Royals and wood

T · Post by T » 30 Mar 2003, 02:23

Ok just a couple of quick Q's.

I bought a baby royal a week ago to put into my 80gal with med cichlids.But I decided to keep him in my planted 30 gal for a bit to get him eating well.I was getting worried because I hadnt seen him eat anything during the week.He spent his time hiding behind an internal filter.But I done a waterchange saturday morning and thinned out my plants a bit.I must have disturbed him because he moved to under a piece of bogwood.Once things clamed down after the waterchange he began eating the wood with earnest, already there is a sizeable pile of brown woody poop underneath where he is eating.So is this a good sign that he will begin eating other foods, I have placed a slice of zuccini and a slice of potato(which he chewed on briefly)near him.

Secondly I noticed my royal does not have the typical red eyes, could he be a dull eyed royal(L191)?

Thanks

ClayT101 · Post by **ClayT101** » 30 Mar 2003, 04:18

Difficult to tell without a picture regarding the species. Are the lines on the Royal really distinct? Its a good sign that it is eating.

Ben · Post by **Ben** » 30 Mar 2003, 08:14

I would say it's a good sign that you are seeing the typical "Royal Sawdust". Mine was very much the same when I first got him, but he took to eating quickly, most likely because he came to me straid from the exporter, and hadn't eating in several days. Mine took to sinking algae pellets before he did to fresh veggies, once he got onto them, he started diving into the zuccini.

From reading, I gather the eyes can varrie quite a bit. Mine doesn't have the super bright red that you see a lot of the time, but they are still quite red...maybe the red get more intense as they get older...not sure.

T · Post by T » 30 Mar 2003, 15:46

Well a piece of zuccini was demolished last night and I dont think it was the mango as he does not usually eat that much in one go.Also he does not usually move from the substrate reach food higher up(he's kinda lazy that way).

Ben · Post by **Ben** » 31 Mar 2003, 10:14

Good to hear, sounds like he's fitting in just fine

My Royal is a snob with the zuchini. He eats the peal, and leaves the white part for everyone else

T · Post by T » 31 Mar 2003, 23:17

Yeah my mangos the same, he loves the peel but will only eat it in small sittings.The royal has been at the wood again and is leaving piles of brown woody crap.The worst part(or best maybe)is that my amecca splendens(livebearers)like to eat it