Why wont my jack dempsey eat.

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
J

joshua752

Plecostomus
MFK Member
Dec 7, 2013
296
72
61
United States
Have you tested your water?
Yes
If yes, what is your ammonia?
0
If yes, what is your nitrite?
0
If yes, what is your nitrate?
15
If I did not test my water...
  1. ...I recognize that I will likely be asked to do a test, and that water tests are critical for solving freshwater health problems.
Do you do water changes?
Yes
What percentage of water do you change?
41-50%
How frequently do you change your water?
Every week
If I do not change my water...
  1. ...I recognize that I will likely be recommended to do a water change, and water changes are critical for preventing future freshwater health problems.
So I have a 125 gallon with an Oscar, jack dempsey, green severum, featherfin catfish and a firemouth cichlid. The water parameters are 76 degrees and 0 ammonia 0 nitrite 15 ppm nitrate. But the question is why will all my other fish happily eat their pellets. But this damn jack dempset will only eat blood worms shrimp earthworms really any food that's not a pellet? I haven't fed him anything else for 10 days and he still won't accept them. Any tips?
 
When I was a kid my mother offered me two choices at every meal: take it or leave it. No alternative menu choices were available.

I think the same approach will work with your fish. He's eating the items that he wants to, which indicates that he's healthy enough to be interested in food. And being housed with other fish that are eating what you offer them is the ideal way to convince him to follow suit. Almost all predatory fish will eventually be pellet-trained this way, and the JD isn't even a particularly predatory species, more of an opportunistic omnivore.

A week without food is no big deal at all. When he gets hungry enough he will eat. You just need to be more patient than he is...and since you will be keeping yourself well-fed during this battle of wills, you have the upper hand. Be patient. :)

edited to add: This of course requires that you use no other foods until he finally "snaps". Since the other fish will also be deprived of these wonderful gourmet items during the training period, hopefully they will have a word with the stubborn offender...:)
 
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Reactions: Dalfrey86 and tlindsey
As long as there are no other environmental changes in the tank or jockeying for tank boss you just have a picky eater.
Fish can go quite some time without food, it will either eat or learn to eat.
 
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