Well I know it is only day 3 with these La Ceiba growouts, but getting a little concerned for my future endeavors getting them to feed. Most of the fish i have kept are at least taking bloodworms or frozen by day two or so. Granted, I threw a nightcrawler in last night and one took it; however, halved or cut earthworms were ignored. I know these guys are shy at 4-6 inches, but the smallest female and smaller male are the only ones brave enough to check me out after sitting in front of the tank for a while. Do smaller parachromis take a long time to warm up than Amphs and viejas...etc?
I wonder if my Schomburgkii SD's are compounding the problem with their skittish-like energy. I figured having dithers at first would help...especially with taking food, but maybe it is the opposite.
Here is my ignore list so far: NLS 3mm, frozen bloodworms, frozen Krill, Frozen freshwater mysis, Flake. Put in a couple ghost shrimp in last night....don't see them but I actually think I siphoned them out when siphoning extra food lol.
My only success so far was a whole nightcrawler to my biggest male last night.
The SDs worked on a cut nightcrawler which was amusing, but I eventually took the rest out when I saw they were going to go uneaten by the la ceiba.
So do I need to fast the tank for 3-4 days and give them more time to warm up? My hopes is that they just take longer than most to get adjusted.
I just don't want to over stress them. They do come out if I am a good 12+ feet from the tank ie. sitting on the couch. The tank is in the highest traffic area and I do spend some time in front of the tank. The smallest female is a little champ she is always the first to come to the front and stare at my ugly mug.
I thought these guys were going to eat like pigs out of the gate like most of my other fish....wrong.
I wonder if my Schomburgkii SD's are compounding the problem with their skittish-like energy. I figured having dithers at first would help...especially with taking food, but maybe it is the opposite.
Here is my ignore list so far: NLS 3mm, frozen bloodworms, frozen Krill, Frozen freshwater mysis, Flake. Put in a couple ghost shrimp in last night....don't see them but I actually think I siphoned them out when siphoning extra food lol.
My only success so far was a whole nightcrawler to my biggest male last night.
The SDs worked on a cut nightcrawler which was amusing, but I eventually took the rest out when I saw they were going to go uneaten by the la ceiba.
So do I need to fast the tank for 3-4 days and give them more time to warm up? My hopes is that they just take longer than most to get adjusted.
I just don't want to over stress them. They do come out if I am a good 12+ feet from the tank ie. sitting on the couch. The tank is in the highest traffic area and I do spend some time in front of the tank. The smallest female is a little champ she is always the first to come to the front and stare at my ugly mug.
I thought these guys were going to eat like pigs out of the gate like most of my other fish....wrong.
I will have to train them on possibly NLS Insectum in a month or so...at least it comes in a 3-3.5mm pellet. The 2mm bug pro crisps seem more like 1-1.5 mm pellets. The tank seems to love it though....the Rhinodoras Gallagheri even makes an appearance for Bug Pro. If losing the Blue Hooks will aleviate their timid nature I might think about rehoming them. I can always go for the male convict route if I need dither/target fish. I read that the smaller Parachromis are somewhat timid at this phase/size...hopefully this changes with maturity.