nls pellets unappetizing

[Naraku]

I just wanted to vent. All of my fish that ate nls pellets lived years and are healthy.

However, most of the fish refuse to eat it. even the ones who eat it will go on hunger strikes until I entice them with something else.

Why hasn't the maker try to make it more appetizing?
Does the maker not have these problems?

 

[mike61289]

That's an interesting question because my fish also didn't go for NLS pellets right away. One thing I did notice was that my fish only go after NLS pellets with gusto when the actinic lights are dim and the fluorescents are off completely. My hypothesis is that they don't like the color. It's just a theory but who knows...

 

[shua71]

Nls pellets are very dense compared to others. Are you sure the pellets are not too large? I've had great experience with nls

 

[CrayolaViolence]

NLS? New life spectrum?
If so my big angle LOVES his. We call it fish kibble. He practically pulls a "Flipper the dolphin" when he sees you pick up the jar.

 

[Naraku]

The only fish I have now that eats it is the Asfur angelfish and neon goby. Starcki damsel eats it reluctantly.

Heniochus varius, Heniochus chrysostomus, ocellaris clown, majestic angelfish, Auriga butterflyfish, saddleback butterflyfish all refuse it.

May try the 0.5 mm pellets.

 

[neiltus]

I soak mine in the food water with whatever else I am feeding to get them soft, otherwise they don't touch them.

 

[jda]

Stop feeding them other things and they will eat them with more gusto. Mine don't really want them either if they think that some tasty mysis are coming. It might take a week, but they will eat it when they get hungry enough... especially if they see the other fish doing it.

I soak mine in water a bit too.

 

[jason2459]

I've never had a fish that didn't go for NLS pellets. 1mm marine and algaemax is what I blend together in an autofeeder.

Are you using something besides the basic marine pellet like their medicated blends?

 

[jason2459]

OP looks like you've also been dealing with fish health issues that are unrelated to NLS pellets. Could be an issue. Prazzi and other meds can suppress appetites .

And another post show you're using ich shield.

 

[Naraku]

They got out of quarantine already.
The Heniochus was the pickiest. I tried to starve it for 2 weeks but it still insisted on mysis. At one point I had him on nls for 2 days and then it decided not to eat it. He is very skinny and only eating mysis.

I think it is getting blind from malnutrition, since it touches its beak on the bottom to find food.

I'm feeding the non medicated ones.


Only the Auriga and saddleback are in quarantine.

OP looks like you've also been dealing with fish health issues that are unrelated to NLS pellets. Could be an issue. Prazzi and other meds can suppress appetites .

And another post show you're using ich shield.

 

[Naraku]

should I force feed pellets?

I'm going to get the 0.5mm tomorrow.

He picks at the floor randomly, hopefully, he will pick some of the tiny pellets by "accident"

 

[Dmorty217]

should I force feed pellets?

I'm going to get the 0.5mm tomorrow.

He picks at the floor randomly, hopefully, he will pick some of the tiny pellets by "accident"

Force feeding is a LAST ditch effort and it typically ends badly. There is a lot of skill and technique involved in force feeding and I would never suggest starting with a fish that isn't eating (a feeder goldfish is a much better choice to learn how to properly do it). Stat and pedialite are what is used for force feeding

 

[mickey204]

Force feeding is a LAST ditch effort and it typically ends badly. There is a lot of skill and technique involved in force feeding and I would never suggest starting with a fish that isn't eating (a feeder goldfish is a much better choice to learn how to properly do it). Stat and pedialite are what is used for force feeding

^^ This.

If you have a fish that is eating, feed it. You cannot force a fish to eat a pellet food for your convenience.

To starve a fish when it will accept mysis or other foods generally gets chalked up as cruel.

Feed it what it likes and eventually it may accept the pellets. All my fish did in time.

Starving it for 2 weeks isn't helping anything, in fact it could be a reason why it's not doing so well.

As for NLS being unappetizing? I have no idea what you're talking about, the small pellets are like crack for my LFS and for all my fish.

Only my achilles is tasting/spitting out over and over again. But he's pounding down mysis pellets. Eventually he'll accept them I'm sure.

 

[CrayolaViolence]

Why not just feed frozen if that's what it wants? I guess I don't see what the big deal is.To me the frozen food is cheaper, better, and goes farther than the pellets. I've mixed pellets and fed them plain. I have a Pakistan butterfly that won't eat anything but dried black worms. I feed him dried black worms. I'm not gonna argue cause he's gonna win.

 

[Naraku]

every fish that only eat frozen has died of malnutrition, no matter how much I feed they stay skinny.
They also tend to only eat mysis and avoid all other frozen.

I see a huge problem. I think that frozen is mostly water and little of protein. It is missing vital nutrition.

 

[Naraku]

I AM feeding mysis. the chrysostomus is getting skinny despite feeding mysis 2 times a day with water changes every other day.

It seems to be doing worse by the day from malnutrition.

^^ This.

If you have a fish that is eating, feed it. You cannot force a fish to eat a pellet food for your convenience.

To starve a fish when it will accept mysis or other foods generally gets chalked up as cruel.

Feed it what it likes and eventually it may accept the pellets. All my fish did in time.

Starving it for 2 weeks isn't helping anything, in fact it could be a reason why it's not doing so well.

As for NLS being unappetizing? I have no idea what you're talking about, the small pellets are like crack for my LFS and for all my fish.

Only my achilles is tasting/spitting out over and over again. But he's pounding down mysis pellets. Eventually he'll accept them I'm sure.

 

[d0ughb0y]

I observed the same thing when I first used nls. Then switched to formula one small pellets and been using it for years since. fish eat it right away, not a single pellet ever hits the bottom of the tank.

 

[suta4242]

Starving a new fish during quarantine is well intentioned but counter productive, especially with some species. It's also at a time when they're new to captivity, have trouble adjusting to different feeding methods compared to the wild, and may be dealing with side effects from various treatments and trauma from handling methods in he supply chain. Just something to consider. :thumbsup:

every fish that only eat frozen has died of malnutrition, no matter how much I feed they stay skinny.
They also tend to only eat mysis and avoid all other frozen.

I see a huge problem. I think that frozen is mostly water and little of protein. It is missing vital nutrition.

I understand what you mean but heres a different perspective.

I feed almost exclusively frozen in part because I have a lot of fussy eaters, because my DIY frozen mix is probably far more nutritious than any of the staple frozen foods, and because it allows picky fish to gain - and sustain - mass readily. If you provide a nutritious home made mix with a dozen or so fresh ingredients and freeze it, your fish will benefit. As far as I can see, the real benefit in pellets is that they're nutritionally dense whereas frozen brine or mysis alone are not.

 

[Naraku]

What is in your home made mix?

Starving a new fish during quarantine is well intentioned but counter productive, especially with some species. It's also at a time when they're new to captivity, have trouble adjusting to different feeding methods compared to the wild, and may be dealing with side effects from various treatments and trauma from handling methods in he supply chain. Just something to consider. :thumbsup:



I understand what you mean but heres a different perspective.

I feed almost exclusively frozen in part because I have a lot of fussy eaters, because my DIY frozen mix is probably far more nutritious than any of the staple frozen foods, and because it allows picky fish to gain - and sustain - mass readily. If you provide a nutritious home made mix with a dozen or so fresh ingredients and freeze it, your fish will benefit. As far as I can see, the real benefit in pellets is that they're nutritionally dense whereas frozen brine or mysis alone are not.

 

[scooter31707]

Well in my case, my fish kills NLS. Sometimes when I put the pellets in with frozen food they will go after the pellets first before the frozen food.