Antennata Lionfish not eating

Waters · May 10, 2014

I had a LFS order me a medium size Antennata Lionfish which shows absolutely zero interest in food of any type. I have tried frozen krill and silversides. I have also tried live minnows and goldfish (I know, unhealthy, just trying to get a feeding response). The only thing I haven't been able to try is ghost shrimp but I won't be able to get my hands on them for another couple of days. I have only had him for about 4 days. Am I just trying too hard too quick? I have never had a lion refuse food of any type :-(

eatbreakfast · May 10, 2014

It is fairly common for new lionfish arrivals to go on a hunger strike. It sounds like you are taking the steps you need to for it to start eating. Once it takes food for the first time it gets easier.

Waters · May 12, 2014

Ok....maybe I am pushing too hard for him to start eating so quickly. What is the normal method for feeding live foods to get them to start eating? Anytime I try putting anything live into the tank, it quickly dives into the live rock and hides. If I hold it with feeding tongs, the lionfish becomes nervous and turns away. I plan on trying some ghost shrimp today or tomorrow.

tyler1503 · May 15, 2014

Waters said:
Ok....maybe I am pushing too hard for him to start eating so quickly. What is the normal method for feeding live foods to get them to start eating? Anytime I try putting anything live into the tank, it quickly dives into the live rock and hides. If I hold it with feeding tongs, the lionfish becomes nervous and turns away. I plan on trying some ghost shrimp today or tomorrow.

I found with lions it's easiest to just drop the food in nearby and let the lions hunting instinct kick in. Even though the food hides in the rock work, the lion should still find a way to get to it in time. Maybe add a few shrimp at a time. How long has he been without food?

arashsheikhpoor · May 15, 2014

I tried ghost shrimp which was about the only thing he liked and then fter trying krill for 3 or 4 days I decided I would try frozen mysis which He loves... goodluck

Waters · May 15, 2014

He went about a week (with me) without food. Fortunately, he is now eating :bigsmile: I tried ghost shrimp which he jumped on. The next day, I tried a frozen silverside (again) on a feeding stick which he took. I guess the live food triggered his feeding response. Thanks everyone.

tyler1503 · May 15, 2014

Nice one :) now that he is eating he probably won't ever stop lol.

Dalmatia · May 18, 2014

Get a gold fish? I did it but stupidly? If that's a word??
I started buying nice gold fish for my dwarf Lion till I told the LFS asked why I was going through 1 fish a day :)
Easy,,, my lion :)
Anyways he said they have feeder gold fish for $0.45ea. :(
Anyways he loved the goldfish but started eating my reef fish so I gave him away

tyler1503 · May 18, 2014

Dalmat ia said:
Get a gold fish? I did it but stupidly? If that's a word??
I started buying nice gold fish for my dwarf Lion till I told the LFS asked why I was going through 1 fish a day :)
Easy,,, my lion :)
Anyways he said they have feeder gold fish for $0.45ea. :(
Anyways he loved the goldfish but started eating my reef fish so I gave him away

They (and any ambush predator for that matter) can start to eat tankmates when fed live foods. I reckon it's because they get used to hunting. Instead of having food brought to them they have to go looking for food and a hungry lion isn't going to think twice when your happy little clown swims by lol.

Edit: I should say "more likely" to start eating tankmates.

Dalmatia · May 18, 2014

tyler1503 said:
They (and any ambush predator for that matter) can start to eat tankmates when fed live foods. I reckon it's because they get used to hunting. Instead of having food brought to them they have to go looking for food and a hungry lion isn't going to think twice when your happy little clown swims by lol.

Edit: I should say "more likely" to start eating tankmates.

Agreed 110% lol :)

Tankmaster · May 19, 2014

Feeding freshwater fish to saltwater fish is never a good idea as they do not have the proper nutrients that are needed. They are many articles about feeding lionfish and one throng almost all of them have in common is they say not to feed goldfish or krill. Neither of them are nutritious for the lionfish.

Waters · May 19, 2014

Tankmaster said:
Feeding freshwater fish to saltwater fish is never a good idea as they do not have the proper nutrients that are needed. They are many articles about feeding lionfish and one throng almost all of them have in common is they say not to feed goldfish or krill. Neither of them are nutritious for the lionfish.

That is correct...live foods (such as goldfish, guppies, etc.) are just to get the lion to start eating and begin the weaning process onto frozen, more nutrious foods. Fortunately my Antennata now eats frozen Silversides regularly.....and unfortunately is paying more attention to the other fish in my tank :-(

tyler1503 · May 20, 2014

Tankmaster said:
Feeding freshwater fish to saltwater fish is never a good idea as they do not have the proper nutrients that are needed. They are many articles about feeding lionfish and one throng almost all of them have in common is they say not to feed goldfish or krill. Neither of them are nutritious for the lionfish.

Apparently goldfish can cause long term liver damage. Also, they're a really fatty fish an there's next to no nutrition in fat.
Gut loaded feeder shrimp are my choice for any ambush predator. The glass shrimp themselves are a good enough meal and being gut loaded just gives a bit of a nutrition kick.

Dalmatia · May 21, 2014

I still think you should toss a feeder goldfish that cost like $0.30 and get him to eat? Better than starving him? After he starts eating than look for a different alternative

tyler1503 · May 21, 2014

It would be worth it to get a feeding response, but it's not good on their liver. I guess much the same as a human on a big night at the pub. It's not good for us, but once in a while isn't too bad :)
For what it's worth, I recommend feeder barbs over goldfish. They're not so fatty and Ive gotten a better response to them.

rayn · May 21, 2014

As a mainstay, krill or live foods aren't the best in our systems. However as a treat or addition to normal frozen foods they can be used. Seems once lions get eating and learn to recognize the food god, you are usually good to go.

Waters · May 22, 2014

rayn said:
As a mainstay, krill or live foods aren't the best in our systems. However as a treat or addition to normal frozen foods they can be used. Seems once lions get eating and learn to recognize the food god, you are usually good to go.

Yeah, you aren't kidding lol. Mine went from not eating anything to attacking me whenever I remove the screen from the top of the tank looking for food. He actually tried eating some flake food yesterday (and he is roughly 5 inches long).

tyler1503 · May 22, 2014

Waters said:
Yeah, you aren't kidding lol. Mine went from not eating anything to attacking me whenever I remove the screen from the top of the tank looking for food. He actually tried eating some flake food yesterday (and he is roughly 5 inches long).

Haha that's why I love lions. They're so entertaining!
My snowflake eel tries to eat flake. He cant quite get his head around the fact that it's too small for him.