BGK not eating

[Dreamsing]

I adopted a 7 inch bgk about five days ago. He's living in my 55 for now (because he's still so small) with a pike cichlid and a rhino pleco. No fights, but he doesn't show any interest in the foods I've given him.

His previous owner fed him shirmp pellets and blood worms. I've tried both of these and he just ignores them. Any advice?

 

[Dreamsing]

Bump. He's still not interested in anything I'm feeding. Is it just that I'm used to cichlid feeding habits and the BGK by contrast isn't always hungry?

 

[cc247]

they can go a long time without food... just give him time to get comfortable in his new tank... try feeding with the lights off as well... goodluck

 

[Bhack91]

Yea try feeding at night.

 

[benzjamin13]

Does he have a hiding spot? Probably needs to adjust to it's surrounds still. Feed at night too...that should help.

 

[Dreamsing]

Thanks for the input everyone.

I've added several opaque pipes to the tank for hiding. He seems to prefer hovering behind a piece of drift wood though. I'll try feeding at night. I assume he isn't starving since he still has energy enough to wonder around when the lights go out.

 

[siôn.griffin]

I've had one for a year and a half - about 5 months ago, he left his usual hiding place (a cave) and started swimming parallel to the motor tube, and stayed like this for about a month, and didn't eat at all for several weeks. Its fine now though.

 

[pat3612]

I finally got mine to eat when I tried earthworms.

 

[m1ste2tea]

try hikari carnivore pellets, they're nice and stinky and the fish really react to them. My BGK didn't eat in the first week when I bought him as well. hope he's better now.

 

[Dreamsing]

Thanks guys. I'll try grabbing some earth worms and some of those hikari pellets. I have been feeding after I turn the lights off and he seems to have more energy now. Still haven't seen him actually eat, but I assume he must have eaten some. Bigest problem is the Cichlids, they are pigs and they are much more comfortable in the tank still. Hopefully he will find the new foods too tempting and it will make him a bit less shy.