Blue Acaras So Picky About Food?

[swandunken]

I have 2 Blue Acaras that I got in August. One is about 3.5 inches and the other is 3 inches, male being the larger one. They have a 40g to themselves and I do a 40% water change every week. They also had a brood in September which was eaten.

Lately (last month and half) they have been so picky about the food they eat its driving me crazy! I have been trying to feed them New Life flakes, New Life 1 mm sinking cichlid pellets, Harkari medium cichlid staple pellets(they float), Harkari frozen blood worms and brine shrimp 2-3 times per week. They ALMOST completely ignore both types of pellets. They will eat some flakes. The frozen stuff they eat most of the time, but not with as much enthusiasm as before. Any time they do decide to eat, they swim ever so slowly over to the food and stare at it as if they're deciding whether they should eat it or not..lol. I also know that feeding them 2-3 times per week isn't normal as they use to eat every day from the beginning of August to the beginning of October. To make one thing clear, they do eat, but not in any way like before.

I have tried not feeding them for a week without and success. The first day after fasting for a week was no different than any other day.

They look completely healthy, act/swim normally, no signs of illness. No red anus, nothing hanging out of it. Only thing is their poo sometimes is all white and other times its dark.??? I have read numerous post suggesting it may be a parasite, but I don't think they would have lived 1.5 months with a parasite. I might be wrong though.

Just wanted to know if its something I should forgot about, or try to solve. Any ideas??

Thnaks!!!!

 

[minxfishy]

Have you tried worming them? Or using some internal parasite meds? Whilst it may not be parasites, it wouldnt hurt to rule them out.

Ive never used flakes on cichlids, as they dont IME like them at all and at only 3" ish they may find the pellets to large/hard to eat. Ive found smaller cichlids take tetra prima better than any other food as its small enough and not found one of my fish that doesnt like them. Its been a while since I had BA's but when I did they mainly liked to eat from the substrate and not from the water/floating foods.

You havent said what your water parameters are, do you know them, ammonia, nitrIte etc? whilst it may not be that, its always handy to know to rule out any water quality problems that may be effecting them.

 

[star4]

I agree with Minxy tetra prima is great all my lot love it, its an excellent food as it floats and sinks. I worm mine regularly as a precaution.

 

[swandunken]

I thought about treating them for worms, but its hard to use medications when there's no obvious illness. What Medication would you recommend? I also don't understand there complete attitude with eating 1.5 months and lasting this long. I'll probably try ending up using a medication.

As for water stats:

Temp 27c
Ph 7.8
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 10

Thanks

 

[markandhisfish]

try em with some livefood also daphnia and bloodworm. i know daphnia are timy but youd be surprised at what will eat it. my blue acara loves daphnia hell even my 7 inch+ sev loves it lol.

 

[star4]

I use sterazin made by waterlife, it was recommended by my LFS, it does coldwater, tropical and marine, I used it with my 2 large plecs when I first got them and with a sick koi and they pulled through. Its good stuff

 

[snowflake311]

Mine eat whatever I have. Whiteish poop can be due to stress many of the times. Do you have other fish in the tank?