Discussion question: Is "force feeding" a viable option?

[Slocke]

I'm asking this out of pure curiosity. This is has nothing to do with any fish that I currently have.


Having had a few fish who, usually after a stressful shipping, seem to lack the energy to eat or recover drift off and die. I was wondering if force feeding has been done successfully with fish and if its an option we could be prepared for?

I personally keep syringes and corn syrup on hand as I help with rescue animals and that is the best way to revive a crashing mammal. I have tried this once on a fish that had swim bladder issues and though it eventually died it did seem to last much longer then it usually would.

I also have feeding tubes on hand and know how to use them with a mammal. Are fish roughly the same?

 

[Malcontent]

I had a vet force feed one of my fish. I didn't ask for it but he was being treated for an infection and losing weight so the vet put some food in him. He made it.

I keep syringes and feeding needles on hand but haven't had to use them yet. I know people here or on other forums have done it, too.

 

[Slocke]

Really should have searched the forums before posting this:

Tube / Force Feeding Fish

This article describes methods of tube-feeding and force-feeding fish

www.reef2reef.com

If anyone is interested heres a couple cute videos of animals I saved these ways. This flying squirrel wasn't visibly breathing when it was brought to me but after revving it with corn syrup and 24 hours later.

Flying Squirrel 24hrs later

www.youtube.com

Then theres patches who required a few weeks of tube feeding but grew up to love the right things:

Patches loves fish!

www.youtube.com

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Really should have searched the forums before posting this:

Tube / Force Feeding Fish

This article describes methods of tube-feeding and force-feeding fish

www.reef2reef.com

If anyone is interested heres a couple cute videos of animals I saved these ways. This flying squirrel wasn't visibly breathing when it was brought to me but after revving it with corn syrup and 24 hours later.

Flying Squirrel 24hrs later

www.youtube.com

Then theres patches who required a few weeks of tube feeding but grew up to love the right things:

Patches loves fish!

www.youtube.com

I read your post about the ornate wrasse - it probably isn't a good candidate for tube feeding - pretty small fish and easily stressed during handling. You get into a loop with those - each time you handle it to feed it, you set it back and then it will never eat on its own.

Jay

 

[Slocke]

I read your post about the ornate wrasse - it probably isn't a good candidate for tube feeding - pretty small fish and easily stressed during handling. You get into a loop with those - each time you handle it to feed it, you set it back and then it will never eat on its own.

Jay

Thanks but I don’t think that’s me. I managed to keep a blue spot tamarin alive for a couple weeks by syringe feeding it but it eventually died. This was more asking if it is done successfully and only after posting it did I see your great article on your experience.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Thanks but I don’t think that’s me. I managed to keep a blue spot tamarin alive for a couple weeks by syringe feeding it but it eventually died. This was more asking if it is done successfully and only after posting it did I see your great article on your experience.

Oh, sorry. I see now that you were the person who tagged the medics, not the OP.

Jay