Red Devil really getting on my nerves!!!

[TenaciousTankBuster]

It's been a while since I posted about my fish but now I'm just about at my wit's end when It comes to his stupid eating habbits and him splashing water all over the place. I have now had him for just over 7 months and he is still only around 5 inches. Mainly due to the fact that I have quit soaking his pellets and floating them down to him back in September. Since then he hasn't been eating much. I would usually leave 10 pellets in the tank before I leave for work in the morning, and 10 hours later when I get home, I'll may find one or two eaten or none at all!!! Not only that but I noticed the entire wall behind the tank is stained with water marks from him darting up and splashing water. I know this because I've been home and actually seen him eat from a top a few times and he will splash water which will roll down the sides of the tank and seep into the wooden stand! I wouldn't be surprised if this has already weakened my stand as it is! It makes me so mad, I actualy lose my temper and hit the side of the tank scaring the #%$& out of him!


Why is this fish such a spazz? This is probably the 5th or 6th RD I've grown out to this size and I have never had one that is so timid that it wont take food from the top. Do people actually have Flowerhorns, Trimacs, Butticofferis, and Jags that do this?

Anyways, he hasn't been eating because I REFUSE TO LEAVE FOOD FLOATING IN THE TANK FOR MORE THEN TWO HOURS TOPS! I thought that eventually If I take out the food that he doesn't eat, and try again the next day, that hunger would win him over. I've now come to the conclusion that this is total BS because My fish would be lucky to eat 3-5 pellets on a good day whereas before when I used to sink the pellets down to him, He would eat nearly 20 at his current size. As far as I'm concerned, if he takes this to the level of starving himself to death I honestly will feel no pitty because I give him the opportunity to eat each and every darn day only to have him let the food sit floating on the top for the entire day. And I honestly don't care if he isn't growin the way he should, nor, do I consider it my problem. It's not my fault if I give him over 2 hours to eat and he chooses not to, right?

Now I know what some of you are thinking, "Why don't I just buy sinking food and continue to soak the remaining food I have for him since then, he will eat? Why? Because I don't like it and I shouldn't have to do it. Also, I'm sick and darn tired of (what is the equivilent of) holding his hand to get him to eat. The other night I guess I left a few that I didn't see behind my powerfilters and he splashed water on my face and woke me up!

I'm really at my wits end, and unless anyone can possibly give me a clue to solve this problem, I'm considering giving him back to an LFS where he can be someone elses problem. I really dont' care if that's selfish or not. I didn't spend 7 months raising him from 1inch to 5 inches for him to act like a wuss/pansey. Do Jags pull this kinda #%$& too once they are kept by themselves? I'm asking cuz I'm thinkin of getting a group of 6 or so, letting a pair form, and keeping the Male.

 

[large_cichlids]

hey just calm down.how many times do u do water changes.water quality can sometimes cause fish to be skittish.do u add salt to the water....that is supposed to help make fish become active.My first rd was like that all the way up to 6 inches.It just seems like a while (which im sure it was)for him to get used to u becuase u raised him since he was a fry.I kno because i remeber when u first posted a pic of him on midas-cichlid.com.

This may sound harsh but try starving him for 1 or two days then when u feed him the third day drop 1 or 2 pellets in there.........U have a nice specimen......and i know uve been patient...but try a little more.....this may sound weird but form a bond with ur fish.My very first rd stunted...and i still have em because he was my first true monster and i really put alot of money into him......

p.s and ur rd looks a lot nicer then my first one.

 

[Jason_S]

Now I know what some of you are thinking, "Why don't I just buy sinking food and continue to soak the remaining food I have for him since then, he will eat? Why? Because I don't like it and I shouldn't have to do it.

well I disagree...you bought the fish and that put the responsibility of properly caring for it in your hands. some fish are pickier eaters than others. maybe the red devil doesn't like those particular pellets anymore. try another brand. if he doesn't like eating from the surface then buy some sinking pellets. if that's all it will take to get the rd eating properly then there's no reason not to do it. there's no need to go on soaking pellets so they will sink when there are a ton of different types of sinking pellets available.

I'm having a similar problem with my male trimac right now. it's not the fact that he won't eat from the surface though, it's simply that he won't eat pellets anymore. he used to eat 10-15 at a time but now won't touch them. he'll eat freeze dried krill no problem but that can get pretty expensive so I'm trying to get him back on pellets of some kind.

bottom line, he's your fish so it's your responsibility to make sure he's properly taken care of. if you don't feel like messing with his particular feeding requirements then trade him in or give him to someone else and try again with another red devil.

 

[FISHandJEEPS]

Get rid of him and all of your other fish, get out of the hobby. So mad you hit the tank scaring him. How old are you, 5? Poor fish Why don't you put a tighter lid on so water doesn't splash everywhere. i think you should get out of the hobby and see a therapist and tell her all about your anger problems.

 

[TenaciousTankBuster]

Get rid of him and all of your other fish, get out of the hobby. So mad you hit the tank scaring him. How old are you, 5? Poor fish Why don't you put a tighter lid on so water doesn't splash everywhere. i think you should get out of the hobby and see a therapist and tell her all about your anger problems.

Do I know you son? I'm prob old enough to be your father kid. If I wanted to read some punk ass reply from some wise ass kid, I'd visit my lil brother who is 16 and read some of his teeny bopper posts from a video game message board.

To everyone else who posted, thx for not acting like such an assclown as this.

 

[Jason_S]

ok, that's enough of that guys

 

[cichlaguapote]

I agree, try different foods and go from there. No fish will usually resist krill. Try different pellets or cichlid sticks. Also try starving him for a couple days. He may think this is some game you play where you throw food in and fish it out later everyday. Large Cichlids are very intelligent.

Might try hikari bio-gold. I think it already has garlic in it so it might help his appetite. Also important but what is your water temp? tank size? Does he have alot of cover?

 

[SinisterKisses]

While I think the exact words FISHandJEEPS decided to use were unnecessary, I get his point. If you have a fish who is already timid, why would hitting the glass help? Just seems silly to me, and tramatic for an already-skittish RD.

Anyway, if you're not happy with the fish, then obviously there's no reason for you to keep it. However, I don't think you should be blaming the fish or getting mad at him because he is the way he is. Every fish is different. He's obviously still a baby, and they can be quite timid until they get some good size on them. I've had juveniles who refused to be seen outside of their cave or whatever, for the better part of a year...then one day, seemingly overnight, the little wuss turns into a monster. The nastiest fish I've ever owned, was the biggest wuss until he was about 7" big. Sometimes you just have to give them time to grow up.

As for the matter of food, I really don't see why its such an issue to just buy sinking pellets. As said, there is no reason you have to soak the ones you already have; just buy sinking pellets. Its not like eating from the surface is natural to them. They're fish. Fish are naturally hesitant to go near the surface, for all the unseen dangers that could be waiting. I have a tank full of Lake Tang fish, who refuse to go near the surface. I didn't get mad and slam the glass - I went out and bought foods that sank. They eat lots, they're happy and healthy, and I'm happy to still have them.

Either way, as I said...if you're not happy with him, then perhaps you should find a home for him with someone who will appreciate him and be willing to put in a tiny bit more effort to care for him.

 

[albyoscar]

have you ever given him anything but pellets ? my fish hate them but eat them sometimes my devil eats and loves bloodworms and brine shrimp not good all the time but try switching food up all my fish love variety

 

[ng80]

i had a 14" oscar that behaved similarly to this. it would stuff its self and the refuse to eat for days even weeks ...
1) how old are the pellets? if they are getting old the go stale and my synspilum wont eat old pellets.. it spits them out.
2.) whats you water quality like and how much water do you change ?
3.) it may have a genetic abnormality causing it to be unable to digest large quantitys of food. i had a batch of bright red oscars that all died at 3 - 4" aged one year that at postmortem had abnormal digestive tracts. they hardly ever ate. and should have been double that size at least in one year.
4.) have you tried live shrimp or blood worms?
5.) internal blockage. form eating gravel and tank ornaments.
unfortunately you just get fish that do not thrive and theres little you can do about it..

Seriously dont hammer on the tank it will stress it more and make it more skitish and less likely to eat..
i know it frustrating as you like the fish.
i would try a different brand of food or use some shrimp..