German Blue Rams: Eating Habits

[mark4785]

Well I've owned a pair of German Blue Rams (male and female) for about 2 weeks now. Initially they didn't mind consuming manufactured tiny pellets but after I introduced them to frozen bloodworm they seem to have took a liking to it and tend disregard any other types of prepared food.

As a result I'm now adding Waterlife Vitazin (multi-vitamin supplement) to the blood worm so that they can absorb something more than just protein.

Is there any known method for encouraging them to eat foods which are more appropriate and which will stop various nutritional deficiencies from occurring?

P.S. I had the same problem with my outdoor Golden Orfe fish. Once they got a taste for Krill, Dapnia and River Shrimp, they would not eat pellets. I don't want the same to happen with the GBR's too!

Any advice would be appreciated.

Mark.

 

[Monty-2010]

Let them go hungry for a bit, they should then eat pretty much anything you offer them

 

[PDSimon]

I agree with the hungry bit above. I think also bloodworms are mostly fat, not even protein? So they are a treat at best. A lot of people her use hikari cichlid pellets, or micro pellets for smaller fish... the best thing you can do is give a balanced diet.

I feed my rams mostly sinking pellets (tetra tabamin), flake, peas and other veg, blood worm, algae wafers sometimes...

I found this recent thread useful

My link

 

[mark4785]

I agree with the hungry bit above. I think also bloodworms are mostly fat, not even protein? So they are a treat at best. A lot of people her use hikari cichlid pellets, or micro pellets for smaller fish... the best thing you can do is give a balanced diet.

I feed my rams mostly sinking pellets (tetra tabamin), flake, peas and other veg, blood worm, algae wafers sometimes...

I found this recent thread useful

My link

I think the tabamin is highly suited to Bolivians because it looks like a tablet food which sinks to the bottom where it will be nipped at. GBR's in stark contrast, will not notice this so I really need a floating food. I've been looking around on eBay and cannot seem to find appropriate food for Dwarf Cichlids; I already have algae wafers and tiny high-protein pellets and they show not much interest in these. I may follow Monty's advise to some extent and see what happens when I re-introduce prepared foods.

I'll also consider putting some banana in. I've already tried putting a pea into the aquarium and disintergrated and made a mess; I won't be feeding them that again!

This product looks quite appealing for Dwarf Cichlids.

 

[PDSimon]

I believe but i'm not sure that the hikari ones are slow sinking so suited for the GBRs

 

[kaivalagi]

All the hikari cichlid pellets I've seen are floating ones, I think they do do sinking pellets but I've never seen them available?

 

[mark4785]

Will German Blue Rams eat fruits such as small pieces of grape, blueberry or banana?