Can't get my pearls to eat

[rahlcepx516]

I have had them for about a day and they just hang out in the mid to bottom range of my tank. I have a standard 55 gallon.

They are very active, but are afraid of my hand whenever they come up to the surface. I figure they will look for food when they get hungry enough, but I am still worried they may not catch on.

Any suggestions?

I have been feeding (attempting) floating pellets.

[rich311k]

Give them a little more time to settle in. What else is in the tank with them? They will come around. They are probably eating after you move away from the tank.

[rahlcepx516]

Just a rubber lip pleco.

The tank is 3 feet to my right and in the open in my room, and I still see the pellets up top =(

Should I invest in a fake floating plant?

[rich311k]

I would suggest doing nothing for a couple of days. They will settle in and eat when they are ready. You could try frozen bloodworms but wait a day before doing so, they are in no danger of starving.

[rahlcepx516]

Alright, I will do so. Never know how often pet stores feed them. Thanks =)

[VoidParadigm]

Try to keep the lights low too, or drape a towel over half of the tank. Being in the dark for 24 hours will help calm them.

[AmyLynn]

Be patient. Took at least a week before my pearls would eat regularly. Wasn't until I added the angel and the dwarf neon rainbows that they started staying out in the open more.

[rahlcepx516]

Ew... Well I gave them 24 hours of lights off and I turned the lights on just now, and the females had a fit. Uprooted a few plants and made a huge mess in my substrate.

They pretty much have only stayed in on section of the tank, hiding inside, or by my fake ship. Hopefully they adjust soon, it sucks seeing such a beautiful fish hide.

[VoidParadigm]

Try not to worry too much about it. Everyone - whether they be fish, human, or some other creature - has problems adjusting to new places.

[rahlcepx516]

Just saw them all together and was able to take a pic of them. You can see the male sort of resting its head on the other. Kinda cool =P

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[rahlcepx516]

Just talked to the guys at the store I got them from and they said that a bunch of fish they got from their new breeder had been sick, and on top of the gouramis and other fish, they lost over 100 tetras within two days.

He said that if they pass away they will replace them, but I did not like how they caught this three days later.... Hopefully I do not have to get them replaced and they will recover from whatever they have.