Can A Fish Survive Solely On Bloodworms?

[AK77]

Hi Guys,

I have a Banggai Cardinal, which has been in my tank for about 6 weeks or more. The stupid thing never seemed to eat anything in this time period and would just remain at one side of the tank doing its usual jerking backwards and forwards movement. I'd pretty much give up hope of it eating anything, as I had tried about 6 different food stuffs.

It did once consume a whole mysis shrimp but, after that, it never seemed to have much of an appetite. Two days ago, I threw some freeze dried bloodworm into the tank as a treat, which I hadn't done for a while. The Banggai went nuts for it and just kept eating. I threw some more in and it ate them too. I am really pleased that I know it will eat something at least but, can they survive soley on this diet?

 

[xxBarneyxx]

I honestly dont know but one thing that might be worth trying is mixing another food in with the bloodworm. If it then eats both lots together gradually cut down the amount of bloodworm and increase the other food (or keep feeding a combination).

 

[1entra]

Even though its may well be able to survive on bloodworm alone, I would not recommend it as the fish requires other nutrients that may well be essential to it in it's natural diet!

I would try to wean the cardinal onto other food slowly. I would do this by feeding it a very small amount of bloodworm every other day for approx a week or two, (keep the fish hungary... sounds cruel but it's good in the long run! ) then I would slowly mix the freeze dried bloodworm with a tiny bit of flake food or other (should get it to eat as it should be quie hungary!), gradually increasing the amount of flake whilst decreasing the amount of bloodworm each time round!

If this does not work, then you could buy some muti-vitamin/nutrient drops which are used to soak fish food in for several minutes before feeding the fish, this way the fish should at least get all the essential nutrients it requires.

Also is the fish alone in the tank? It might still be stressed from moving into a new home. If it is by itself then add a tank mate that is a greedy/ready eater. This may encourage the cardinal to feed with it/ try having some food!

For the time being you have at least got it eating, which is important as u wouldn't really want it starving tyo death!

Anyways good luck and let us know how u get on!

 

[AK77]

Yeah I think'll have to go the route of soaking the food in some kind of vitamin enriched solution. I've tried everything from flake food, mysis, bloodworm (FD & fresh) daphnia, tubiflex, mini shrimps to lobster eggs. It just won't touch anything else. The thing is, it looks like its put on a bit of weight from when I got it at the LFS so who knows? Maybe its eating stuff at night. It's definitely much more active after lights out.

 

[1entra]

it looks like its put on a bit of weight from when I got it at the LFS so who knows? Maybe its eating stuff at night. It's definitely much more active after lights out.

Well the fact its put weight on and is active IMO are indicators to show that it is in good health and not mal-nutriented! It may well be eating small critters like copepods etc that may be living in your live rock and come out at night!

But just to keep on the safe side I would still get some vitamins etc to add to it's daily food intake!

 

[AK77]

It'd be lucky to find cocepods. The dragonet is constantly on the prowl for them lol. It's definitely more active at night though. He seems to prefer feeding from the surface than food that's already in the water. I don't think there are that many more food stuffs I can try