Chaca chacas-obligate pescivores?

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Mount_Prion

Mount_Prion

Piranha
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Jan 31, 2012
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I've heard it can be difficult (or impossible with some) to get chaca chaca cats off live food. I've had mine under a week, and today I dropped a nightcrawler on its face. It immediately snapped 2/3 of it up, then spit the whole thing out about a minute later and now shows no interest.

Are they obligate pescivores? Did it just strike because it saw something moving and ultimately, will only eat feeder fish? Or should I keep trying with worms too.

I should note that feeding it feeders isn't an issue at all as the tank it is in is constantly stocked with them, but I wanted to supplement and make sure it's getting enough. And of course if it'll take frozen food or worms eventually when I target feed, that'd be amazing.
 
Mount_Prion said:
I've heard it can be difficult (or impossible with some) to get chaca chaca cats off live food. I've had mine under a week, and today I dropped a nightcrawler on its face. It immediately snapped 2/3 of it up, then spit the whole thing out about a minute later and now shows no interest.

Are they obligate pescivores? Did it just strike because it saw something moving and ultimately, will only eat feeder fish? Or should I keep trying with worms too.

I should note that feeding it feeders isn't an issue at all as the tank it is in is constantly stocked with them, but I wanted to supplement and make sure it's getting enough. And of course if it'll take frozen food or worms eventually when I target feed, that'd be amazing.
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Mine has only been feed live but i know of others who have theirs on cut fish and shrimp.
 
verbal said:
You should have no problem getting it to take live worms. I am not sure about frozen food or pellets.
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Like I said, he spit it out and then showed zero interest. Seemed a little annoyed at the attention actually and found himself another hiding spot. Anyway I'll keep the tank stocked with mollies and I'm sure he'll pick some off.
 
Can you get red wigglers or something smaller. When I had one , mine ate red wiggler worms all the time. I think blackworms might be a little too small. Livebearer fry should work also.
 
verbal said:
Another thing that might work is offering a worm segment rather than a whole worm.
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That's a good idea! There was still a bit of worm sticking out of its mouth, maybe it was too big. It was a nightcrawler. But this is a pretty big chaca, maybe 7''? so I figured it'd have no problem. Their mouths are pretty big.
 
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