sorry bout your loss...i had one for about 8 months...at first it was very hard to get it to eat frozen but nevertheless it got used to it....i think it all depends on the fish's personality as well...u cant jus condition them to ur liking....but i would definitely give it a shot...im debating about gettin another one as well...jus waiting for my 37 to thrive with pod to keep enough pod population for him...