AboutRon Coleman Expertise I am an expert on cichlid fishes, particularly New World cichlids. My broader expertise includes the behavior, ecology and reproduction of fishes in general. (I am NOT an expert on Goldfish. Please do not ask me questions about why your goldfish are sick -- they are almost always sick due to the way that they are sold). Also, please do not use abbreviations, such as "my GT has a swollen
eye" because I don't know what a "GT" is. The more clearly you can explain your question, the better chance I have of understanding what it is that you seek. Thanks.
Experience I teach at the California State University, Sacramento in the Department of Biological Sciences, and I run a website, called the Cichlid Research Home Page . I also write for many popular aquarist magazines, and I am editor of Cichlid News magazine. I am a scientist and I spend my time teaching fish biology, ecology, behavior and evolution and doing research on the reproductive biology of fishes, particularly cichlids. I do research in the laboratory and in Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Mexico. My main interest is understanding the evolution of parental care in fishes. I am interested in encouraging greater public awareness, understanding and participation in science.
Organizations belong to American Cichlid Association, Pacific Coast Cichlid Association, American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, etc
Publications Cichlid News, Tropical Fish Hobbyist, Freshwater and Marine Aquarium, Science, Behavioural Ecology and Sociobiology, Copeia, Canadian Journal of Zoology, Trends in Ecology and Evolution, AUK, Environmental Biology of Fishes
Expert: Ron Coleman Date: 6/3/2008 Subject: Betta's/Siamese Fighters
Question I just got To bettas on the weekend 1 female and 1 male I'm worried about them they won't eat anything and the male's tank gets a little cloudy by the end of day i take the uneaten food out. When they do try to eat they just spit it back out like it's too big or something. I've tried Smaller pellets, but they just seem to ignore the smaller ones they seem to like the big darker coloured one and they completly ignore the freeze dried blood worms. What am i doing wrong?
Answer Hi Jane,
Think of it from the fish's point of view. They have suddenly been moved to a whole new world. It often takes them days or even a week or more to start to feel good enough to eat. Offer them just a tiny bit of food at first so that the rotting food does not pollute the water.
Polluted water is very dangerous for a fish.
-- Ron
rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
Cichlid Research Home Page <http://cichlidresearch.com>
