Baby arowana not eating shrimp?

[Ohnoitstfloyd]

Hey there- My baby silver, noodle, has been eating hakari floating pellets, but they make the tank super dirty and I feel like he should be eating “real” food. So I tried shrimp.
He’s about 4 inches long.
So I cut it up into bite sized chunks.
Nothing.
Okay, smaller chunks.
Nothing.
Okayyy, ruin my kitchen aid blender and blend it.


Nothing. Wtf??? I took the paint off the sides of his tank the other day and I think that might be distracting him. Because all he wanted to do was fight with himself. Also I did a water change last night which was about as exciting to him as it sounds. He’s not a fan. So maybe stress? I guess I’m going to not feed him for a couple days and then try shrimp? I’m freezing it now, but is there anything else I should try? Like maybe if I make a disgusting blended fish cocktail? Anybody have any tips on target training as well?? He’s about to move to a big boy tank and I’d like to get it figured out before then. If it’s of any relevance I added a bichir last week, cookie. But cookie stays in the bottom corner. Not even sure she’s eating yet. (Any tips on getting her to come out and eat? Thinking about adding silver dollars) there’s a pic of him if that helps. He’s got the cutest red stripes in his tail. Also is that normal?

 

[tlindsey]

Hey there- My baby silver, noodle, has been eating hakari floating pellets, but they make the tank super dirty and I feel like he should be eating “real” food. So I tried shrimp.
He’s about 4 inches long.
So I cut it up into bite sized chunks.
Nothing.
Okay, smaller chunks.
Nothing.
Okayyy, ruin my kitchen aid blender and blend it.


Nothing. Wtf??? I took the paint off the sides of his tank the other day and I think that might be distracting him. Because all he wanted to do was fight with himself. Also I did a water change last night which was about as exciting to him as it sounds. He’s not a fan. So maybe stress? I guess I’m going to not feed him for a couple days and then try shrimp? I’m freezing it now, but is there anything else I should try? Like maybe if I make a disgusting blended fish cocktail? Anybody have any tips on target training as well?? He’s about to move to a big boy tank and I’d like to get it figured out before then. If it’s of any relevance I added a bichir last week, cookie. But cookie stays in the bottom corner. Not even sure she’s eating yet. (Any tips on getting her to come out and eat? Thinking about adding silver dollars) there’s a pic of him if that helps. He’s got the cutest red stripes in his tail. Also is that normal?

View attachment 1314766

Whatever you do keep the Hikari food sticks in the Silver Arowana's feeding rotation because it's actually nutritional for Aro's. The Aro may need a few times to realize the shrimp is food. Also whenever the Arowana is stressed or any level of the water parameters are off will cause most fish to refuse food. Wait to add any more fish until the Arowana is adjusted to the 125 gallon move.

 

[MariaS]

@Ohnoitstfloyd ,

Nice baby you have there!

Arowanas are masters of testing your patience... welcome to their world!!!!

You going to just have to keep trying, as she grows and her appetite/food needs increase, she should eventually take it
Some of us wish ours would take pellets and thus a more balanced diet and we have never won the battle
Personally... at 4" .. she is a bit small to starve ... I would wait until she is a little bit bigger

Putting the prawn in the blender, if she doesnt eat it, will make more mess than the pellets so Im not sure I would do that

Good luck

 

[feeling2good]

It takes time to get them onto other types food. Be patient.

 

[torcombro]

Hey there- My baby silver, noodle, has been eating hakari floating pellets, but they make the tank super dirty and I feel like he should be eating “real” food. So I tried shrimp.
View attachment 1314766

I believe in the wild, aros eat what they can find on the water surface or on top of them such as insects or bugs. You can try feeding noodle crickets or mealworm beetle. If you want to try feeding noodle shrimps, try not to feed noodle for 3-7days. Do not forget to peel of the shrimp. Cut the shrimp to noodle bite size. Adding a top level or mid level fish might help the process. Noodle will feel he/she has a competition. Silver dolars, Barbonymus schwanenfeldii, are suitable tankmates for noodle. Make sure their size are smaller than noodle