Ok, so about a week ago now, I bought some cockatoo cichlids. I put them in my large tank with a lot of other fish that greatly varied in size. Anyway, I can't really seem to get them any food, because when I put brine shrimp in there, the other fish get it before they do. When I put sinking pellets in there, either the other fish get it first or the little guys can't fit it in there mouths. These are the smallest pellets offered mind you. So, at this point it seems like the only way to get them food would be for them to come to the surface. I realize that they are probably just getting some food from the substrate, but I would like to be able to give them a set diet. Any good tips to train them to come to the top? Any other ways I can feed them? Thanks for your help!
How to train cichlids to come to the surface for food?
- Thread starter ppetropulo
- Start date
I don't think you could "train" them like a dog but you can teach them to eat from your hand or tong
You will probably need to buy a feeding tong and put it near the fish (with the food inside) Then when the fish goes in for the food, let go of the food. That way you can control how much the fish eats.
Here is a list of prongs:
http://aquariumsupplies.marinedepot.com/ppc/search?w=aquarium tongs&gclid=CPz7_taG_7ACFcdk7AodNUiJVg
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You will probably need to buy a feeding tong and put it near the fish (with the food inside) Then when the fish goes in for the food, let go of the food. That way you can control how much the fish eats.
Here is a list of prongs:
http://aquariumsupplies.marinedepot.com/ppc/search?w=aquarium tongs&gclid=CPz7_taG_7ACFcdk7AodNUiJVg
Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
What I did was use frozen cichlid delight (any frozen cube works though) and originally I was told to thaw it by just dipping it in the tank water and letting bits fall off so instead I just didn't move it around a lot and my angels came to the top and ate right off the cube. Eventually (after only a day or two) they learned to come to the top when the lids opened and I could feed anything that way
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Sent from my Droid Incredible using the Monster Aquaria Network app
I teach my fish to recognize feeding time by turning off my filters when I'm feeding them. Even my WC Erpetoichtys calabaricus learned in three days.
I agree with Sub, Apistos just tend to stay near the bottom...with my rams, it was similar. They almost never came up to the surface to feed but luckily they were boisterous enough to get to the food in time. Live/frozen foods would be a good option to try.
Ok, so I'll then I should probably stick with the sinking foods. So guys think that beef heart, or liver, I'm not sure which one I have, would be ok with some brine shrimp? At least until they're big enough to fight for their own food?
I'm not sure how well they would take to beefheart/liver...usually I see that reserved for larger SA/CA cichlids.
Brine shrimp should work though. I definitely would go with bloodworms as Sub mentioned...most fish cannot resist them!
Brine shrimp should work though. I definitely would go with bloodworms as Sub mentioned...most fish cannot resist them!
Yah, they actually did manage to learn to come to the surface, just to keep you up to date, and they do love their blood worms! The usually won't eat the regular fish food, but they'll always eat the blood worms! Will I need to supplement they're diet with any thing? Or are blood worms ok as the main/only food?
