GETTING MY CICHLIDS TO EAT PELLETS

Question
RON, I SEEM TO HAVE SPOILED MY FISH. I GOT THEM ALL AROUND THE SAME SIZE INCH TO INCH AND A HALF AND FED THEM BLOODWORMS,BRINE AND MYSIS SHRIMP,THEY HAVE GROWN LARGE ENOUGH TO EAT PELLETS BUT THEY IGNORE THEM AND THEY ARE NOT GROWING ANYMORE,HOW DO I GET THEM TO EAT PELLETS SO THEY WILL GROW, OR WILL THEY GROW AT THE NORMAL RATE WITH JUST BRINE SHRIMP AND BLOODWORMS, BASICALLY HOW DO I GET THEM TO EAT PELLETS? THANKS RON

Answer
Hi Michael,
 Growth slows down as fish get larger and older.  An often overlooked fact is the frequency of water changes. The more frequent the water changes, the faster they will grow in general.  

 Can they do fine on brine shrimp and bloodworms?  Absolutely.  

 It will be difficult to wean them off of such "candy" to get them to eat pellets but basically you have to give them no choice and eventually they will eat the food that is offered.  

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