Feeding the Lion

[Ben Nicholls]

For the past month my lion has been on a hunger strike. Pretty much since I had the meeting at my house. Before this, he would be inactive during the day except at feeding time. Then he would be swimming back and forth in front of the tank, and would eat 3-4 pieces of krill, shrimp, crab, or whatever. He was eating frozen foods when I bought him and I have never fed him live food. He also was very active after the lights went out.

Then suddenly he quit eating. He will either just stay sitting in the corner during feeding time, or swim up and watch the food and not eat it. I can even drop one right on his nose and he won't eat it. I have tried feeding when he is already swimming around, including after the light are out. I think he has eaten a total of 2 krill since this started.

I finally got him to eat something yesterday morning. He was swimming around before the lights went on, so I decided to feed the fish then. He followed a few pieces down. He even turned a couple summersaults while watching the food. So I took one piece of krill and wiggled it at the surface until he came up and looked at it. He finally took it after it touched him on the nose.

This morning I tried the same thing. It took him a little while for him get close enough, but once again he ate it as soon has it hit him in the nose (me watching those spines the whole time, I don't really want to get stung by accident).

So it look like he's just upset at having all of you over and now is going to make me hand feed him as a punishment.

[al437la]

Ben,
A friend of mine experience the same thing.
He had to go back to feeding him live food for some time before going back to frozen.
Just a suggestion
Hans

[Havre]

Ben, Same thing happened to mine. It is not uncommon for lionfish to go a week or two without eating. However a month or two can be dangerous or lethal. Mine died after a long hunger strike (a month and a half) the fact that yours is eating is a good sign that he will probably be fine.
If it happens again get some feeder goldfish and stick one on the end of a feeder stick and wave in front of him. You can do the same with frozen squid or shrimp. Swim the piece up to his nose then make it slowly swim away then thats when they will strike. (usually as it is moving away)

Scott

[Ben Nicholls]

Using the hand feeding method, I got him to eat two more pieces of krill this morning. Once again I had to actually touch him on the nose with the krill to get him to take it. So far it is only working before the lights turn on in the morning.

Definitely not for the easily startled, holding on to a piece of krill while a lion fish strikes at it. One second he is just looking at it, the next tip of your finger is in his mouth.

[MERCEDES]

Now that is what I would call fish love. I don't know if I could hand feed a lionfish. I am glad to hear he is eating Ben, he is a beautiful fish. You should almost play the theme to Jaws as your feeding him

[Soltaker]

Originally posted by Ben Nicholls


One second he is just looking at it, the next tip of your finger is in his mouth.

All I can picture is Leslie Neilsen in The Naked Gun

[Ben Nicholls]

Yesterday he at at the regular feeding time with the lights on, but he is still inststing on hand feeding. Hopefully he doesn't keep this up long.