xathine

I've been trying to put an RTS in my planted tank for a few weeks now.

I purchased 3 different sharks and NONE of them will eat, from a variety of flakes, frozen, freeze dried, even live foods - nothing.

I've purchased all 3 from different pet stores and even requested that they feed them before I buy - which I witnessed each time.

I'll introduce them to my tank, they seem happy but wont eat. After 4-5 days of not seeing them eat I've returned them.

The current shark I have now I've only had for 3 days and he isn't eating either.

What should I do?

Tank 30g Long
79 Degrees
0 ammonia
0 nitrites
5 nitrates
7.2 pH

mix of sand / flourite substrate, decently planted. Alot of caves / hiding spots.

aquarist48

Hello xathine. Red Tail Sharks and Rainbow Sharks are nocturnal and are most active at night. Were they losing weight at all? Did they look ill? Just because you don't actually see them eat doesn't mean that they aren't foraging around at night for food.
When I added my Rainbow Shark in with my Bloody Parrots I didn't even see the shark for 6 weeks. I thought he had been killed. Then one day he just popped up and had even grown since I put him in there.
I would suggest you give it more time to adapt. If it isn't losing weight then I wouldn't worry to much.
Best of luck!
Ken

Red1313

I've never seen my RTS eat. I've quite worrying about him now and just drop the stuff in and walk away, he'll eat it eventually.

xathine

Yeah it looks like he is losing weight.

My rainbow shark in my 55g is always out and always eats...

Red1313

Hmm what are you offering for food?
What are his tank-mates?
When are you trying to feed him?

aquarist48

Xathine, try a few drops of garlic juice on the food. It acts as a food enhancer and it may help.
Food I drop into my tank doesn't have a chance to reach the bottom. All of the bottom feeders swim along with everyone else at feeding time.
Ken

gmen4life

try blood worms all fish seem to enjoy them my pictus and redtail can almost smell them i think i put them in and they go crazy for them

JennDFK

I almost never see my RTS eat... but she has doubled in size since I bought her so I assume she's eating fine. I have her with a school of rainbow fish and they are pigs... so frankly I don't know what she survives on... much less thrives on.

My RTS love algae waffers... it is about the only thing I've ever seen her eat. She also nibbles on the veggies I provide and seems to eat algae off the plants. I also got her some sinking pellets and sometimes I throw them in after lights out (hoping that maybe the rainbows won't see it) as a treat.