how to feed lionfish

popimp06 · 12/29/2006, 09:05 PM

i got a lionfish the other day and the lfs i got it from was feeding it guppies. my lfs around here said its bad for its liver so i am trying to feed it raw shrimp but it wont eat it. what should i do

Happan · 12/29/2006, 09:38 PM

Well, I had to teach mine to eat frozen Krill. Hate to say starve him a little, but don't feed him for a couple days, get a feeder stick and thaw out a piece of krill.

Wiggle it around a little near him and see if he takes the bait.

supernareg · 12/29/2006, 10:18 PM

within a week, mine started eating flakes full time

but my advice, toss a small piece of a silverslide, the head portion (with eyes) and let the flow carry it around. ur lion should smell it and eat it.

3rotorFD · 12/29/2006, 10:33 PM

i started w/ guppies and then made a feeding stick (very thin) and stuck some frozen krill to it. you have to have patience. it will eventually get interested. also i fout it easier to feed it after the light go out. (if you have moon lights)

dwculp · 12/29/2006, 11:47 PM

I have had two lionfish I have had to ween off of live food and this is going to sound bad, but the best way is to starve it a little.

Dont feed him for 5-6 days, thaw a silverside and put it on a small, thin stick or wire. Drag it around the water and see if he is interested. Do this a few times and he will take anything.

Of course, if he doesnt eat, feed him something live. With a little patience you will get him eating anything you put in the tank.

Mine is trained now, when I move to the left side of the tank and open the glass top he stands up and pokes his mouth out of the water, waiting for food. He will spit water if I dont feed him right away sometimes.

BrandonS · 12/29/2006, 11:52 PM

I second the starvation.

A different situation, but when I got my clown my LFS was feeding it Brine shrimp so I did the same. I found out Mysis were better so I went ot feed that and he didn't want anything to do with it. After 2 days of not eating he started eating the Mysis.

popimp06 · 12/30/2006, 04:16 AM

is there any live fish that are good for him. like ghost fish

BadOleRoss · 12/30/2006, 07:18 AM

I would hesitate using live food of any kind. Using live food from your LFS or any other source means you wil be adding that tanks water to your own, even in small amount, which opens the door to ich. I fed my lion frozen silversides that I cut length wise. Cut them this way seemed to make them stringy looking and more appealing to my lion

12/29/2006, 09:05 PM	#1
popimp06 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: the hood Posts: 386	how to feed lionfish i got a lionfish the other day and the lfs i got it from was feeding it guppies. my lfs around here said its bad for its liver so i am trying to feed it raw shrimp but it wont eat it. what should i do __________________ what it do Current Tank Info: 75 aga. 80lbs fiji live rock 45lbs live sand 3 t5s.

12/29/2006, 11:47 PM	#5
dwculp Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Carrollton, TX Posts: 2,338	I have had two lionfish I have had to ween off of live food and this is going to sound bad, but the best way is to starve it a little. Dont feed him for 5-6 days, thaw a silverside and put it on a small, thin stick or wire. Drag it around the water and see if he is interested. Do this a few times and he will take anything. Of course, if he doesnt eat, feed him something live. With a little patience you will get him eating anything you put in the tank. Mine is trained now, when I move to the left side of the tank and open the glass top he stands up and pokes his mouth out of the water, waiting for food. He will spit water if I dont feed him right away sometimes. __________________ Remember, it will only get worse before it gets worse. Current Tank Info: 10 years - Currently have a 100 FOWLR

12/30/2006, 04:16 AM	#7
popimp06 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: the hood Posts: 386	is there any live fish that are good for him. like ghost fish __________________ what it do Current Tank Info: 75 aga. 80lbs fiji live rock 45lbs live sand 3 t5s.

12/29/2006, 09:38 PM	#2
Happan Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Michgan Posts: 37	Well, I had to teach mine to eat frozen Krill. Hate to say starve him a little, but don't feed him for a couple days, get a feeder stick and thaw out a piece of krill. Wiggle it around a little near him and see if he takes the bait.

12/29/2006, 10:18 PM	#3
supernareg Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 2,610	within a week, mine started eating flakes full time but my advice, toss a small piece of a silverslide, the head portion (with eyes) and let the flow carry it around. ur lion should smell it and eat it.

12/29/2006, 10:33 PM	#4
3rotorFD Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: federal way WA Posts: 330	i started w/ guppies and then made a feeding stick (very thin) and stuck some frozen krill to it. you have to have patience. it will eventually get interested. also i fout it easier to feed it after the light go out. (if you have moon lights)

12/29/2006, 11:52 PM	#6
BrandonS Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 255	I second the starvation. A different situation, but when I got my clown my LFS was feeding it Brine shrimp so I did the same. I found out Mysis were better so I went ot feed that and he didn't want anything to do with it. After 2 days of not eating he started eating the Mysis.

12/30/2006, 07:18 AM	#8
BadOleRoss Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Lynchburg VA Posts: 381	I would hesitate using live food of any kind. Using live food from your LFS or any other source means you wil be adding that tanks water to your own, even in small amount, which opens the door to ich. I fed my lion frozen silversides that I cut length wise. Cut them this way seemed to make them stringy looking and more appealing to my lion