New Apisto cacautoides not eating...

**fl4ian** · 25th Mar 2009, 22:04

I have had them for 5 days now. I see them eating something off the gravel, but they never come up to feed like the rest of the fish. I've tried flake, freeze dried bloodworms, freeze dried brine shrimp, without success.

Maybe they don't come up to eat. How should I feed them? I don't want to feed them live or frozen foods as a staple only as a treat, and I feel like they are waiting for something better.

The breeder I got them from fed them live brine shrimp solely, I believe.

Will they eat what they are provided when they get hungry enough?

**mictok** · 25th Mar 2009, 22:18

If it is farm breed then shouldnt be much of a problem for them to adjust to dry food but it takes time.Wild caught will be more difficult to do the changes.
When they are hungry they will look for alternative food around,just that they wont eat much.

**fl4ian** · 25th Mar 2009, 22:20

they are not wild. Should i just continue to feed normally, and when they get hungry enough, they'll eat? Do they come up to the surface to eat like most fish?

**riltz** · 25th Mar 2009, 22:32

Apistogramma does not go up to the surface to feed, they actually pick food from substrate, therefore, if your apisto is feeding from gravel dont need to worry.

When they have starve enough they will be ready to eat anything, but dont feed and stare at them as they eat, it might stress them out. Always provide food but dont overfeed.
As long as there isnt too much leftovers its okay.

**fl4ian** · 25th Mar 2009, 22:35

I have a bunch of ravenous eaters, and very little will make it to the bottom, and even then the other fish will go to the gravel too. Will the Cacautoides learn to go after the food? I guess they will, I mean no animal will starve itself when food is available, right?

**mikhail** · 25th Mar 2009, 23:29

bro, try sinking pellets like Tetrabits, TetraPro Colour or New Life GROW. I had similar problems last time because floating ones will be eaten by other fishes like tetras and there will be nothing left for the bottom dwellers. And yes, they can be trained to eat dry foods. If they can't find anything to eat, they will eventually try the new food

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**fl4ian** · 25th Mar 2009, 23:49

I will try the sinking pellets too! Thanks for the great information, bros.

**JamesCampbell** · 26th Mar 2009, 01:23

Try to feed what they where acustomed to eating before, cyclops, mysais, grindle worms ext. while doing so add some good grade of flakes at the same time. They should get the message and soon will be eating the flakes....... Peace Out.

**genes** · 26th Mar 2009, 20:41

Apistos are bottom dwellers so you should feed them sinking food. Only once they get used to the environment will they eat off the top. But still, some of them do not. Good luck!

**barmby** · 27th Mar 2009, 11:48

They are used to going after live food. For this reason, give them some time. Try to overfeed abit so that there are leftovers. This will allow the apisto to nibble and accustom with dried food. I find that many Japanese use Tetra dried food (mikhail mentioned). You may want to try it.