My Red Devil Wont Eat

[GShorty1981]

I only got 'Damon' yesterday, i know its early doors etc...but the problem is a bit wierd, i'll explain....

He spends all his time flirting and wiggling at the front of my tank, very interactive with anyone who approachs the tank....this is good

However as soon as i open the lid of the tank...he darts off terrified into the bottom corner of the tank behind a large pebble

He seems to like my partner better, so i got her to try and he still does the same thing.

So pretty much everytime i try and feed him, he darts off and miss's the feed, the Hikaris i tried to feed him this morning are still floating in the tank, i tried blood worm...he got a little bit but the catfish and Convict got the majority.

I tried flake and he missed it again.

How can i get him used to me opening the lid?

shall i try putting my hand in the tank for a while...so he see's i'm no threat (he has got big teeth tho, so im wary lol)

Or try vacuming/water change etc?

Or am i worrying about nothing and he will come round?

 

[bullit]

id say worrying over nothing. Im sure he will adapt pretty soon.

 

[kribensis12]

Just give him some time. Sometimes fish can take a while to get used to a new tank. Oscar cichlids sulk for a week or more. Discus won't eat new food until they are starving. It's different for each fish. I'd give him a week, and if he still isn't eating, then worry. Maybe pick up some flake food with garlic in it.

 

[hamfist]

Midas/Red devils definately have a preference for sinking food. One of the two I have owned would never ever eat anything from the surface. The other only did if he absolutely had to.

Just try him on something like a piece of defrosted frozen prawn once a day to tempt him. If he doesn't eat it within about 30 mins then fish it out.
It's obviously much better not to leave any uneaten food in the tank, and it can seriously foul the water.

As I said in your other thread, you just need to give it a bit of time. Sounds like he is already settling in pretty well.

I's also be investing in some 3-4mm sinking pellets if I were you.

 

[Sussex Cichlid]

I agree with hamfist, it really is to early to be worrying. Some fish take a long time to settle. I bought a 10 inch devil from a local guy, and it took over a week before he decided it was safe to eat. Fish generally will not starve themselves to death. So give him time, and keep trying him with little bits to encourage him.

 

[GShorty1981]

Good news he ate some pellets and flake earlier...not much, but its something

 

[Sussex Cichlid]

That's great, see he is settling. He'll soon be eating you out of house and home. They are greedy fish once settled.lol.

 

[GShorty1981]

What helps with colour guys? he is a light peachy colour at the mo, i want to get him as red as possible, should i feed loads of Krill?

Also should i change the coral sand and blue background to black bg and black gravel...might darken him up?

 

[talisker]

not all red devils are a bright red some are almost white.

 

[Sussex Cichlid]

You can try lots of krill, I also feed spirulina flake now and then. tailsker is right though, look at the one in my avatar, she stayed this colour most of her life. But her male who ate exactly the same diet, was a deep orange. Hikari cichlid gold claims to enhance colour, but although I feed it, I'm not sure it makes any difference. They do need some veg as part of their diet, although the spirulina is a good substitute.

 

[GShorty1981]

Do you feed the sinking pellets or the floating type?

 

[Sussex Cichlid]

I feed mainly floating pellets to my New Worlds, and sinking to my Old Worlds. Once settled I am sure Damon will eat most things. Personally I have never had a fussy Devil, and I have had a few.