Varried diets

[redbucket]

When I first set up my tank, I got different types of food to match the different fish I had in my setup. To my surprise as a newbie, the fish didn't seem to know which food was meant for whom. The ottos ignored algea tabs, but the rest of the fish loved them. My rams ignored sinking shrimp pellots, but the tetra and rasbora fought over them. Everyone ate flake (except the ottos, who live entirely off green algea patches, driftwood and plants).

So, I've been feeding mostly flake, but throwing in the occasional algea tabs and shrimp pellots. I have freeze dried shrimp and bloodworms, but every time I try it in my tank my fish all but ignore it. The shrimp end up stuck to my filters, and the bloodworm just floats at the top until I scoop it out. All of my fish also ignore peas, zuchini, etc. when I've tried them (after cooking to soften).

Is there anything else I should try to make sure my fish are getting what they need? And, is it okay that all my fish except my ottos are occasionally eating algea tabs?

What do you feed your fish?

 

[cohazard]

Some fish just don't like eating certain types of foods. Plus, it can vary greatly between individuals. I have 2 baby oscars right now.....one will eat anything, the other eats bloodworms with gusto, but everything else is sort of inspected closely before being consumed.

My first blue dempsey would only accept live worms when it was a juvie, my two new ones eat blood worms and flakes with no problems.

I would suggest you let your fish go a couple days without eating, then trying the shrimp pellets. That's what I usually do when trying to get fish to try new foods. Fish also respond well to conditioning. Either gently taping the glass with the tip of your finger nail or simply feeding in the same area of the tank (*be aware that this can cause aggression between fish who want to 'own' the 'food spot', that problem is easily fixed by moving the feeding area around every other week or so).

HTH