My cichlid has gone mad!

[stoopid]

I have one of these.

He's tearing his live food apart (guppy feeders) and not eating all of it (seems to only like the tails ). I know he's probably eating a few whole ones (have had him for 2 weeks and he's still alive), but he's mawling the guppies versus eating them! 1-3 guppies per day need to be fished out.

I'm still a newb to the whole fish thing, but I know this isn't 'right' behavior for a semi-aggressive rock dweller.

 

[Faramir]

Don't feed him guppies then

These fish are omnivores and will eat most things - frozen foods, good quality flake. No need to have him torturing guppies.

 

[stoopid]

Originally posted by Faramir
Don't feed him guppies then

These fish are omnivores and will eat most things - frozen foods, good quality flake. No need to have him torturing guppies.

I bought some pellet food for him (will try it after all the guppies are slaughtered), but I read that these particular fish LOVED live food, particularly small fish...

 

[ChilDawg]

That doesn't mean that they need to be fed live foods all the time...getting them to eat prepared dry foods would be more cost-effective and just as nutritious (if not more so) in the long run.

 

[stoopid]

Originally posted by ChilDawg
That doesn't mean that they need to be fed live foods all the time...getting them to eat prepared dry foods would be more cost-effective and just as nutritious (if not more so) in the long run.

Good point, I don't feed my cat canned food all the time either... quality dry food is better for the teeth and usually a lot less fattening.

 

[mogurnda]

Um, if I'm not mistaken, those are Altolamp. compressiceps, which are predators, not omnivores. If they'll take non-living foods, great, but fish is what they eat.

 

[ChilDawg]

I keep finding that they are omnivores and will rarely take fish in an aquarium environment, but get really upset with fast-moving fishes.

 

[stoopid]

Originally posted by mogurnda
Um, if I'm not mistaken, those are Altolamp. compressiceps, which are predators, not omnivores. If they'll take non-living foods, great, but fish is what they eat.

The shop owner did say that 'starving' him for a few days usually coaxes the fish into eating pellet foods (assuming they don't take a liking to it right away).

 

[Faramir]

I read that they eat invertebrates in the wild. Occasionally take small fish. They are not essentially piscivores however.

 

[stoopid]

Originally posted by Faramir
I read that they eat invertebrates in the wild. Occasionally take small fish. They are not essentially piscivores however.

Okay, here's the update -- ironically I came home from worjk yesterday to find a bunch (I mean, like 4-5) guppies "gone". Nothing floating in tank, so I have to assume he ate them. Woke up this morning, and three more were "gone". I saw him chase a few yesterday, I think he's acquired the taste . So, I don't know why he was 'acting out', but it seems to have stopped, and the feeding frenzy begins!