Oscar spitting out food

L

Los

Registered Member
Mar 9, 2011
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Hey guys, I just picked up a oscar from a well known fish shop here in NZ, its probably a year and a half old maybe 10 inches? he seems fine and has settled in well, got him 2 days ago. The problem im having is he darts for food (pellets) but then spits it straight out, I thought these oscars are ment to eat anything haha. Maybe this guys been bought up on live food or something, should i just keep throwing in the occasional pellet till he accepts it? or do you think he needs to settle in some more?

Any insight would be appreciated, cheers
 
Cichlids in general can be notoriously picky when it comes to dry foods. So he probably wasn't on feeders, just a different kind of pellet. I like to use a variety of pellet so I have to sometimes coax them into taking each pellet and they will usually take to one kind faster than others. Eventually, they start eating all of them no problem. So just keep trying.

It also helps sometimes if you pre-soak them and get them all mushy for them first. Let them get used to it then they will start taking it straight away. I've had cichlids not eat for a whole month or more, especially larger/older ones until they get acclimated. A little patience on your part. He'll be alright.
 
yea ive tried massivore pellets and cichlid gold, yea might try softening them up a bit like you say, just gotta be more stubborn then he is i spose hah thanks for the reply
 
Soak it in garlic juice.

Oscars are very picky when they get moved and like to pout and refuse food. I assure you this is very normal behavior. Oscars behave like spoiled children and will pout, refuse to eat, lay on the bottom and fake being dead, bite, try to jump and assorted other antics. Oscars will interact with you once they know who feeds them. Mine still on occasion will spit food at me. They are as close to a pet as you can get and still be a fish. They will eat when darn good and ready! They will train you (like a cat does). The same person need to feed it the same time everyday.
 
thanks for the help, yea he has a attitude, follows me round swimming up against the glass etc ha i will try the garlic trick, he ate a prawn with no trouble, although after he swallowed it he sat in one place for about 5mins breathing quite heavily but then came right? will only feed prawns etc on occasion once i get him on pellets.
 
I stick with red hakari pellets for my oscars, sometimes they spit...just depends on their mood. I have one that will eat everyday and beg by slaming herself into the lid until i pay attention, where the other sometimes refuses to eat for days at a time. Oscars are fun fish with big attitudes :thm:
 
Give him more time, he could be stressed from moving and he may have been transported befor you picked him up. Also as the other said he may not have been fed pellets before. I would just give him time, he won't starve to death and eventually he will take the pellets.
 
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