My new fish aren't eating their fish food! read details b4 u answer plz?

Question

They are tropical, The food is tropical, i floated them in the bag for 30 min as the bag said; the fish are: algea eater(very small) and a pictus catfish(about a little over an inch). help!



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Answer 1

Well,if they were just realeased into the tank they will probally will not eat for1-3 days.This is normal because they are stressed out.Think about it........They were chased buy a net at the store,then put into a confined space(the small bag), then a very bumpy ride home for them, then finally they are home but in a completely new environment,so it will take some time for them to get used to.You may want to try a different fish food after the 2nd or 3rd day of not eating. But you WILL need to get some sinkig algae pellets for the algae eater.


You should feed the algae pellet once a day or more(depending on how mch he eats). Always feed at night just before "lights out" because most algae eaters are nocturnal. that is why they hide during the day and rarely come out at day.The reason they are nocturnal is because they really have no line of defence(mainly 'cause there mouth is under there chin.

Answer 2

Stress can be hard on fish, and it generally takes them a bit to adjust and get used to a new home. Is your tank fully cycled? If not, the fluctuating levels of ammonia, nitrite and nitrate can stress them out further and they'll refuse food. By 'algae eater' I assume you mean a Chinese algae eater? These fish require sinking bottomfeeder pellets until your tank is old enough to promote the growth of algae, and when they get older they'll be less interested in algae and may become aggressive. The catfish also need sinking pellets of some sort, as it too is a bottom dweller.

Answer 3

Since the fish you talk about are bottom feeders and also algae eaters, you may not be seeing them actually feeding. My algae eaters will not eat Tropical fish food, preferring to eat what they are designed to eat...algae. Your catfish also prefers to eat from the bottom. So what food you ARE putting in the tank, is sufficient to keep their belly's full.

Watch the catfish closely. He may be nibbling when you aren't looking closely. As suggested by another answerer..sometimes when fish are new to your tank, they can take a few hours to settle down and eat. I have yet to see one go more than 24 hours without eating, though....unless they are ill or not going to survive due to Ph changes or other disease.

Answer 4

I have 3 pictus catfish and they go crazy at feeding time,he may just need abit of time to settle in.Catfish will normally eat the flakes once they fall to the bottom,not come up to eat like other fish.Pictus catfish are somewhat nocturnal as well so try feeding once you put out their light for the night. Here is a link with some information about your new fish:
http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/species.php?species_id=276

Answer 5

Your algae eater will need algae disks, found at at pet shop. They also don't eat a lot, if they are small, 1 disc each per day, increase as they grow. Cat fish will eat flakes but need a variety of foods, try to offer brine shrimp, or blood worms. My cats do also nibble at the algae disks. Don't worry they will eat! Good luck!

Answer 6

If they're algae eaters, get them algae based fish food, but don't forget fresh food(like peas and lettuce) too.

Answer 7

Sounds like you just got the fish. If so, give them a few days to settle in before expecting them to eat.

MM

Answer 8

try a different fish food fish can be picky sometimes!