I'm Very Worried About My Rainbow Shark

[Matt Winter]

Now, I've only had this guy for 2 days, but bear with me - I've seen him sucking up and spitting out food and examining everything I drop in the tank but going away unimpressed. Everything I've read says they're mostly herbivorous and will accept flakes but he's rejected:

Nutrifin max flakes
wardley goldfish flakes
teraMenu tropical flakes - (cereal, potatoe, shrimp, and algae)
hikari algae wafers
tiny bits of cucumber
black worms

he may have eaten some brine shrimp, but he certainly didn't go mad for them, and I'm not sure.

Now I know that sounds like I am ridiculously over feding, but when I realised he was actively looking for food but not liking any I tried a bit of everything. I removed all the uneaten stuff AND did a water change today. He isn't being bullied, (he's the largest fish in my tank at 4 - 4.5 inches) and he seems to be happily exploring.

What do people who sucessfully have these guys feed them?

 

[cuticom]

Can you try bloodworms? My shark lives in the eel tank and he dosnt get fed, he just eats excess bloodworms from the eels and seems to love his life, he eats algae too, and loves algae wafers.

 

[paul_219]

Could be a bit shy my silver and columbian shark where like this and now they are fine what ever i feed them they eat.

 

[Matt Winter]

I'll get some blood worms and some different algae flakes and wait a little more -

Thanks for your advice.

-M

 

[Matt Winter]

Now I'm more worried - I saw a guppy nipping at my sharks dorsal fin and he just took it - He neither fought back or swam off. He's looking pretty listless too. Just a few hours ago he was zipping in and out of caves and plants, gently gliding around and hiding in a healthy looking fashion.

Either he's so unwell that a guppy 1/4 his size can pick on him with impunity or my guppy was cleaning him. What can I do? I don't have another tank to put him in but if it's the thing to do I could put him in a plastic pet carrier ( maybe 5 gallons ) with a way over powered heater and a lil fluval 1+ or a home made sponge filter.

Advice please