New Convicts Wont Eat..help!

[brigette17]

hi everyone i just got 2 small convicts and i heard all this stuff from everyone saying they were some kick a$$ fishes but all mine do is hide and when i put my hand to change stuff around they hide...and they wont eat?i bought then cichlid pellets and i even tried shrimp pellets and nothing

 

[england]

ok slow down....ou say there new....so new surroudings,different food,took me three weeks to get my green terror to eat anything at all,they will eat wen there ready when i first got my oscars i fed them woodlice all the time from garden and after a while thats all they ate and when winter came they ouldnt touch the pellets again two weeks around until they gave in on hunger strike,,give a nice water change,lots of places to hide<makes em feel secure

 

[Tobigara]

i'd add try different foods to nelly's thoughts. frozen foods is what i would go with...bloodworms, brine shrimp etc. just cut it up and defrost it (in that order worked with mine) i had the same issue with my little convicts a couple of months ago and i just moved them to a bigger tank and they just got over the same problem.

 

[brigette17]

i'd add try different foods to nelly's thoughts. frozen foods is what i would go with...bloodworms, brine shrimp etc. just cut it up and defrost it (in that order worked with mine) i had the same issue with my little convicts a couple of months ago and i just moved them to a bigger tank and they just got over the same problem.

ok i'll try that..and also everytime i get near the tank they hide...is that normal? and i also had a gourami in there n he picked at the 2 convicts and convicts didnt defend themselfs..i thought they were butt kickers!!

 

[Tobigara]

they are butt kickers. they probably just need to adjust to the new tank. what are your water parameters like? if the water isn't right they'll be stressing out and that makes them edgy. is the tank cycled?

 

[brigette17]

they are butt kickers. they probably just need to adjust to the new tank. what are your water parameters like? if the water isn't right they'll be stressing out and that makes them edgy. is the tank cycled?

well yeah the tank is cycled,n i got my water tested at lps n they said everything is perfect...i'm just worried cause all they do is hide and wont eat! yesterday i did a 25% water change so they could feel better..my mom doesnt like my convicts and wants me to flush them! evil mom!

 

[Tobigara]

water changes can be a bit stressful for fish. if the tank is cycled then you don't have to do water changes all that often...once every one or two weeks. what about Stress Coat and salt? have you added any? they are supposed to lower stress levels. maybe that will help.

I'm sorry if i'm telling you things you already know. i always try to start with the basics then move on to the less obvious things.

 

[jayjay]

How big are these convicts? If they are small they are likely to be quite skittish for a while, as large breeding adults they will kill other fish pretty easy.

How long have they been in the tank? Are they with the stocking of your signature? What have you tried feeding?

I wouldn't add any salt etc. just let them get used to the tank.

 

[brigette17]

How big are these convicts? If they are small they are likely to be quite skittish for a while, as large breeding adults they will kill other fish pretty easy.

How long have they been in the tank? Are they with the stocking of your signature? What have you tried feeding?

I wouldn't add any salt etc. just let them get used to the tank.

well they are small not really small maybe 3 inches the male and the girl is smaller..they been in the tank for 4 days already and they stilll havent had food..and no they are not with the stocking in my signature,they are alone in a 29g tank.i tried feeding it flakes and cichlid pellets but they dont eat...

 

[Betta5]

I would leave them for a few days now, leave the lights off and try not to disturb them then in a few days try to feed them again, Live food is good to get them to start feeding

 

[brigette17]

ok they eat now!