Apistogramma Cacatuoides - feeding?

[boogaloo]

Hi,

I have a pair of apisto cacs, and while the female eats anything that floats past her, the male will only take frozen bloodworm or brineshrimp. I've tried various pellet foods and flakes, but no joy. I don't have a problem feeding him frozen, but I wondered if there was anything else I could try that might make his diet a bit more interesting? Has anyone tried that Tetra gel-based stuff with dwarf cichlids - is it any good? Does anyone have any other suggestions I could try for him? Cheers.

 

[D-MAC]

I have come across this more than once and found no real answer to the issue other than it has a taste and preference for frozen foods...As long as the fish is eating something you don't have much to worry about I have used the tetra foods in gel for a while now and found it to be a good food albit a bit pricey to use.

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,
They really like Grindal worms, they are not like Brine shrimp or White Worms, they are ever so easy to culture, and you can feed them on porridge oats.
Because they are quite small, they spread all around the tank, and the fish have to chase after them.

When I introduce a new food I usually break it up fairly small and mix it in with the Grindal worms (or Daphnia) and small amount of water. Give the whole lot a good swirl and tip it in.

If you can't get Grindal worms (plenty of sellers on Ebay, PM me if you don't have any joy), small earth-worm bits are popular, and I've found that the Astax Red Crumb from TA aquaculture is usually eaten as well.

Cheers Darrel

 

[Irene0100]

my male agazzizi likes earth worm flakes and will sometimes eat tetra prima

 

[boogaloo]

Thanks for your advice everyone, I'm going to give some of these ideas a go. I tried him with the gel-based stuff yesterday which he seemed to like, (it's pretty yucky!) so I have that as an option for him too. I'm surprised he won't eat the Tetra prima, as all my other fish love it, but maybe he'll adapt over time. He's a stunning wee fish and very friendly.

I have thought about culturing live food for a while, so think I'll start seriously looking into this now. Cheers.