Getting new fish to eat

[velocity]

So I figured I'd share this tip on getting your new cichlids to eat. When I first brought mine home, they were super picky - they'd swim up to the food, stare at it, then just swim away. I thought maybe it was the food itself, so I switched it up. Nope, turned out the pellets were just too big for them.

Now, I've started crushing their pellets before putting them in the tank, and man, what a difference. They're like little eating machines, fighting for every last bit. I'm feeding them 4 pellets, twice a day, but I'm sure I'll need to up that once they grow.

Hope this helps some people out, and sorry if this has been covered before - just thought I'd share my experience.

[Rivora9]

New fish, especially cichlids, can be pretty stressed when they're first introduced to their new environment. This stress might cause them to lose their appetite, and they might not even realize you're the one providing their food. But once they settle in and get comfortable, they'll start to associate you with meal time. Then, you'll know it's working when they start swimming up to the glass every time they see you, expecting to be fed.

[MouthFullofFish]

I also had some issues with my German Blues and food size. Instead of buying smaller pellets, I decided to mix things up with beef heart and brine shrimp - they love it. Now, they get one meal of each once a week, Sundays and Wednesdays. Mondays and Thursdays are pretty much fasting days, but I do drop an algae wafer in for the otos and corydoras - the rams seem to enjoy nibbling on those too. Tuesdays and Fridays are veggie days, usually zucchini or cucumber, depending on what I have in the freezer. I prep the veggies by skinning, slicing, and freezing them, then I just take out a slice in the morning and it's ready for dinner time. This seems to help prevent any constipation issues.

When introducing new fish, I've found it helpful to fast them the day they arrive. Then, the next day, if there are already established fish in the tank, they seem to pick up on the cues and head to the top around six in the evening. I've noticed my fish start swimming to the surface when my dogs line up for dinner - I feed the dogs, then the fish. Routine is key for new fish, so I try to feed at the same time every day. They seem to get the hang of the schedule pretty quickly.

It's also important to consider the fish's diet before introducing them to your tank. Some fish that are used to live foods might be hesitant to take processed foods, and vice versa. Most stores will tell you what they've been feeding, so it's worth asking. Just remember to give your fish time, like Rivora9 said, a stressed fish won't eat much on its first night. I don't feed my new fish on the day I bring them home, and if they don't eat for the first few days, that's okay. Just keep an eye out for any sickly behavior.

[velocity]

Yeah, my fish are eating great now, but I'm pretty sure it was the food size issue like you mentioned. Once I crushed it up, they went crazy for it. I think stress might've played a role those first two days too, my jeweled cichlid was always hiding and he's just starting to come out and be active like the others.

[MouthFullofFish]

Sounds like stress was the culprit, but glad to hear they're chomping down now. You can try Seachem Garlic, soak their food in it - it helps soften it up and they love the smell and taste of garlic. Plus, it's actually good for them.