Picky eaters

[ryno1974]

I have 4 red belly piranha that were said to be 7 years old when I got them a few weeks ago. The person I got them from told me they ate pellets (gave me a ful container), shrimp and once a week ate 5 or 6 goldfish. So far in he past three weeks they have eaten 6 goldfish, 0 shrimp, 0 beef heart, and 0 pellets. I gave them another 5 goldfish tonight, but so far they have ignored them. They only seem to eat them in the dark when no one is watching. Is it normal for them to only eat in the dark?

Their belly is also very light red, hardly red at all. In fact tonight they looked like their belly was white.

Any thoughts on how I can improve their nutrition? I bought 20 feeder goldfish before I read that it was not a god food for them so I am planning on feeding them out and maybe getting some convicts to breed for food. Any other thoughts?

 

[Zfishies]

I dont have Red Belly Piranha but plan on getting them! Did you ever try giving them Blood Worms?

 

[ryno1974]

No. They are big (6-8 inches) and I dont think they would even notice the blood worms in there.

 

[iloveyouDIE]

It will take a while for your piranhas to eat in front of you. That is normal.

You should really try to get the off of the goldfish. They aren't good for them. That may be why their bellies are pale (especially if they are old like you said). Try soaking the pellets or shrimp in garlic juice.

But if you are expecting them to eat in front of you, don't hold your breath. It may take a while. Eventually they will figure out that you = food time and they won't be as scared. They are natural pretty skittish. Feed them in the dark or feed them and leave the room for best chances of getting them to eat right now.

 

[ryno1974]

great,thanks for the reassurance. Are convicts OK to fed them? I would deally like to be able to bred my own food for them, and I'm pretty sure my guppies and danios are too small, and I dont want to sacrifice my very slooooooow maturing plecos as food.

Convicts OK?

 

[fishtician]

It will take a while for your piranhas to eat in front of you. That is normal.

You should really try to get the off of the goldfish. They aren't good for them. That may be why their bellies are pale (especially if they are old like you said). Try soaking the pellets or shrimp in garlic juice.

But if you are expecting them to eat in front of you, don't hold your breath. It may take a while. Eventually they will figure out that you = food time and they won't be as scared. They are natural pretty skittish. Feed them in the dark or feed them and leave the room for best chances of getting them to eat right now.

I've got 6 RBP that eat large worms, that I hand pick and wash, they also love Algae discs, fish fillets and the occasional sinking flake pelletes. I've been giving them Silver sides lately, and the Algae eaters love them alslo. However they are skittish. Try turning all the lights off in the room that the tanks in, and don't sit to close to the tank.