whats wrong with my lion?

[Mbeef61]

i have this big volitan loinfish...(about 9 inches long) and i know that they have a hard time getting used to eating prepared food (they prefer live) but i have had him for a long time now and he wont eat anymore...everything with him seems fine...he even seems hungry. i put his normal shrimp (dehydrated) in and he swims around all aggressvily and swims to it and even lets it hit him.. he stalks it and everything like always. he even swims right up to it, and fake snaps at it but wont eat it...ive tried other things but he doesnt even pay attention to those..he loves the shrimp but he wont make the final step and eat the dang thing! can loins get like lockjaw or what is his deal? water parameters all ok..is he just being stubborn and demanding live food? i dont like do to this because it introduces diseases into the aquarium

 

[JPloman]

It sounds to me like he wants live food. Use some fresh water fish, guppies or goldfish, and get him fed.

Did you ask the fish store you bought him from if he was eating live or prepared food? That might have something to do with it. If you havent had him long, he might not have been eating at the fish store at all... that would be sad for you.

 

[specialk]

Please try to avoid fresh water feeders for your Volian, try silversides on a feeding stick. Thaw the silverside place it on a feeding stick and wiggle it in front of your Lion.
When I feed my Lion I use a feeding stick because they have a hard time catching food, it can land on their head and they wont see it. LOL
One of the Lion I took in because the guy thought it was blind and could not see the food. I brought it home and used the Feeding Stick it ate without a problem.


What have you been feeding it?
How often have you been feeding?
Whens the last time this lion ate?


Kaye

 

[Mbeef61]

i feed it jumbo freeze dried shrimp...the weird thing is is that i have had him for a long time and he has always eaten...he hasnt had prblems with prepared food..i feed twice daily or as he needs it....he shows tremendous interest in the food like swimming around it and letting it hit his mouth....these were his fav and he always ate them no prob...the last time i saw him eat was like a week/week and a half ago.

 

[Mbeef61]

yeah i wont feed him freshwater fish....not worth losing my huge lion cuz i fed him a 7 cent feeder goldfish from petco

 

[Hara]

buy fresh shrimp from your grocer....peel it and put it on a feeding stick for it.

 

[specialk]

How is your Lion doing? Has it eaten yet?

Kaye

 

[Mbeef61]

nope still wont eat....ive tried live food as well same thing...he just wants to stalk it and not eat...hes still doing great though...

 

[specialk]

Well there still time for this Lion, if it has lock jaw I am hoping it can take care of that itself. As long as there is no bloating, like something lodged it.

Lion seem to do what looks like a Yawn, is yours still doing this?

Kaye

 

[Mbeef61]

yes i have seen him do his yawn...man thats a big mouth...so that means its workings....however..his fins...the ones that stick way far out and up on the sides...on the tips there is getting to be spots. like his little wispys are spotting..not like ick like stains..

 

[Xenos]

Have you tried fresh squid? My suggestion is to go to your local market and buy some fresh fish like flounder and see if you can't find his chocolate.
Stay away from goldfish. Freshwater dip some damsels and feed that fish if you have to. It is easier to introduce food to a healthy fish than a pinched fish.