Anyone's Fish Adore Banana Too? What Else?

[PDSimon]

This is a really useful thread I was a bit hesitant about sticking any old fruit and veg in my tank!

 

[kaivalagi]

Just think about all that tropical fruit which must fall into the Amazon region rivers after the banks burst from rainfall in the wet season...

I wish I had the article link that I read about all this, really quite interesting. Most of the diet in the rainy season is fruit, it's only when the water levels recede that a more carnivorous diet tends to take hold for survival...unless the fish in question isn't a predator then it's hiding time feeding on detritus

 

[hamfist]

Banana didn't go down well in either of my big tanks today. Don't think I'll try it again.

 

[kaivalagi]

Nicely over ripe? You know at the point where the smell of banana is quite strong...must have been bananas from the Caribbean and not South America

Papaya and Mango next when I go shopping

 

[hamfist]

Nicely over ripe? You know at the point where the smell of banana is quite strong...

Too ripe for me, for sure. Personally, I would have considered them dead.

 

[Verminator89]

Is there a list anywhere of practically anything and everything you can feed your fish. Or is it a case of anything goes. Obviously within reason, i'm not suggesting things like McDonalds burgers or curry. Serious examples. I'd be interested in seeing such a list. Everything i've tried so far; Apples, Cuccumber, Lettuce being the three i've tried have all been fails. Nothing is interested, not my plec, my dempseys, blue lobster of any of my clown loach =S Baffled.

 

[kaivalagi]

+1 for a list of foods, would be really useful

shelled/mushed peas have always worked for me, tried those before now?

 

[star4]

Broccoli is another favorite of mine and savoy gabbage, occasionally wafer thin ham, its suppose to be for the plecs but it gets munched by the others on the way to the bottom of the tank.

 

[kaivalagi]

Another success, Papaya...

Only the firemouth wasn't interested, the geos are loving it!

edit: removed it now, half gone but bloody messy!!! Hopefully the geos will "mop up" the left overs

 

[ChilliPepper]

Love your Geos! How old are they? Mine is so small he hasn't even got a dot yet Where did you get them from?

 

[kaivalagi]

Thanks! There are 5 geo's in the tank now. I initially added one to begin with, the one on the left of the last photo with a nice red hue and lovely fin colour, he (I think) is almost one year old (1" when bought in November), he is now just over 4". The other 4 were 1" also and were added more recently in May I think, once I had the bigger tank setup, they are around 3" now.

Interestingly one of the newer geos doesn't look like a tapajos as it has more of a red tinge to it's fins rather outer than a pattern and has redder eyes, it's the fish top of the first picture and middle right of the second picture, I think you can just about make out what I am saying. I ought to try and get a new photo of it really...


All my geos came from the same LFS, Swallow Aquatics in East Harling (near Thetford, Norfolk). They cost around 7-8£ each I think...I like this LFS, most of my fish have come from there and are all healthy, it's just a shame it's not quite local, it's about an hours drive to get there for me...They have a 19 year old red tailed catfish in there on show...it must be about 3 foot I think! It's a great place to visit, there are also several other branches in the region I have yet to visit.

 

[ChilliPepper]

All my geos came from the same LFS, Swallow Aquatics in East Harling (near Thetford, Norfolk). They cost around 7-8£ each I think...I like this LFS, most of my fish have come from there and are all healthy, it's just a shame it's not quite local, it's about an hours drive to get there for me...They have a 19 year old red tailed catfish in there on show...it must be about 3 foot I think! It's a great place to visit, there are also several other branches in the region I have yet to visit.

Ah how interesting, my little one came from there as well! So maybe our fish are related My Nic also came from there

I do like the shop, they have a nice selection of fish (and the marine section is great too ) and yes the catfish is HUUUGE! Someone on the forum was trying to sell a 6ft tank with a male and female red tail cat. I really don't think they should be available to buy. TBH the tank the one at Swallow is in is too small for it and it must be 10ft long.

They only had my little chap left, the bloke said he wasn't sure when they'd have any more as they bred them themselves. I'll have to have a lookout for anymore as mine is great, eats like a pig.

Will have to try the papaya!

 

[kaivalagi]

The parents must be in the tall Amazonian tank at the opposite end of the room from the catfish I think, if you haven't seen the geos in that tank have a good look next time

Whereabouts are you based? I'm in Norwich

Always good to know another local cichlid keeper!

Next fish for me will be some rotkeil sevs from Star4 fingers crossed

Some ripened mango is next to try when I get hold of some, it may well keep together better and not foul the tank...I'm working my way through any tropical fruits I come across

 

[ChilliPepper]

The parents must be in the tall Amazonian tank at the opposite end of the room from the catfish I think, if you haven't seen the geos in that tank have a good look next time

Whereabouts are you based? I'm in Norwich

Always good to know another local cichlid keeper!

Next fish for me will be some rotkeil sevs from Star4 fingers crossed

Some ripened mango is next to try when I get hold of some, it may well keep together better and not foul the tank...I'm working my way through any tropical fruits I come across

Yep, I saw the Geos in there... Wow, beautiful Hopefully they will get jiggy again then

I'm near Saxmundham, which is inbetween Ipswich and Lowestoft What other fish shops do you go to?

Same, my next fish will be 2 Rotkeils from Star4 They will enjoy living with me if my other two are anything to go by How many are you having?

We ought to make a list like Verminator suggested of alternative foods. My boyfriend caught a 'rare' worm (hardly see any in the garden for some reason) and chopped it up for Boris, he swallowed it down without it even registering what it was gulp, gulp, gulp

 

[SDWalters]

What a great article!! I am definitely going to try some fruit in my fishies diet's!!

And loving the insect attracting lights idea, Genius!