How long does it usually take you to break a cichla off live?

[CichlaRyan]

when i say break i mean starve. if thats what you do for live only eating cichla and how long should i wait because one of my more picky cichlas that ive been attempting to break hasn't eaten for 4-6days.

 

[vaine111]

well gl i have tried the sticky and nothing has worked yet. so i just get the feeders and i will starve mine when he goes into the 120 with all my non-live fish.

 

[Tongue33]

when i say break i mean starve. if thats what you do for live only eating cichla and how long should i wait because one of my more picky cichlas that ive been attempting to break hasn't eaten for 4-6days.

Are they hitting the top water when food is dropped in?

 

[shookONES]

It varies from fish to fish. I'll generally go a week or so with most fish. However, I've gone as far as 2 months with a group of gars I have a few months ago.

 

[jcardona1]

Are they hitting the top water when food is dropped in?

in my short experience with cichla, i have found that this is critical. you need to have the fish waiting at the top. as soon as you drop the feeder, it should be gone. my mono wouldnt even give the fish a chance to swim. he would hit anything i threw in until he finally starting swallowing the pieces of shrimp.

it took me a little longer for my orino since he wasnt as forthcoming as the mono. he was not as agressive when it came to eating and he would wait for a feeder to swim near him. it just took some patience, but sure enough, he is now off of live foods.

 

[Tongue33]

in my short experience with cichla, i have found that this is critical. you need to have the fish waiting at the top. as soon as you drop the feeder, it should be gone. my mono wouldnt even give the fish a chance to swim. he would hit anything i threw in until he finally starting swallowing the pieces of shrimp.

it took me a little longer for my orino since he wasnt as forthcoming as the mono. he was not as agressive when it came to eating and he would wait for a feeder to swim near him. it just took some patience, but sure enough, he is now off of live foods.

Exactly

 

[channarox]

not sure...usually i break them in less than a day.
especially when theyre small.
ive got my biggest kelberi taking silversides from the first day.
other 6 that im trying to get off live are on their 3rd day of starvation.
but they did have a feeder buffet a day ago.

 

[silverdragon]

in my short experience with cichla, i have found that this is critical. you need to have the fish waiting at the top. as soon as you drop the feeder, it should be gone. my mono wouldnt even give the fish a chance to swim. he would hit anything i threw in until he finally starting swallowing the pieces of shrimp.

it took me a little longer for my orino since he wasnt as forthcoming as the mono. he was not as agressive when it came to eating and he would wait for a feeder to swim near him. it just took some patience, but sure enough, he is now off of live foods.

^^^Nailed it on the head right here^^^

 

[CichlaRyan]

^^^Nailed it on the head right here^^^

guys i know all about them hitting top water duh i made a thread on it my question is how long is too long to starve a cichla not how to convert

 

[jcardona1]

guys i know all about them hitting top water duh i made a thread on it my question is how long is too long to starve a cichla not how to convert

lol i never really starved my cichla! i would drop a feeder, then a piece of krill/shrimp, then feeder, and repeat. when they stopped spitting out the shrimp, i knew they were DONE!!!!

most guys here say not to starve anything less than 8". other than that, starve the bastards! 4-6 days of not eating is not that long IMO. if its been months, then you should worry lol