Marbled Gar Not Eating

hI guys, as you know I got a marbled gar, aka pike characin, last wednesday from my lfs. I knew these guys were timid and take a while to accept new foods but since I got him (6 days) he hasn’t eaten anything i’ve offered, flakes, pellets, brine shrimp, blood worms, tilapia, krill. Today I tried earthworms for the first time because it was live food and put it right in front of him and he didn’t go for it. He seemed interested, but never actually went for it. Any suggestions?? I know fish can go a while without eating but i’m starting to get worried about this guy.

PS he’s in the tank with 3 senegal bichirs and 1 tuegelsI bichir, custom 67 gallon growout until they go to a 125.

 

Try Garlic Guard.

 

Try Garlic Guard.

I have tried that and same result

 

I have tried that and same result

Is the gar showing any symptoms of being ill? Lethargy, hiding, sunken belly?

I'd try other live foods as well to see if it initiates a predator response.

I don't have any experience with monster fish, but I know Joey from King of DIY mentioned his arowana, before it died, would go 2-3 weeks without eating whenever he would transfer it from one tank to another. For some fish, especially wild caught ones, it just seems to take them a while to adjust to a new environment.

 

Is the gar showing any symptoms of being ill? Lethargy, hiding, sunken belly?

I'd try other live foods as well to see if it initiates a predator response.

I don't have any experience with monster fish, but I know Joey from King of DIY mentioned his arowana, before it died, would go 2-3 weeks without eating whenever he would transfer it from one tank to another. For some fish, especially wild caught ones, it just seems to take them a while to adjust to a new environment.

I wouldn’t say he hides, but he is definitely skiddish, a characteristic of the species. Other than that I don’t see any signs of illness.

 

Get some feeders and just let them stay in the tank. They'll disappear. I had a needle nose gar that took about two months before I ever saw it eat. Once it's comfortable eating in front of you, you can work on getting it off live foods.

 

Get some feeders and just let them stay in the tank. They'll disappear. I had a needle nose gar that took about two months before I ever saw it eat. Once it's comfortable eating in front of you, you can work on getting it off live foods.

I would rather not go with feeders due to the risk of parasites/infections, any of alternatives?

 

I would rather not go with feeders due to the risk of parasites/infections, any of alternatives?

Feeder shrimp don't carry the risk of disease that fish do. Maybe try crickets as well?

 

Sorry if you don't like feeders, but you have a piscivorous predator, and fish are their primary diet. It is possible that it might take a small insect floating on the surface. But the main thing is that the food needs to be moving. An old trick, put a piece of food on a straw/stick and move it around in front of him. I'd try a piece of that Tilapia first, as it smells like fish.

BTW, I've used small minnows from the bait store as feeders. I've also gone out and collected my own. They aren't going to be carrying warm water fish disease, if any. And there is very little risk to a piscivore when it eats a slightly sick fish. These are the ones that they go for in the wild because they're slow or weak. Their digestive system will digest most any disease organism their meal carries. The problem with Goldfish feeders isn't the disease, it is that they are nutritionally deficient.

 

Feeder shrimp don't carry the risk of disease that fish do. Maybe try crickets as well?

I’ve tried shrimp, may go with crickets.

Sorry if you don't like feeders, but you have a piscivorous predator, and fish are their primary diet. It is possible that it might take a small insect floating on the surface. But the main thing is that the food needs to be moving. An old trick, put a piece of food on a straw/stick and move it around in front of him. I'd try a piece of that Tilapia first, as it smells like fish.

BTW, I've used small minnows from the bait store as feeders. I've also gone out and collected my own. They aren't going to be carrying warm water fish disease, if any. And there is very little risk to a piscivore when it eats a slightly sick fish. These are the ones that they go for in the wild because they're slow or weak. Their digestive system will digest most any disease organism their meal carries. The problem with Goldfish feeders isn't the disease, it is that they are nutritionally deficient.

what would be the best option for feeder fish? Rosy red minnows, guppies, livebearers, crickets? Nutritional wise

 

Guppies and other small livebearers are good choices. You can sometimes get pinhead crickets, which are baby crickets, and if they will eat them, alternate the two. Another thing to try is a worm feeder, which keeps blackworms/tubifex at the surface. These are smaller than earthworms, but are a richer source of protein. However, this is an ambush predator, so something that moves around to where they are hiding is most likely to get their attention.

I forgot to mention, I'm not sure I would have tried keeping them with Bichirs, but if the water suits the Characin, I suppose it could work. You have chosen a fish that is notoriously difficult to maintain. Good luck!