brine shrimp might work, but iw ould feed them live blackworms. frozen bloodworms just arent enough imo, shaved fish peices also worked well for me as did nightcrawlers finely chopped ( but it VERY messy ). i would feed this at least the first few weeks, as most spineys are starved/starving in lfs. zigzags though also will occasionally take pellets much easier. i would try some NLS thera a or the cichlid pellets, sinking and as small as you can find. they are very finicky eaters so any cheap food wont work.