Altums not eating...

[comebashme]

Hi,

Anybody knows what's wrong with my altums?

Haven't been eating since I bought them last Saturday. Threw in worms but they just let them sink past and sometimes even swim away from them! They don't seem to be sick or whatever and their fins are open widely. Other inhabitants in the tank are about 50 cardinals, 10 triangle tetra-like fish, 4 golden algae eaters, 4 xiao jing ling (otocinclus), shrimps (lots of them).

Do I have to put the worm dispenser (if that's something you call for the cone thing with holes at the sides) to let them familiarize with the food?

Thanks!

[benny]

Hi Come Bash You (what a name!!),

Have you tried other types of food? Perhaps buy a packet of brine shrimps and see if they will react to it.

Cheers,

[benetay]

Are they newly introduce into the tank? They might not consume any food if they feel new to the surrounding. I think it's pretty normal for the first few days if it's newly introduce.

After a week if the altums still don't eat, then it'll be alarming.

A change in feeding/food might also prevent the altums from eating. Just take a while for them to adapt to the change.

[comebashme]

Hmm.... Maybe I'll try with a packet of brine shrimp... Fed worms again but one of them only ate 1 worm. Wonder if there are better food (baby shrimps?) in the tank that I cant notice...