Battle of wills

[Vanman]

I am determined that my approximately year old discus will start eating a new to them pellet. I started yesterday morning giving them only the new pellet. No more BH, FDBW, or the pellets that they were getting until they eat the new pellets.

All of my other discus eat this pellet as well as they do FDBW.

How long will this take? Who will give up first? Me, my wife, or the discus?

[Discus Fever]

Re: Battle of wills

I vote for you and your wife.

[Vanman]

Re: Battle of wills

I worry that she will cave first.

[LizStreithorst]

Re: Battle of wills

Why switch from a pellet that they already liked?

[jwcarlson]

Re: Battle of wills

It's kind of weird to me. My discus loved beefheart when they were growing. Got them off that and they ate mostly Al's FDBlkW and Cobalt flake. Occasional Hikari frozen blood worms. Fairly picky though. Wouldn't eat pellets or anything.
I moved them to a 125 with a bunch of juvenile sterbai and a single male gold ram (both of which eat everything) and now the discus will eat absolutely anything I put in there. No adjustment period at all. They eat Al's discus chow, vibrabites, FD tubifex (I know apparently everyone hates that), flake, and Extreme pellets as well. They've even sampled earth worm and black worm sticks that they'd always turned their nose up to.

It's been interesting to watch them change so quickly. Like they just needed something to teach them all that stuff is food.

[Vanman]

Re: Battle of wills

Why switch from a pellet that they already liked?

I suspect the new pellets are better. Also I was feeding the older fish one pellet and the younger ones a different one.

[brewmaster15]

Re: Battle of wills

give them a few days. People leave their fish 7-10 days no food.. No reason to rush or worry at this point. Offer a little each day... vaccum up whats not eaten in about 30 min.

[Vanman]

Re: Battle of wills

Thanks, Al.

[Vanman]

Re: Battle of wills

It has been two days and I have seen one of the largest eat one pellet and spit it out. All of the others just ignore them. I have considered adding one of the younger fish from another tank to teach them that it really is food.

[Willie]

Re: Battle of wills

Good idea. It usually takes just one fish to stimulate the rest to attack food.

My altum angelfish get frozen mysis which they savor. I also put in some flake food for the tetras. Now the altums get the flakes first.