BIG tank + small "O" = feeding issues?!?!

[playa7]

hey guys...

i have a 120 gal tank (4x2x2ft) w/1 pictus cat...i recently bought a small 3-4" tiger oscar, who is now in the tank...doing fine and swimming around (mid-level to bottom level only)...i tried to feed him Hikari cichlid gold pellets, freeze dried blood worms and shrimp which all float at the top of the tank, so he dosent even see it! ...today i was feeding my pictus cat his Hikari sinking carnivore pellets and to my surprise my oscar ate it... why doesnt he eat his own food?!?!

here's the problems/questions...
1) is my tank to high for my 4" oscar?
2) is it ok for my oscar to eat the sinking pellets all the time? (if he doesnt see anything else)
3) will his behavior change? (i was thinking maybe he's just getting used to his new tank and hopefully find his way to the top)
4) i'm open to any and all suggestions!!!!!

thanks
-ROB

 

[Nova 8]

Why not squish the Hikari Gold so it sinks, then he can eat that instead.

 

[playa7]

thanks i'll try that....

 

[Bogwoodbruce]

I've got six oscars ranging from 2inch to 12inch and at all sizes they hang around the top of the tank waiting for their next meal.

 

[MJB]

yeah oscars usually go crazy at the water line for food when the owner comes, so I dont see why he isnt eating unless he doesnt know you...YET

 

[playa7]

yeah oscars usually go crazy at the water line for food when the owner comes, so I dont see why he isnt eating unless he doesnt know you...YET

i guess thats true with my oscar...i notice when i aproach the tank he hides at first ..then he slowly comes out to see who i am...this morning i just sat there and watched him for a long time ...to my surprise he swam to the top of the tank for the first time... so i dropped him a few pellets and he ate them! ...unfortunately, now when i throw in sinking pellets for my pictus cat he eats those as well, before my pictus even has a chance to eat them. not cool...now i have to sneak those in, when his back is turned. ....what a pig!

thanks for the intrest in my thread guys...
-ROB

 

[PMK]

i guess thats true with my oscar...i notice when i aproach the tank he hides at first ..then he slowly comes out to see who i am...this morning i just sat there and watched him for a long time ...to my surprise he swam to the top of the tank for the first time... so i dropped him a few pellets and he ate them! ...unfortunately, now when i throw in sinking pellets for my pictus cat he eats those as well, before my pictus even has a chance to eat them. not cool...now i have to sneak those in, when his back is turned. ....what a pig!

thanks for the intrest in my thread guys...
-ROB

Once he asscociates you with food he'll be at the top of the tank the moment he sees you. As for your cat what i used to do was feed them on one side then on the opther drop the sinking food in while he was busy eating.

 

[dovii88]

use slow sinking pellets...

 

[playa7]

use slow sinking pellets...

what brand would those be? ...the Hikari sinking pellets i use, is for my picus cat ...so i dont want my oscar to eat those ...

update: for those who care ...i came home from work today and he responded to the tank lid opening! now he knows that i have the power of food in my hand..he ate all the floating pellets like a champ.

Hmmm...now i wonder if he would get along with my Jardini?!?! that would be sweet!

thanks everyone for the help
-ROB

 

[ethnics]

leave ur oscar alone and dont change what you feed. ur oscar jus doesn't even kno where the foods coming from. feed as you do, sooner or later he'll notice and realize "when my owner comes, head to the top for food". my oscars acted like retards in my 400gal and didnt eat for 2 weeks. finally they were like "damn im starving" and swam to the glass when i walked in, low n behold, they were splashing at the surface for every pellet i threwin.

oops, edit: i didnt realize you jus posted that he eats from the surface. SWEET! lol. now wether ur jardini likes him or not is another story. chances are, he wont take ur oscar lightly. he will abuse the freak out of it til it dies =x