Question about an adult red devil

[Mbunaphan]

I usually only keep mbuna, but I fell in love with a horribly mean adult red devil at an exotic aquatics store. I setup his/her tank, installed a fully cycled canister filter, put a few large mbuna in the tank, and let it go for two weeks. Everything was perfect, and still is... so I brought the red devil home yesterday and it is very active, responds to me walking by, follows my hand, etc... the only problem is that it won't take food, I even dangled one of my axolotl's night crawlers in the water and nothing but a stink eye. I have never had this happen with new mbuna, they always accept food instantly (I should mention the mbuna came OUT of the tank before adding the red devil before I get mean responses, lol). My question is, is this normal? If so. How long until I should worry?

Water parameters and other pertinent info:

12 inch red devil ALONE, no tank mates

Ammonia-0
Nitrite-0
Nitrate-5 ppm
Kh-80
Gh- 180
Temperature -82 degrees

75 gallon tank
Two 4 stage 380 gph canister filters
300 watt heater
600 gph power head at surface of water with fan to agitate surface
And Bubble bar

 

[Chockful O Phail]

Seems to me sa/ca cichlids don't like a lot of change and take some time getting settled in. I get the impression that the bigger/older they are the more this is true. I would just give him some time to settle in. He looks to be well fed so he could probably go a couple weeks before you really have to worry.

Other problem maybe previous owner only fed him live and then you'll have to get him on pellets or w/e. Shouldn't be hard with a devil.

 

[Mbunaphan]

Seems to me sa/ca cichlids don't like a lot of change and take some time getting settled in. I get the impression that the bigger/older they are the more this is true. I would just give him some time to settle in. He looks to be well fed so he could probably go a couple weeks before you really have to worry.

Other problem maybe previous owner only fed him live and then you'll have to get him on pellets or w/e. Shouldn't be hard with a devil.

Thanks for the quick reply! The previous owner was actually the store, they have had him for a while since he is really mean and no one wanted to buy him. They feed pellets...I tried a few pellets, blood worms, shrimp chunks, and then the live worm. I took all the food OUT of the tank after he didnt eat it, only the live night crawler remains and if he doesnt eat it, I guess its his new tank mate lol.

 

[Manu8__too]

Great looking Amph. I agree with the above post. Adult Cichlids often take a few extra days to eat after they've been moved to a new home. He looks thick and healthy, so I wouldn't worry about it. Great find!

 

[Southjerseycichlidz]

Don't worry about it I recently just got an adult female blood parrot and it hasn't eatin in two days they can go a pretty long while with out takin food from my experiences they just don't do well with change have to get comfortable with the new surroundings

 

[tlindsey]

Jacklyn welcome aboard

 

[RD.]

Not to worry, that big ol fat boy could go weeks without eating. As others have stated he's just getting settled in to his new home.

 

[ehh]

Mine went two or three without eating when I brought him home.

 

[DBLN8]

He's a big un! he'll eat give him time, nice markings on him.

 

[ragin_cajun]

I never noticed this, but now that I hear it, it is totally true. 4-6 inch fish can go from one tank to another like it's nothing. Move an adult fish, and it's a totally different story.

I get the impression that the bigger/older they are the more this is true