Hello, I have a baby albino tiger oscar. The problem is that he will not eat pellets. I have tried countless times to feed the oscar "cichlid gold" pellets as i know the pellets should be a staple for the fish. However, this is not the case and all the oscar wants to eat are live crickets.

If a solution can be provided i would appreciate some help.

Thank you

I have also tried Topfin small cichlid pellets as well. Do you think i should try a different brand of pellet, deprive the fish from food a few days, or just feed him crickets with gut load?

Welcome to our community

You could try something like Tetra Dorimin, my Oscars absolutely adore this stuff, they like it over anything else. However, crickets are actually quite a good source for nutrition so the Oscar is actually getting some pretty decent food. You could try other food such as meal worm as well. Maybe some blood worm if your fish store has it. Keep feeding the baby what ever it will eat for the time being.

welcome to the site. this issue is fixable i am sure. to better assist you, need answeres to these questions.

what size tank?
tank mates?
filters?
waterchange schedule and percentage?

thanks

55 gallon tank
pleco as tank mate
penguin 350 filter
weekly water changes, 50-25% depending on nitrate levels

jgt09 wrote:

okay, okay. good quick reply. you are on the right track that is for sure.


couple things:
1. Oscars can get picky with food. from my experience if you just hold out and not feed them for a bit. they will eventually come around to the pellets. had you fed your Oscar any other foods lately? sometimes they can get to where they only want a certain food, especially if you feed live foods.

1. IMO, keeping consistancy is important with water changes. So I try to stay around the same percentage of water change each week, no matter the N levels. I stay around that 50% mark.. once per week.

2. Might want to add another HOB filter or a canister filter to work in conjunction with your current penguin 350. I have a 60 gallon with to 350s on it. It seems to work well with me. Oscars are messy and need a ton of filtration. (the more the merrier)

I have a tetra whisper filter currently not in use, do you think i should use it as well?

Definately wouldnt hurt to add the tetra filter. Like they said earlier, the more the merrier

you could also try a garlic suppliment on the pellet. It is used as a flavor enhancer to get picky fish to eat and it does work IMO. I used kent brand garlic extreme

Baby oscars can stick to one food if you continue feed them one food but it can be change, do stick to pellets feed them and one day it stats eating, if not then change the food again, this is wat i did, my baby albino oscar stick to bloodworms and not eat anyother food, but i started eating others as well coz i stick to another one. Oscars behaviour are lovely, i just love it they behave like a baby if you love them they loves u too

jgt09 wrote:

yup. use it.

The only way to get them to eat pellets is to starve them into submission. This is something that is common for oscars of any age

It really depends on how big your baby oscar is, how big is he?

Dont feed him for a couple of days and then try the pellets. He should be hungry enough to then start gobbling the pellets. If he dont eat them, only feed him pellets until he eats them. If you get worried after 5-7 days then feed him what he will eat then back onto pellets for 5-7 days. An oscar will not starve to death!!!!! Remember to remove any uneaten food!