Ok now I have (almost) got to grips with the water and planting I need to think about food. So far I have only fed my fish tropical flakes, but, reading on here, it seems that they might like a more varied diet

Would someone take a look at my stocking and give any ideas on what fresh food they might like. It seems that cucumber and/or peas might be popular? and do I give it as well as or instead of flakes.

Also, how do I know that all the fish are getting enough to eat and that the bigger ones aren't taking the lions share?

This post has been edited by katykaye: May 30 2008, 06:47 PM

Frozen brineshrimp, bloodworms and marine mix (prawn, fish, squid, etc) can be fed to your fishes. You can also try freeze dried foods.
These foods get fed in addition to flake foods. I often feed the flake first and then offer some frozen or freeze dried food after the flake has been eaten. Alternatively you can feed flake in the morning and frozen in the evening.
Feed as much food as your fish can eat in a couple of minutes. If you are worried about the fish not getting enough food then keep offering small amounts of frozen food until the fish no longer show any interest in the food. Or when they start to grab bits of food and then spit it out. Once you get to that stage stop feeding and remove any uneaten food to prevent the water going off.

You might want to change your stock a bit. Tetras, barbs, danios & corydoras catfish are schooling fish and need to be kept in groups. In the wild these fishes occur in schools consisting of thousands of individuals. In captivity they should be kept in groups of at least 6 of their own kind.

Black widow tetras can be fin nippers and might damage the male guppy's tail. I would get rid of them and get some more danios, tetras & cories.

Crushed cooked peas are a good thing to use, and bloodworm also. These should be offered along side the flake as a treat about once a week With the bloodworm, I'd get the frozen type, as the blister packs cost about £2 and last for arround a year of feeding one cube a week The peas need to be cooked, allowed to cool and them crushed between your fingers to get them out of their shells

The smaller fish will get food just a quick as the larger fish if they are hungery, so don't worry about it unless you see them not getting the food at all due to the others eating all the food offered first. Smaller fish generaly need less food than the larger fish anyway.

All the best
Rabbut

The guppies and platies will benefit from a vegetable element in their diet- and it won't do the others any harm. Peas are good; I also use spinach, broccoli and sprouts.