Cichlid diet and pecking order.

I just got 2 cichlids, a blue and gold ram a week ago. The only thing they will eat is brine shrimp. They are new to the tank, and I did buy them a sinking pellet. When I stick the sinking pellet in, the blue will try and eat it. He sucks it up and then spits it out, but he's curious enough to go and taste it. Will he eventually eat it? 2nd of all, he can only do that when the gold bully will let him. He often chases him away from the front of the tank which is where I feed. Gold has established a territory on the top right of the tank, and that doesn't include the front area unless food is there. He doesn't even attempt to eat those sinking pellets, but he doesn't want to share them. I noticed blue lives in golds basement, which is a cave/crevice under the right middle side of the tank. He stays there mostly. Should I drop some sinking pellets in his area or just in 2 separate spots in front of the tank?

Is there anything else I can feed them or will they eventually accept the pellets too? I like to feed a variety diet.

 

I just got 2 cichlids, a blue and gold ram a week ago. The only thing they will eat is brine shrimp. They are new to the tank, and I did buy them a sinking pellet. When I stick the sinking pellet in, the blue will try and eat it. He sucks it up and then spits it out, but he's curious enough to go and taste it. Will he eventually eat it? 2nd of all, he can only do that when the gold bully will let him. He often chases him away from the front of the tank which is where I feed. Gold has established a territory on the top right of the tank, and that doesn't include the front area unless food is there. He doesn't even attempt to eat those sinking pellets, but he doesn't want to share them. I noticed blue lives in golds basement, which is a cave/crevice under the right middle side of the tank. He stays there mostly. Should I drop some sinking pellets in his area or just in 2 separate spots in front of the tank?

Is there anything else I can feed them or will they eventually accept the pellets too? I like to feed a variety diet.

The are billions of Cichlid foods out there. The pellets are too big for them to swallow, that's why they're spitting them out. Get a smaller floating pellet or a slow sinking pellet or a flake food. I use Omega One foods a lot. Here are a
few I use.

 

The are billions of Cichlid foods out there. The pellets are too big for them to swallow, that's why they're spitting them out. Get a smaller floating pellet or a slow sinking pellet or a flake food. I use Omega One foods a lot. Here are a
few I use.
View attachment 630800

The pellets are pretty small already but these guys are small too, I'll try crushing to break it down and see if that helps. I'll also pick up some cichlid flakes. I do feed fish flakes to my tetras, and the cichlids will taste it and then spit it out. Maybe they don't like that type of flake.

 

The pellets are pretty small already but these guys are small too, I'll try crushing to break it down and see if that helps. I'll also pick up some cichlid flakes. I do feed fish flakes to my tetras, and the cichlids will taste it and then spit it out. Maybe they don't like that type of flake.

Crushing and soaking might help. Quit feeding them the shrimp all the time and they'll eat the pellets and flakes.

 

Crushing and soaking might help. Quit feeding them the shrimp all the time and they'll eat the pellets and flakes.

Sounds like dealing with my kid. I guess if that's the only option they'll eat it. Haha