Finicky Texas Cichlid.

[coryjac0b]

Well a few weeks ago i went out and caught another texas cichlid at my local park. The first week it didn't really eat much. I offered raw shrimp pieces, it would eat that up until a a week ago. Out of desperation i picked up some like worms from a bait shop. He eats the worms right out of my fingers as if he hasn't eaten in days.

Any suggestion to get this guy to eat pellets and not have to feed him live worms?

 

[Eläköön]

If you could get him to take insects from the surface this is a very natural way for them to feed, once he has settled in he should display interest in say crickets etc that are floating.
then once hes accustomed to eating whatever hits the waters surface it should be much easier for you to wean him onto pellets.

Also any pics?

 

[clayton1985]

NLS do a finicky fish food formula specifically for this purpose its called spectrumax finicky fish food formula. i had a fish that wouldnt eat for nearly a week, i tried everything, starving it, live food, you name it the only thing it would eat is bloodworms. I put the finicky formula in and it ate it straight away, it is quite expensive as it contains mussel extract but once i got it eating i weaned it onto the normal nls pellets. If nothing else works its deinately worth a go, hope this helps....good luck

 

[Sarah88]

since its a wild caught fish it may take a bit to get him onto pellets, like stated try first getting him onto floating insects so he knows to hit the surface for food, or what i would do is first try to get him onto frozen foods like krill and then once hes on those soak pellets in tank water with the krill and get the pellets all nice and "krilly" and then drop in a small piece of krill followed by a pellet, you may have to fast him for a few days though in order him to take them. since he is wild have you kept a close eye on his poo? he may need to be treated for parasites...

 

[coryjac0b]

No stringy white poo so far, its been about a month. Doing a water change ATM, will get some pics after im finished.

 

[coryjac0b]

Here's some shots of him and my other stock. Some of the shots are blurry, still trying to learn how to use the camera.

 

[Sarah88]

hes gorgeous but his belly is a bit sunken in, is that just because he hasnt eaten? im actually surprised hes not on pellets yet with the other cichlids in there, usually when they have competition for the food they grab at it pretty quick...

 

[jakeca77]

Handsome fish! Wish I could go catch a nice fish like that around here. The crickets and then onto pellets seems like a good idea.

 

[dempsey420]

gorgous fish, sweet tank too

 

[coryjac0b]

Thanks.

I will try the crickets, and also the krill. I do believe his belly is sunken from the lack of not eating.