Fish not eating anything I feed them

[Jacob._.merc]

So as you all know I have had an aggressive blood parrot that wouldn't allow my dragon blood peacock in the 90 gallon tank with him. Well things decided to work out I guess and she has accepted living with him in the tank. The only problem I have now is my fish will not eat absolutely anything I feed them. Sure they eat a couple of flakes when I drop some in the tank but they just let the rest go to waste, and I don't put a ton in there. They swim up to the tank when they see me so I know they're hungry. I've tried so many things but they just don't eat as a fish should be eating. I know it can't be a health issue because it's the entire tank that won't eat any food. The only ones I see eat plenty are my bichirs, except my endlicheri which only wants a special kind of pellet. I've fed shrimp, minnows, fish fillets, hikari sinking cichlid pellets, Omega one flakes and other brands I've tried. They all eat worms and "most" of the time hikari carnivore pellets but I haven't had those in a while since I'm trying to get rid of this food. Obviously they're eating the food but they let it sit for a few then eat it. I don't know if it's because they don't like the hardness of it or what. Maybe the shrimp and fillets are too chewy? I've noticed this too, most of them take the food in their mouth, chew it, then spit it out and leave it. Any ideas guys? Most of the cichlids look like they have dips in there stomachs. I just want to have those perfect fat bellied display cichlids. Please anything will help at this point. I'm tired of spending money on food they won't eat. Thanks guys

 

[fishhead0103666]

tlindsey kno4te
Maybe try soaking the foods in garlic.
Also if you're in this hobby for the longrun then you should get used to spending money to keep a fish alive then it just dies on you. It happens to everyone eventually. Some more than others.

 

[kno4te]

Try feeding some hex shield and monitor their poop. Can try the garlic and even bloodworm juice mixed with foods may help entice the fish to bite.

 

[Cabie]

Have you tried Omega One's frozen cichlid formula? It's frozen gel food and that's what I feed as a staple to my very picky green terror. I let the frozen cube thaw just enough between my fingers and then I break it in small pieces that are just the right size to be swallowed whole. (But don't hold it between your fingers for too long or the warmth will turn it to mush.)

Fish also spit out food when they have internal parasites (and they can live with internal parasites for months or even years before you start seeing any symptoms like spitting out food or stringy white poop), so try to have a look at their feces under a microscope if you can, just to rule that out.

 

[Matteus]

Also what are your water parameters and temp at? What is the wc schedule like?

 

[Finthusiast]

If they eat live food try some ghost shrimp idk many fish species tho honestly.

 

[Jacob._.merc]

Try feeding some hex shield and monitor their poop. Can try the garlic and even bloodworm juice mixed with foods may help entice the fish to bite.

I am going to try the garlic thing later on tonight

 

[Jacob._.merc]

Also what are your water parameters and temp at? What is the wc schedule like?

The water ph is at 7-8. Temp is always between 78 and 82 and I change the water 50% every other day

 

[Jacob._.merc]

Have you tried Omega One's frozen cichlid formula? It's frozen gel food and that's what I feed as a staple to my very picky green terror. I let the frozen cube thaw just enough between my fingers and then I break it in small pieces that are just the right size to be swallowed whole. (But don't hold it between your fingers for too long or the warmth will turn it to mush.)

Fish also spit out food when they have internal parasites (and they can live with internal parasites for months or even years before you start seeing any symptoms like spitting out food or stringy white poop), so try to have a look at their feces under a microscope if you can, just to rule that out.

I actually give them that as a treat. they tear those up all the time. I just don’t like spending 10 dollars on something that isn’t going to last long. But they do eat that right away

 

[Jacob._.merc]

tlindsey kno4te
Maybe try soaking the foods in garlic.
Also if you're in this hobby for the longrun then you should get used to spending money to keep a fish alive then it just dies on you. It happens to everyone eventually. Some more than others.

Yeah I get that. I’ve had most Of these guys for about 5 years and never had a problem before. They are just being spoiled all of a sudden. we all enjoy seeing our fish eat