Catfish Food Football

[minkymaid]

Hi everyone!

Ok here's another question from a complete beginner! I've read loads of books since deciding to set up a tank but unfortunately my Pearl Danios refuse to read them or even look at the pictures. So, rather than the idyllic description of the danios eating their flake at the top of the tank while the catfish muck around with their pellets at the bottom, the danios have pretty quickly got the idea that catfish food can be fun (I've only had my 4 sterbai corys for less than a week). The danios will finish their food and then snatch up the pellets if they get the chance, even pushing the corys off their food, and charge around the tank with it in their mouths, popping the pellet out and then grabbing it again before it hits the bottom. So my questions are (don't laugh!)
Can fish choke? (this food is really big and the danios look like its almost jammed in there!)
and
How can I make sure that everyone gets enough food - I don't want danios the shape of footballs and I don't want catfish so thin that even Johnny Depp would envy their cheekbones. Is there any other food that corys like that danios don't, for instance? Or am I having first tank over reaction?
Thanks!
mm

 

[catxx]

how about sticking a slice of cucumber in there for the corys to nibble on
no way a danio could pick up a whole slice of cucumber! (weight it down with plant weights or wedge it under bogwood so it doesn't float to the surface)

do a search on the board for how to prep veg for fish.

or feed in two seperate ends of the tank, so while the danios are at one end munching, put some in for the corys at the other, make sure it sinks fast so the danios don't notice.

 

[Inchworm]

Hi minkymaid

Welcome to the forum!

My blind cave tetras like to run away with the food too, but I've never seen them have a problem with choking on it.

Your corys need a varied diet with a substantial protein content. Why not look for a good brand of flake food which you can sink by putting your hand under the water and flicking them downward. Corys also benefit from live or frozen foods like bloodworms or blackworms, and your other fish will probably enjoy them too. Freeze dried tubifex worms are good too. They can be separated by holding the block under the water and rubbing and shaking them until they get wet and come apart. All these foods will scatter when they reach the bottom so that your corys will get their fair share.

Cucumbers do not provide much nutrition for corys.

 

[minkymaid]

Thanks for your ideas!
After some rigorous testing I've found out that danios will eat the catfish pellets in the dark (doh!)(took them 1 night to realise what was happening-scary, clever little beasts), neither the corys nor the danios like bloodworms in jelly or peas, stick on the glass food doesn't stick (and the danios show no interest - darn, hoping to keep them busy!) and when it falls off corys don't eat it. But larger flat pellets seem to be much less interesting to danios and although only mildly interesting to the corys at least its food - and its inside them!
I've also found out that whilst they may not have opposable thumbs or a uni degree, danios are way too smart for this average fishkeeper!
regards
mm

 

[Barracuda518]

Ive found that Danios will eat anything they can get to, especially if it floats. I was having the same problem you are in that my cories werent getting enough to eat. So I would put some freeze dried bloodworms in and the danios went for those. That allowed me to get some flake food down to the cories. I just got a pinch, held it under the water for a second or two and it kinda clumped together and sank to the bottom very quickly. Another thing I did was to soak the pellots in some tank water for about 10 minutes so they would soften up and make it easier for the cories to eat them. Danios are super fast and are even faster when there is food in the water.

Good Luck

 

[minkymaid]

RESULT!!!!
Ok here it is - feed the corys Tetra mini granules - small enough to suck up in one go! Hurrah, problem solved!
Thanks everyone
x