Sunfish help

dvanbramer88 · 07-24-2011, 04:45 PM

I added one pumpkinseed sunny to my 55 gallon tank about a week ago. I have had a good experience with him so far. He is about 4 inches, very active, he does not bother any other fish whatsoever, and more importantly has a beautiful color scheme. The problem is, i can not get him to eat anything. He won't go to the surface to get food, if a flake sinks past him, he will suck it in, but blows it right back out. I've tried bloodworms and shrimp like i've seen suggested elsewhere on this site but he will not go after them and my tetra's tear them up before they have a chance to sink. I don't want to loose this fish because of how well he gets along and how good he looks, i just wish i could find something for him to eat. Any help would be wonderful.

susankat · 07-24-2011, 05:25 PM

Try feeding him live worms, I bet he would eat them. Most won't adapt to flake food but once in awhile will adapt to frozen. But you will need to start out with live. I take it that it's wild caught by you.

dvanbramer88 · 07-24-2011, 05:35 PM

yes i did catch him myself, (in PA you can keep 50 a day, no size limit), no laws were broken. I tried tiny live worms and a tiny live slug, he ignored the worms and sucked in the slug but blew it right back out, the slug was soon ripped up and devoured by my 5 black skirt tetras. The small worms were completely ignored by everyone.

majerah1 · 07-24-2011, 06:14 PM

Try beefheart.its really messy but many fish really love the stuff.Granted you dont mind the prep that is.

dvanbramer88 · 07-24-2011, 06:25 PM

i hunt and fish, i wont mind the prep

I will try it. I've seen elsewhere on here that people feed beef and deer heart pieces to discus fish.

dvanbramer88 · 08-04-2011, 09:46 PM

UPDATE: My sunnie ate fish flakes today! he hasn't touched live worms, freeze dried blood worms or shrimp. He took in and swallowed flakes today.

07-24-2011, 04:45 PM	#1 (permalink)
dvanbramer88 dvanbramer88's Photo Gallery Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 118 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 2 Times Said "Thanks" 13 Times Was Thanked 13 Times in 12 Posts	Sunfish help I added one pumpkinseed sunny to my 55 gallon tank about a week ago. I have had a good experience with him so far. He is about 4 inches, very active, he does not bother any other fish whatsoever, and more importantly has a beautiful color scheme. The problem is, i can not get him to eat anything. He won't go to the surface to get food, if a flake sinks past him, he will suck it in, but blows it right back out. I've tried bloodworms and shrimp like i've seen suggested elsewhere on this site but he will not go after them and my tetra's tear them up before they have a chance to sink. I don't want to loose this fish because of how well he gets along and how good he looks, i just wish i could find something for him to eat. Any help would be wonderful. __________________ 55 gallon FW community 20 gallon Goldfish 10 gallon firebelly toad

07-24-2011, 05:25 PM	#2 (permalink)
susankat Pleco n bn breeder n BOSS susankat's Photo Gallery Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 5,417 Name: Susan Location: Tulsa, Ok Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 2,082 Times Said "Thanks" 1,610 Times Was Thanked 1,808 Times in 1,549 Posts	Re: Sunfish help Try feeding him live worms, I bet he would eat them. Most won't adapt to flake food but once in awhile will adapt to frozen. But you will need to start out with live. I take it that it's wild caught by you. __________________ SUCCESS IS MEASURED BY YEARS, NOT MONTHS!!! 220 Tank build http://www.aquariumforum.com/f15/sta...late-3253.html

07-24-2011, 05:35 PM	#3 (permalink)
dvanbramer88 dvanbramer88's Photo Gallery Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 118 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 2 Times Said "Thanks" 13 Times Was Thanked 13 Times in 12 Posts	Re: Sunfish help yes i did catch him myself, (in PA you can keep 50 a day, no size limit), no laws were broken. I tried tiny live worms and a tiny live slug, he ignored the worms and sucked in the slug but blew it right back out, the slug was soon ripped up and devoured by my 5 black skirt tetras. The small worms were completely ignored by everyone. __________________ 55 gallon FW community 20 gallon Goldfish 10 gallon firebelly toad

07-24-2011, 06:14 PM	#4 (permalink)
majerah1 Wild betta tamer majerah1's Photo Gallery Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 4,296 Name: Beverly D Fincannon Location: Easley,SC My location Feedback: 13 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 2,733 Times Said "Thanks" 547 Times Was Thanked 1,127 Times in 1,012 Posts	Re: Sunfish help Try beefheart.its really messy but many fish really love the stuff.Granted you dont mind the prep that is. __________________ http://bountifulbettas.blogspot.com/ "Come to the dark side....we have cookies...and filters/heaters/and water changes!"

07-24-2011, 06:25 PM	#5 (permalink)
dvanbramer88 dvanbramer88's Photo Gallery Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 118 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 2 Times Said "Thanks" 13 Times Was Thanked 13 Times in 12 Posts	Re: Sunfish help i hunt and fish, i wont mind the prep I will try it. I've seen elsewhere on here that people feed beef and deer heart pieces to discus fish. __________________ 55 gallon FW community 20 gallon Goldfish 10 gallon firebelly toad

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08-04-2011, 09:46 PM	#6 (permalink)
dvanbramer88 dvanbramer88's Photo Gallery Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 118 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 2 Times Said "Thanks" 13 Times Was Thanked 13 Times in 12 Posts	Re: Sunfish help UPDATE: My sunnie ate fish flakes today! he hasn't touched live worms, freeze dried blood worms or shrimp. He took in and swallowed flakes today. __________________ 55 gallon FW community 20 gallon Goldfish 10 gallon firebelly toad

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