Jack Dempsey cichlid that ate fine, but now wont eat.

Question
QUESTION: I have had a Jack Dempsey cichlid for about 8 months now.  It ate great up until the past month and a half.  I feed Hikari Cichlid Staple pellets and Omega One Cichlid Flakes.  Over the past 6 weeks it appears to be hungry but when fed just hovers around the top of the tank and then swims away.  I bought Wardly Shrimp Pellets to try and it ate them once, then began spitting them out.  I've tried not feeding for a day or so (other than algae wafers for the pleco) and it made no difference.

I've checked the ammonia levels and they are normal.  I do have to make some adjustments with pH however, as of today.  

I got some Hikari frozen bloodworms today and it ate them as fast as possible, either it really liked them or was just plain hungry.

Is my fish possibly just plain bored with the pellets and flake food, or is there possibly something else going on?
Also, can I feed bloodworms daily or will I need to supplement with something else?

ANSWER: Hi Emily,
  You can feed him on bloodworms if that is what he will eat.  Is it possible that your other food has gone bad, i.e., maybe it got wet and is  slowly rotting (this happens far more often than people realize)?  

   Are you doing regular weekly water changes?  You should be changing 25% of his water once a week, every week to keep him happy and healthy.  That is the most important thing you can do.

-- Ron
  rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
  Cichlid Research Home Page <http://cichlidresearch.com>


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I will starting doing more frequent changes of my water, hopefully that will help.  

Is there anyway I can tell if the food has gone bad?  It doesn't smell or appear to be rotting.  I have a new bag for when the current one ran out, so I will start that & see if it helps.

Thank you very much!

Answer
Hi Emily,
 Smell would be one indication.  The most likely way this happens is that people often leave their fish food on top of the fish tank and little bits of splashing water get into the food.  The best way to prevent this is to be sure that the fish food is sealed.  

-- Ron
  rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
  Cichlid Research Home Page <http://cichlidresearch.com>