Snakehead rejecting feeders

[Radiance]

Giant Snakehead (channa micropeltes), a vicious indescriminating killing machine.

yeah.. thats what everyone says. but my 13" giant snakehead, refused to eat some 1-2" feeders I dropped in the other day as a treat. I thought they were too small for his likings so I dropped some bigger 3-4" feeders. he still rejected them. I guess there are some downsides to pellet training your monster fish.

anyone else have monster predators who rejects feeders?

[gmachine19]

When did you last feed him before giving the feeder? Usually when they are full, they wont touch feeders.

[snow]

ooooohhhhhh yes. A lot of fish once on pellets don't care for the live stuff. I guess they feel that casually swimming to the top to get a pellet is a lot less work then catching a feeder. I still feed only once a month live feeders as a treat. My arrow does not care for them anymore but my datnoid,oscar and jack dempsey still like them. Maybe turn the lights in the tank off when you give feeders?

[Radiance]

i last fed him feeders.. when he was about 4" quite a while ago. maybe thats why.

i somehow feel accomplished. i have tamed a "monster" some people say are untamable.

[gmachine19]

This is what I do to "force" my fish to eat what I give them. I actually starve them. If your up for an experiment, you should starve him for 2-3 days. But, feeding feeders might actually be harmful because they may carry parasites. So just be happy that you tamed him

[hopelessamor]

i last fed him feeders.. when he was about 4" quite a while ago. maybe thats why.

i somehow feel accomplished. i have tamed a "monster" some people say are untamable.

I think you just answered your own question.But I heard ch. micropeltes go berzerko at 18"+...

This is what I do to "force" my fish to eat what I give them. I actually starve them. If your up for an experiment, you should starve him for 2-3 days. But, feeding feeders might actually be harmful because they may carry parasites. So just be happy that you tamed him

One should quarantine feeders for 2 weeks,at least.Personally,one month....As for experimenting,you could try starving them for 1 to 2 weeks.That is when the BEAST within the fish,emerges as in the Hoplias species,wherein an 18" hoplias starved for 2 weeks,ripped into 7" koi feeders and almost gored a 13" giant sh.

[Radiance]

I heard ch. micropeltes go berzerko at 18"+...

i shall wait till then.

[gmachine19]

As for experimenting,you could try starving them for 1 to 2 weeks.That is when the BEAST within the fish,emerges as in the Hoplias species,wherein an 18" hoplias starved for 2 weeks,ripped into 7" koi feeders and almost gored a 13" giant sh.

I did that to my giant snakehead back in the Philippines. It ripped a catfish the same it's size. It was a pretty sight if you have a craving for some live Discovery channel action.

[King-eL]

13" is not yet at the berserker stage. Wait 18-20"+ and those other tankmates will be in the menu as well. Also when it grows big you may need an acrylic tank as my former 32" giant snakehead broke my 210g glass tank.

[hopelessamor]

i shall wait till then.

yup....and bring popcorn......plus,be prepared to spend a small fortune on feeders.not 1" ones...not 2"....not 3"-4".....more like 7"...maybe even a 10"-13" p-bass.