PlanetCatfish.com

Help!
I recently had to inherit a Pangasius hypophthalmus (Iridescent Shark) from a friend who could no longer care for it. I am having trouble getting him to eat.
My friend had him in a large community aquarium for a few years, but, he had such a variety of food for the many different inhabitants in the tank that we never figured out what he was eating. Id rather not just toss in a dozen different entries and hope he likes one. I'm hoping that someone who has cared for one would be able to help me decide what to get for him. He is still a juvenile at about 20 cm (8 inches).
Help would be appreciated.
Thanks.

They are not fussy eaters and will most anything. Your best bet would be sinking pellets or frozen foods.

I have other fish in this tank that take sinking pellets and algae wafers. I also have fish in this tank that eat blood worms and glass worms. Iâ??ve still never seem him eat. Are they known to be shy eaters?

No, they are fairly gluttonous like many other catfishes. Maybe it's the stress of the moving (in which case, it should be eating again soon). Or you can try floating food sticks.

I think I'll try that next. I understand that as these mature they prefer to have more vegetable based food, but, I have no idea how old he is aside from the two years that my friend had him. I donâ??t even know what his lifespan is.

you could try a midwater floating food like tetra prima this works great with pangasiids. But all my cats love to chase tetra prima around the tank.
jason

It's a common misconception that pangasiids need more vegetable-based food as they grow. With the exception of Pangasianodon gigas, most other species of pangasiids are highly predatory and will take a mixture of vegetable- and animal-based food (with the latter seemingly more common), including smaller fishes.

Mine's favorite is sinking shrimp pellets. He scavenges a lot at night, so you may want to watch at night. It doesn't have to be completely dark. He will eat flake if really hungry but rarely. He will also eat most any kind of worms. Mine doesn't eat every day usually one or two times a week in quantity.

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I'll see if he eats tonight with the lights dim.
I appreciate the help.

i fed mine shrimp pellets and cichlid balls; they loved them!! they also liked bloodworm

Mine seems to like Wardley's Sinking Algae Discs the most, he eats them whole. He also eats Tetra Pro Tropical Crisps.

mine like shrimp pellets, that is all mine eat, just watch how much you put in like it was said they are glutonous eaters

just to let you know that my pangasisu sutchi can go for ages without eating anything - I think it factually forgets to eat. Ic can not eat for MONTHS, gets thin and then suddenly stats at food like ther's no tomorrow.
if life gets really thin try sopme live shrimp in the tank.

I have four Iridecent Sharks. They eat anything, like flakes and shrimp pellets.

I feed mine either freeze dried krill or TetraMin flavor crisps. He eats them down like there's no tomorrow. I think once yours gets used to the move and his new environment, he will be eating fine.