feeding question

[wuvmybetta]

The red devil's not eating! My lfs warned me that they've been having a hard time getting him to eat,so I bought the cichlid sticks that he'd grudgingly been accepting....no dice. Tried some beef heart AND liver this morning,nope I tried hand feeding him,he'd just sniff it and swirl around so I'd drop it hoping he'd eat it then....I just ended up having to fish it out.

any suggestions? I HAVE seen him eat live fish up at the shop,should I go buy some nasty feeders? I'm kind of stuck in the house for the rest of the day,think he'll be ok until tomorrow?

 

[smb]

I don't like to recommend the use of live feeders. Not that I'm against it because I do it all the time but because if I say to then if there's a disease that comes about, then I feel it's my fault. You should always quarantine feeders for at least 2 weeks tho if you do decide to use them. I have a 20g that I only have my rtbs in and I got some guppies and zebra danios a while ago to breed and I use them so I don't worry about diseases.

How big is you rd? What was the last thing he was eating succesfully? Has he only ever ate live fish? Have you tried shrimp or krill yet? Those 2 are usually readily gobbled up by all.

If he doesn't eat that you might have to buy some feeders and see if he eats. If not, you might be looking at an internal parasite. Many questions to answer tho before we go there.

 

[juanveldez]

you know wuv I just went through the same thing with my GS and then I got some hints from CM and smb and now the is always eating, just give the guy some time to sort out his thoughts, try something tasty like frozen blood worms and let us know....

 

[wuvmybetta]

thanks you guys



krill! KRILLLLLLLL!!! , I didn't think about those. I've been offering him the cichlid sticks that he was eating at the lfs. He's about 8" long and really thick so I'm sure he's not starving.

As far as diseases in feeders go, I'd definately soak them in a silver solution to kill bacteria before feeding them to him,I'll pick some up tomorrow along with some krill, for now....I guess I could go fish some ghosties out of my 42 for him, I hate to do that since they're my tank raised babies (and the eels food to chase) but I gots to do what I gots to do ,they're just going to get eaten in that tank anyway
I'd try bloodworms but I fear he won't take them and then there will be a huge mess in his tank, I'm hoping he'll learn to eat off of the end of my turkey baster the way the greenies do
I added some vitamins to his tank and a shot of silver and I've noticed he's pooping (for lack of a better word) a LOT! So maybe if he DID have a parasite or something it's getting wiped out of his system

 

[Gunnie]

Omega One cichlid pellets might be another option also. The pellets include everything from whole salmon and octopus. My oscars go apey over them!

 

[wuvmybetta]

I'll look for that Terminator, I'm all about food selection

But I'm happy to say (juan! ) that he just ate. I fed my greenies a little while ago and as usual I had left over bloodworms which I usually divie out to the bettas or some of the other fish get them, I alternate so anyhoo..I sucked some up in the baster and offered them to him,he ate the few fly away worms and then began (almost nursing) the baster ,you were right,thanks!

 

[smb]

krill! KRILLLLLLLL!!!  , I didn't think about those.

That's ok, just please name the firstborn after me for the great suggestion.

 

[wuvmybetta]

no more birthin' babies around here! How's about if I name the firstborn of my betta fry after ya? ,that is...if that male will stop eating the eggs

 

[smb]

OK, I'll take what I can get.

 

[juanveldez]

I knew that he couldn't refuse something so nice and tasty none of my fish can either.

 

[smb]

I knew that he couldn't refuse something so nice and tasty none of my fish can either.

Hey I gotta take what I can get.

lil smb and mini smb are already taken. B)

 

[juanveldez]

lil smb and mini smb are already taken.

I like to think of breeding fish as my own little food sorce...... maybe I could name a few smb too

 

[wuvmybetta]

lmao @ juan

he's so happy now you guys ,but he still looks hungry,he's splashing around a lot over there ,maybe I'll bust out some more worms for him.

On another note....I figured out how to avoid him while I'm moving things in his tank, the lid is a sheet of glass that folds mid-way, but it also slides down into the tank and works perfectly for holding him at one end while I do whatever I need to do at the other ,of course he slams nose first into the glass repeatedly to try and stop me from fidgeting with his stuff

 

[smb]

lil smb and mini smb are already taken.

I like to think of breeding fish as my own little food sorce...... maybe I could name a few smb too

ROFLMFAO!!!!

I figured out how to avoid him while I'm moving things in his tank, the lid is a sheet of glass that folds mid-way, but it also slides down into the tank and works perfectly for holding him at one end while I do whatever I need to do at the other ,of course he slams nose first into the glass repeatedly to try and stop me from fidgeting with his stuff

Nah, you just have to take it. That's what makes cichlidiots a better breed than the rest.

 

[juanveldez]

yippers that is what makes us better than your normal breed of fish