Fussy Eaters

[Ross101]

i'm having some trouble getting some of my fish to eat basic fish food.

Most of them refuse to eat anything except bloodworm.

Jack Dempsey: eats bloodworm only atm.
GT: eats bloodworm and sometimes floating cichlid gold somtimes.
Rainbow cichlids: eat bloodworm and letuce only.
Severum: eats bloodworm and floating cichlid gold sometimes.
Some other fish only eat bloodworm as well.

I've tried cichlid gold sinking/floating, Tetra tablets, Tetra (red stuff).

I can't just feed them bloodworm because they go through to much!

Anyone have any reccomendations on some fish food that their cichlids like to eat?

thanks

 

[star4]

I am going through the same at the moment with an oscar thats residing with me for a while, his owner came yesterday to visit and chucked some pellet in and he ate straight away I had been panicing for a week and feeding "nice" foods so he ate. The only thing to do is starve the tank for 24 hours then feed the pellet, tempting as it is to feed them constantly what they will eat is not great for them. Fish are not stupid they wont allow themselves to starve. I had the same when I bought some new pellet, non of my fish would touch it, so thats all they were offered till they ate it, now their diet is varied again.

 

[Ross101]

I am going through the same at the moment with an oscar thats residing with me for a while, his owner came yesterday to visit and chucked some pellet in and he ate straight away I had been panicing for a week and feeding "nice" foods so he ate. The only thing to do is starve the tank for 24 hours then feed the pellet, tempting as it is to feed them constantly what they will eat is not great for them. Fish are not stupid they wont allow themselves to starve. I had the same when I bought some new pellet, non of my fish would touch it, so thats all they were offered till they ate it, now their diet is varied again.

I'll try not feeding for a while then. I just feed them because they gather at the front of the tank and give me the "feel sorry for me" face. So then I feel bad if i don't give them a treat of bloodworm.

 

[star4]

I do know exactly what you mean, hungry looking little faces, you feed them and no one touches what you put in and you feel just awful and cave and give them a treat I can do it with my own fish, I know they wont starve, but looking after someone elses I keep giving in and feeding treats. Which I have been strong and not done today and wont do again till Tigger eats properly

 

[fluttermoth]

Cichlids are well known for telling you they're starving if they miss one meal!

I've known Oscars that have not eaten for a week because they 'didn't like it'; you'll get there in the end; you just have to be stronger-willed than they are

It's like getting kids to eat their greens...

 

[star4]

My youngest will not eat veg at all Even when I show him the fish eating peas, broccoli & carrot he just tells me he is not a fish