Feeding

[ForumPete58]

I am having trouble feeding my fish. I have a snowflake eel and a volitan lionfish. I have been feeding my eel cocktail shirmp but I was wondering if there is anything else I can feed him; something a little less work. Also I cannot get my lion to eat at all. I have only had him a couple days so its not a huge concern yet but I want him to be happy. I tried to feed him some very small goldfish but he was not interested.
Thanks

[OrionGirl]

Good for the lion! Goldfish are totally unsuitable as a food for marine fish--and can kill the marine fish. Goldfish have a bony skull cap that few fish can digest, and it can create blockages in the intestines.

For the eel, mine would take anything and everything meaty. I feed chunks of fish, chopped shrimp, squid, mussels, scallops, and frozen Formula one. Same things for the lion fish. Silversides should be readily acceptable to both as well. If you must feed live foods, guppies and mollies can both be acclimated to SW, and will be less nutritional than the other foods I listed, but far, far better than goldies.

[BooBooFish]

I have learned with my dwarf lion to be patient and offer a variety of both size and selection until you find out what he likes. I am having luck with frozen krill and brine shrimp. He will also take frozen squid if it is just the right size. Keep at it you will find something he likes.

[ForumPete58]

I bought some frozen krill. The snowflake loves it, but I still cannot get my volitan to eat. I'm not really sure what is wrong with him but it is starting to worry me.
Thanks

[OrionGirl]

Lions can be tough to get trained onto prepared foods. Be patient, and try offering the food where there is enough current for it to move a bit. One option--use a piece of thread with a knot at the end, long enough that you can move the food around in front of the line, so the lion can still grab it and pull the thread through. Ghost shrimp might also be helpful in getting the lion enticed into eating, but I wouldn't recommend them as the sole food--just a treat, or if the fish hasn't eaten within 5-7 days. Patience--lions can go for several days without feeding quite easily. Both lions and eels are known to go on hunger strikes, even after they've been feeding well for months. A variety of food items will help keep them interested.

[ForumPete58]

I'll keep trying, thanks