food for the fish

Question
Hello,
thanks for the last time information.. It has helped me a lot. I have brought one 5 inch severum cichlid, one 3 inch tiger oscar and one 6 inch silver arowana for my 65 gallons water tank. Severum is eating fine.. Im feeding him chicken, small shrimps, guppy. But he is not eating live earthworms or dry foods. Is it normal? For arowana im comfused what to fed him. He is a baby so what food i should try? Guppies are available but i dnt think he is eating it. And my oscar is always hiding. He is not roaming around in the tank. I doubt his behaviour! Just today i brought the oscar. He is floating still not moving around much. Is it normal? Is the food to be given to the oscar same as severum? Or suggest some better diet if any. I am not getting any special pellets or flakes for cichlids in the market in our city so i bought a tetra flakes. But they are not eating simply ignorning. If they dnt eat properly, they may get weak. Im in fear. Plz suggest what should i do?
Thanks in advance...
-Ayan

Answer
Hi Ayan, You are welcome!

Severums in my experience can be quite picky fish at times. Like with many cichlids, you must be sure to try to include as many different food items as possible when they are young to get them accustomed to having variety in their diet when they are a bit older.... Then there are some individuals who simply are picky!

For your Arowana simply feed him smaller versions of what he would eat as a large adult. Try chopped shrimp, earthworms, crickets (make sure they haven't been exposed to pesticides), flakes, small guppies, small pieces of chicken and other small meaty foods. If he is relatively new to the tank he may be a bit reluctant to eat at first so make sure his water is clean and give him some time.

Oscars are very moody fish. If they are just added to a new aquarium they often will go into hiding and take quite a good while to be brave enough to venture out for food. Oscars can eat just about any kind of meaty type food. Including the ones you feed your severum and all that I suggested to be fed to the arowana.

Since it appears all your new fish are young they will need plenty of time to adjust to the new tank. Just be sure the pollution level in the aquarium does not reach any high levels. Do 30-50% water changes at least twice a week. You will have to increase that amount when your fish get bigger depending upon the pollution level.

Fish can go quite a long time without food with no ill effects. Let me know if you notice any abnormal change in your fish or if you have anymore questions!

I hope this helps and best of luck!
Susan~