Frontosia Eating..?

[macman7010]

I have a juvienelle frontosia that does not seem interested in eating. He picks around at the gravel but never swims to the surface to get food. Is this normal for a frontosia or should I try feeding him something elase..?

[SGypsyMermaid]

what else is in the tank? what are you trying to feed him? what is ph/temp? how long has tank been set up? what kind of decor/rocks/substrate?

[fOx]

While I'm sure Gypsy knows much more thane me...

From experience, my Frontosa never took food from the surface until I added some other species to the tank with him. He either picked the food off the bottom, or waited for it to fall to his level before he would eat it. I have also read anout this before and apparently Frontosa's will not take food off the surface naturally (this isn't to say they won't do it, as mine now eats from the surface regularly).

More info is needed for a proper diagnosis as there are many factors here, ie: what are you feeding it? Is the fish sick? Are there other dominant species in the tank that are scaring the Fronty? etc....

I left my two cents, more info is needed for a better answer. To test my theory you can try soaking some Hikari pellets in water (so they sink) and then try feeding your fish... or better yet, some beef heart minced up real good and dropped into the tank (fronty's love this stuff). If they take the sinking food then at least you know it's not sickness.

good luck...

fOx

[SGypsyMermaid]

While I'm sure Gypsy knows much more thane me...

From experience, my Frontosa never took food from the surface until I added some other species to the tank with him. He either picked the food off the bottom, or waited for it to fall to his level before he would eat it. I have also read anout this before and apparently Frontosa's will not take food off the surface naturally (this isn't to say they won't do it, as mine now eats from the surface regularly).

More info is needed for a proper diagnosis as there are many factors here, ie: what are you feeding it? Is the fish sick? Are there other dominant species in the tank that are scaring the Fronty? etc....

I left my two cents, more info is needed for a better answer. To test my theory you can try soaking some Hikari pellets in water (so they sink) and then try feeding your fish... or better yet, some beef heart minced up real good and dropped into the tank (fronty's love this stuff). If they take the sinking food then at least you know it's not sickness.

good luck...

fOx

ya know, i never paid attention, but now that you mention it, i've never seen my fronts swim to the surface to eat, either...they always grub food from the bottom...may have something to do with them being deepwater fish.

[macman7010]

Ok, I will try that. He picks up fallen pellets, and flake food out of the gravel and eats it. The other fish I have in the tank are two small Zebra Afican Cichlids, and an Irodescent shark that will be moving to a new home as soon as I find one for him.

[macman7010]

Oh on the tank, it has been running for 3.5-4 months now, ph is 7.0, temp 76-78, and there is no sign of ammonia.

[SGypsyMermaid]

although lake cichlids tend to be very adaptable, i would suggest that you raise the ph in that tank. 7.0 is really too low for tanganyikans. don't do it by adding chemicals...add calcareous rock like tufa, limestone, or coral(reef) rock. or add crushed coral to one of your filters. or add marine sand to your substrate.

[fOx]

As long as your fish are eating, I wouldn't worry about whether they take their food from the surface. If they are picking up pellets from the ground then its sounds like they are doing fine.

It's when they are not eating that you need to start worrying.
:roll:

[stefanos.f]

Hey if u could speak Greek I would explain to u why your frontosa acts like that very easy, but I guess u dont, so I ll help u in an other way that is also easy to me and thats by showing you this sites www.aquaworks.net/frontosa/floating.htm and www.aquaworks.net/frontosa/food.htm I found these informations very interesting as Im also keeping 7 C.frontosa sizing 4''-6'' in a 220gal aquarium! I hope I helped! :lol: