Feeding my Oscar

Question
Hi Ron,
I have a problem with my Oscar. She is 5 years old and I adopted her from a friend who could not take her to a new apartment. My friend (Deb) fed her only live feeder goldfish. Now as you know she will not eat anything else. I live far from a pet store and I need some advice. How do I keep her fed and happy with these restraints? Can I get feeders mailed to me?
Thank you
Carrie


Answer
Hi Carrie,
 You will need to get him to eat something else.  The trick is that at first he isn't going to want to do it.  So, you have to be a little hard-hearted and offer him only cichlid pellets but no live feeder fish.  Put in a few pellets and if he doesn't eat them after five minutes, take them out.  Absolutely do not let the pellets rot in the tank -- that could easily kill the fish.  If he doesn't eat any, try again tommorrow.  Keep doing his and eventually he will eat them.  It may take a week or more.  He won't starve in that time.  

 It will take some serious determination on your part, but your fish will be much healthier in the end.


-- Ron
  rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
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