Since I come to this forum a week or so ago and started researching my fish, I've really learned a lot. I read on here that you can actually hand feed some fish.
So, I decided to give it a try with some large Nutrafin cichlid sticks I just purchased from a LFS.
You might already know, I only have 3 fish left in my 55g and I just closed the deal on a 150g but it will be at least a few weeks before it's ready. I have a 6-7" JD (female I suppose), 7-8" Jag, and 10" common pleco.
I pinched the first stick out of the container and I started getting nervous because normally when I'd throw food in there, they hit the surface with enough force to splash water out. But, I pushed my self to go head and stick my fingers below the water and hold the stick. Sure enough, my JD came up and very gently nipped the stick right out of my fingers and ate it right by my hand. I repeated it 2-3 more times, each was just as gentle as can be. My Jag started to notice so I attempted the same thing. At first, he was acting a little shy, then he slowly moved towards my fingers so I twisted the stick a little, egging him on. He then bolted and hit the stick as well as my fingers like a rabid pitbull on crack which made me jerk my hand out of the tank, splash water everywhere, and freak out my fish as well as myself.
I have tried it a few more times and the result is the same. How can I train my Jag to not be so crazed when hand feeding?
I'm really starting to learn the personality of my fish, it's amazing how they are so different. Fish are definitely not what I thought they were a few weeks ago...
So, I decided to give it a try with some large Nutrafin cichlid sticks I just purchased from a LFS.
You might already know, I only have 3 fish left in my 55g and I just closed the deal on a 150g but it will be at least a few weeks before it's ready. I have a 6-7" JD (female I suppose), 7-8" Jag, and 10" common pleco.
I pinched the first stick out of the container and I started getting nervous because normally when I'd throw food in there, they hit the surface with enough force to splash water out. But, I pushed my self to go head and stick my fingers below the water and hold the stick. Sure enough, my JD came up and very gently nipped the stick right out of my fingers and ate it right by my hand. I repeated it 2-3 more times, each was just as gentle as can be. My Jag started to notice so I attempted the same thing. At first, he was acting a little shy, then he slowly moved towards my fingers so I twisted the stick a little, egging him on. He then bolted and hit the stick as well as my fingers like a rabid pitbull on crack which made me jerk my hand out of the tank, splash water everywhere, and freak out my fish as well as myself.
I have tried it a few more times and the result is the same. How can I train my Jag to not be so crazed when hand feeding?
I'm really starting to learn the personality of my fish, it's amazing how they are so different. Fish are definitely not what I thought they were a few weeks ago...
Not anymore, I quickly throw in the pellets or whatever I'm feeding them, close the top and step back to watch.
Same thing with my 5 inch jag and red devil. The only fish I hand feed now is my little 4-5inch albino senegal, and that's gonna be it until I get my knifes. 
