My flowerhorn is a picky eater?

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kageh124

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Mar 14, 2012
468
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MD, DC Area
About 3 weeks ago I bought a 2.5 - 3inch flowerhorn and I've found out that he is more picky with his food than my 2 young kids. I usually feed Hikari Gold pellets to my cichlids and he barely ate those... usually 1-3 mini pellets a a time (if that.) However, when it comes to the frozen brine shrimp it seems like he'll go crazy and eat the entire cube.

He was in my 125 for about a week with my other cichlids and last Saturday I moved him to his own 72 bow front. I normally feed my cichlids once or twice a day.

I figure I might try not to feed him for a day or 2 but does anyone have any suggestions on breaking this pattern? I've honestly never had a fish that was a picky eater before.
 
Sorry, I meant he seem doesn't like eating pellets. What I've noticed is that he'll eat 1 - 3 pellets every other day. He'll usually just spit them out. I tried flakes but he doesn't seem to like those either. It kind of looks like he tries to eat them because they look a little like the brine shrimp, but spits them out once he notices that they aren't.
 
The last 4 fish I've bought have taught me not to worry about picky eaters too much. They will eventually start eating (as long as they're healthy) and there's little one can do to speed up the process, fish can survive for months with little to no food.
 
Yeah, if he's healthy you have nothing to worry about. I've owned 3 Flowerhorns and they have all been VERY good eaters. They eat more than any other cichlid I've had and I've had quite a few. Like most fish, it does take them a few days to get used to a new tank though.
 
Nice Umbee cacichlid! at what size did he start getting color on his body? Sorry didnt meen to derail. I had a flower horn and he became picky aswell only wanted shrimp give him tasty hikari and starve the bastard lol no cut back on feeding and if he excepts the pellet after a few days dont give him many.
 
Aquatik said:
Nice Umbee cacichlid! at what size did he start getting color on his body? Sorry didnt meen to derail. I had a flower horn and he became picky aswell only wanted shrimp give him tasty hikari and starve the bastard lol no cut back on feeding and if he excepts the pellet after a few days dont give him many.
Click to expand...

Thank you! I got him at 4.5" and he was already colored up. He's close to 6" now. But not all Umbees color up that soon, I've seen some 6" ones that have no color or trailers whatsoever.
 
WOW, Flowerhorn picky with food is like saying, "A pig is a picky eater"

Flowerhorns usually eat everything, even your hand.
 
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