JD swims around with food in his mouth

[Yoemen]

I fed my JD some freeze dried krill today in an attempt to see if I could get him to eat. He came right up to the top and grabed it and appeared to swallow it. However, he then began to look like he was spitting it up and reswalloing it without it actually coming out. He was swimming with his mouth open so I looked in it and the krill was just sitting in his mouth. He wasn't chewing it or anything just trying to swallow it whole.

On a 5 inch JD, should you be able ot see teeth in his mouth? because I saw no signs of teeth of any kind in this guy.

[tks4d2]

mine does the same thing with hard pellets. they eat it eventually...seems like they wait until the food softens up.

[Spridell]

I have had 4 JD's. 2 regular and 2 Electric Blue JD. They have all done that. Right now i have a 3" JD and a 3" Electric Blue, they both come to the top and take the krill and go right into their cave and they just keep it in their mouths. They do eat it eventually though.

Oh and by the way, both of them have started to grow teeth. The regular JD she has 2 very little red ones. And the EBJD has one very small white one. I had a large 8" male that died and he had a lot of teeth.

[KINGMIDAS]

you can pre-soften the krill in a jar of your aquarium water, then feed. He may then eat quicker...

[mostlycichlids]

Well I hate to see you are still having problems with this guy although it sounds like he is doing a little better. It sounds like the bugger is very picky just keep doing what you are now and wait till you find something he is confortable with it sounds like he did ok with the freeze dried krill I would keep feeding him that for a while till he gets used to it then go back and try some of the other things again. I see you tried the soft food if you wet it and put it in a paper plate and smash it up he may take it it gets very soft when wet. get it wet first and let it soften up a bit. Other than that just be patient he will adapt to what you are giving him soon most likley.

[Yoemen]

see this is what I don't get. The place I bought him from said that they feed their JDs pellets. Well, when I put the pellets in, he just swims up and looks at them. The Texas destroys them and goes on his marry way. I think I am gonna just starve him for about a week to see if that peeks his interest in pellets. Although he is starting to lose his coloration.

[mostlycichlids]

I would try starving him at least a couple days or so that just may work.