right off the bat, and had no interest in the mollies.
So this past Tuesday I noticed only 1 mollie left....then Wednesday there were no mollies left. Assuming he ate them, thats the route i'm going until I can switch him over to frozens.
I've been using fish line with a small knot on the end to keep the krill/SS from falling off. I dangle the fish line from a chopstick that is outside the water. He seems to get spooked and hides whenever I place it into the water. He seems interested in it, but hasn't bit yet.
Don't be frustrated after the first week, he'll be shy and won't come out alot. But they are beautiful fish !!
its strange to me that folks expect wild caught piscivorous fish to want to eat dead foods.
Right now get the fish to eat live ghost shrimp- its the better choice out of all the freshwater feeder items.
Anyway- you've gotten good replies here. The only thing i would suggest is to read the lionfish info sheet-it has a whole section on appropriate feeding and how to wean (as does Renee and Greg's excellent article).
If at all possible skip large amounts of krill in their diet, particularly freeze dried krill as its been associated w/ a number of health issue in these fish.
Good luck
frank
Right now get the fish to eat live ghost shrimp- its the better choice out of all the freshwater feeder items.
Anyway- you've gotten good replies here. The only thing i would suggest is to read the lionfish info sheet-it has a whole section on appropriate feeding and how to wean (as does Renee and Greg's excellent article).
If at all possible skip large amounts of krill in their diet, particularly freeze dried krill as its been associated w/ a number of health issue in these fish.
Good luck
frank
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