Jack Dempsey Growth Problem

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Is there any other way i could get the clown knife to eat pellets? I've read about people who've starved theirs for liek a month and still didn't get them off of feeders and I've been hoping mine isnt one of those
 
Rawrzer;4612098; said:
All of my fish eat pellets BESIDES the clown knife. I tried starving him for 2 and a half weeks and he still didnt go for pellets and I didn't particuarly want him to die from starvation so i gave in and gave feeders again. there are NEVER feeders swimming around in the tank and the fish have established me as their feeder/ handler for a long time now and always associate me with food when they see me. Also the feeders are rosies becasue i know goldfish are suupperr bad. the jack dempseys feeding response is immediate. he never is lazy hes always active and eats as soon as i drop pellets in. alot of times he doesn't even eat feeders becasue the oscar or clown knife gets to them first. I give my fish cichlid sticks, hikari gold, and cichlid staple so as far as varied feeding and not alot of feeders I'm good. and Koyote as far as water changes go ill try to do more depending on water conditions. should I maybe do around 2 a week now? maybe even more?
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with your set up, i diffently would do at least 2, 30%-40% a week and keep checking on the water. you might be able to get away with one massive water change a week (70-80%) but i think it would be beter to do 2 small ones then one large one. I have one tiger oscar in a 75 gallon by himself with 2 emp 400 filters, and i have to do at least 60-70% water change a week to keep the water in check.
 
Rawrzer;4612104; said:
Is there any other way i could get the clown knife to eat pellets? I've read about people who've starved theirs for liek a month and still didn't get them off of feeders and I've been hoping mine isnt one of those
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I'd start by trying to get him to eat dead feeders. Stun them/knock them over the head before you drop them in. If he still eats them, next try feeder-sized chunks of fish fillet, then fish chunks stuffed with a pellet. You could leave it at that if you don't mind fiddling with food, otherwise try progressing to pellets by themselves again.
 
I don't know that overstocking or bad water quality is 100% the reason (but thats not good). I've had my 8" jack for almost 3 years, and he's been through hell, I was very inexperienced when I got him and had him in a 39tall with ALOT of other fish, he still got to about 7" in about half a year, I also never did water changes only topped off (I was very ignorant). My Brother in law (against my advise) bought a 26 bowfront, early this year, and a jack was one of his purchases (along with blood parrot, 2 midas, hifin pleco, and several africans). He has the Jack, the pleco and 1 electric blue left, the Jack is still over 7".
 
that honestly makes me feel better. yet at the same time worse because now im thinking maybe hes just stunted! if thats the case that sucks. but he still seems to be healthy and active so i guess thats what matters. did another test today. pH is 7.0 and ammonia is 0
 
are you sure he is a he?
 
GhostShrimpMan;4608707; said:
Your tank is overstocked with that Oscar you got there.
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Wow, youre so overstocked and underfiltered. They need at least a 4000 gallon tank with a million times turnover rate for filtration along with 300% daily w/c's. Make sure to treat with prime and you'll be gold!
 
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