Etroplus feeding advice

[golcondorus]

I got my first pearlspot chromide a month ago and 7 more a week and a half ago, and I can't get them to eat anything except frozen. They will eat brine shrimp, bloodworms and mysis but won't take anything dry, they don't even really like cucumber or peas either. I have tried cichlid flakes, several different veggie and spirulina flake and pellets to no avail. Does anyone have any advice on how to get them eating prepared foods? Should I starve them out? There so rare I'm afraid to make any mistakes with these guys. I usually feed twice a day. They are in a 75 gallon with some brochis and platies. Temp at 80F. Any advice, or personal experiences would help, thanks.


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[duanes]

I feed HBH Super soft Spirulina and Super Soft krill (almost exclusively) and never had a problem with them not eating.
They are also kept with other small greedy cichlids, which may influence their behavior. It's usually a bit of a frenzy when the HBH is dropped in,
When I first got them, in a tank with Ptychochromis "tarantsy"

at present, house with young E suratensus

 

[RD.]

Duane, just a FYI in case you weren't aware. HBH closed their doors last year, and I'm not sure whether the guys who bought them out (Pisces Pros) are keeping things in full production, partial production (a lot of products have already been discontinued) or if they simply purchased the remaining stock and are blowing it out? The super soft Spirulina appears on their discontinued line up. http://www.piscespros.com/discontinued-products/ and on their products page I see no sign of the super soft Krill formula. http://www.piscespros.com/our-products/



To the OP, I would pick a quality small sinking pellet and presoak the pellets in blood worm juice, and slowly wean them over to pellets. They will figure it out soon enough. Once they start readily consuming the presoaked pellets slowly wean them off the blood worm juice until they are eventually just eating pellets. You should be able to convert them in 2 weeks or less. Good luck.

 

[golcondorus]

Thats a good idea, I will try soaking some omega one or nls in bloodworms, thank you


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[RD.]

When you start off just feed a small amount, and only once a day in the AM when they will be most hungry. I have used this method to convert juvenile fish imported from Thailand that had never seen a pellet in their life, and had been raised exclusively on blood worms. And these were skinny fish, not in very good shape compared to your fish. Works every time.

 

[duanes]

Thanks for the info.
When I last ordered thru Jehmco only soft spirulina was available, and I did wonder why.
Didn't know HBH went out.
I hope the new people continue the line, my fish would seem to gravitate to the soft foods if given a choice between that, or hard dry pellets.
If not, a short soak is always an option.

Duane, just a FYI in case you weren't aware. HBH closed their doors last year, and I'm not sure whether the guys who bought them out (Pisces Pros) are keeping things in full production, partial production (a lot of products have already been discontinued) or if they simply purchased the remaining stock and are blowing it out? The super soft Spirulina appears on their discontinued line up. http://www.piscespros.com/discontinued-products/ and on their products page I see no sign of the super soft Krill formula. http://www.piscespros.com/our-products/



To the OP, I would pick a quality small sinking pellet and presoak the pellets in blood worm juice, and slowly wean them over to pellets. They will figure it out soon enough. Once they start readily consuming the presoaked pellets slowly wean them off the blood worm juice until they are eventually just eating pellets. You should be able to convert them in 2 weeks or less. Good luck.

 

[ciclasoman]

I got my first pearlspot chromide a month ago and 7 more a week and a half ago, and I can't get them to eat anything except frozen. They will eat brine shrimp, bloodworms and mysis but won't take anything dry, they don't even really like cucumber or peas either. I have tried cichlid flakes, several different veggie and spirulina flake and pellets to no avail. Does anyone have any advice on how to get them eating prepared foods? Should I starve them out? There so rare I'm afraid to make any mistakes with these guys. I usually feed twice a day. They are in a 75 gallon with some brochis and platies. Temp at 80F. Any advice, or personal experiences would help, thanks.


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Pearl spot is primarily vegetarian in the wild but as you can tell they have a preference for shrimp. It's always a good idea to find out what the previous owner was feeding and transition to whatever you have available. I have tried a number of commercial foods. I can say from my experience Omega sinking pellets are ignored, as well as many spirulina containing products. I use Hikari cichlid gold sinking pellets (small size) and they love that stuff. I frequently put green hairy algae and duck weed to keep their guts healthy. I would not feed them for a couple of days and feed very sparingly until they start begging for the pellets. I also use tetra color bits, which they also like.