My ropefish is picky and I worry about him

[CarnivorousFish]

Got a ropefish recently. He’s been doing okay except he’s very picky. I’ve tried: fluval bug bites, homemade fishfood (beefheart), chopped up earthworms, and freeze tried tubifex worms.
I can’t do bloodworms or shellfish as I’m severely allergic to both . I’ve only ever seen him eat once. About a week and a half after I got him he ate up some earthworms. Figured that’s what he liked. But he hasn’t eaten a bite of them since. He seems to actively ignore them now. Tonight he approached the worm but then just scooted right on past. I worry that even with a buffet of choices and food readily available to him he’ll starve to death. Any other rope keepers have trouble? And maybe a tip or trick?
Here’s a picture of my lovely Noodles Wearing a sinking pellet as a hat.

 

[Blakewater]

Try leaving tilapia or floating pellets in the tank. Polypterus and Kin don’t die easy. He’ll eat and take care of himself when you aren’t looking. I have a poly in my 550g that I almost never see and have never seen eat but still he’s staying plump and keeps growing.

Polys in my opinion do not die, unless treated absolutely horribly. He’ll be fine just give him options and time

 

[Hendre]

I rarely see my ropefish eat the sinking pellets I drop in but he's getting fatter a year later. He'll be good.

Also try and skip the beefheart, it isn't good for fish long term. Are you allergic to regular fish?

 

[twentyleagues]

Agreed. Most polys eat at night so you'll have to leave food in there over night. Most of mine eat in broad day light. But some dont and 3 years later they are still alive so they must eat something. Same with most of my synodontis. Until a recent move had me dismantle my 180 I thought my synodontis flavitaeniatus was dead. I hadnt seen it in over a year. Nope still doing good had to tear the background up to get him out though.

 

[CarnivorousFish]

Try leaving tilapia or floating pellets in the tank. Polypterus and Kin don’t die easy. He’ll eat and take care of himself when you aren’t looking. I have a poly in my 550g that I almost never see and have never seen eat but still he’s staying plump and keeps growing.

Polys in my opinion do not die, unless treated absolutely horribly. He’ll be fine just give him options and time

I just put in some frozen tilapia. He’s not interest right now but fingers crossed. My killifish are really enjoying it though.

 

[CarnivorousFish]

I rarely see my ropefish eat the sinking pellets I drop in but he's getting fatter a year later. He'll be good.

Also try and skip the beefheart, it isn't good for fish long term. Are you allergic to regular fish?

Nope just shellfish (snails, crabs, shrimp ect). I tried beefheart because I heard it was okay, at least for discus. And is the only homemade fishfood recipe I could find that didn’t have shellfish in it.

 

[CarnivorousFish]

Try leaving tilapia or floating pellets in the tank. Polypterus and Kin don’t die easy. He’ll eat and take care of himself when you aren’t looking. I have a poly in my 550g that I almost never see and have never seen eat but still he’s staying plump and keeps growing.

Polys in my opinion do not die, unless treated absolutely horribly. He’ll be fine just give him options and time

Looks like the tilapia did it!
bit hard to see. But here’s Noodles tearing into a bit of tilapia.

 

[Blakewater]

Glad he's chowing down :]

 

[Niki_up]

I had the same problem with my rope when she first arrived. No interest in food when it was put in the tank...I left the food in overnight or made sure I was dropping a pellet or two in after lights out.

then bam one day she just came out during feeding to get her share And now is always the first to smell it in the water and first to grab a mouthful...my jacks are still skiddish of me during feeding time (2 years later) so the rope always makes it to the first bite haha

 

[Hendre]

Nope just shellfish (snails, crabs, shrimp ect). I tried beefheart because I heard it was okay, at least for discus. And is the only homemade fishfood recipe I could find that didn’t have shellfish in it.

Beefheart isn't great for any fish, just gets explosive growth but can shorten the lifespan. Glad he's eating!