How Do I Feed 'em?

[aquaidoka]

Guys! Is dry flake food enough for my fish?

I have community 29G tank with 17 relatively young and little fish (2 Pearl gouramis, 2 neon tetras, 2 high fin black skirt tetras, 1 dalmatian molly, 1 swordtail, 1 guppy + 4 little ones, 2 oto, 2 siamese algae eaters), planted aquarium, 85 W lights, CO2, 2 filters, etc. I have the first tank for 4 months now. Continuing active learning.

My LFS says dry food is enough and good enough, and they have only flakes for sale (no frozen or live food for community tank).

I'm starting feeling what my fish need, and it seems that I should buy something online.

Is it so and is it critical? What should I buy them?

Thanks from me and my fish for your replies!

 

[Carlovel1]

Yes flake food is enough for your fish, but I would also get some algae tablets for your Siamese A. E.

 

[aquaidoka]

Thanks, Carlovel1!

 

[OldMan47]

Many fish have been kept over the years using nothing but flake food. If you happen to have top quality flake food, your fish will survive on it. I seldom feed much besides flake myself but I do take the precaution of feeding a large variety of different flake foods. I feel that whatever one flake is missing is probably present in the next one. My fish also get the occasional feeding of fresh and frozen foods but not often enough to make much difference in their survival. I also keep mostly planted tanks which means there is almost always one thing or another growing on the plants or in the substrate that the fish can forage and find. Unless you are an extremist with various chemical treatments, there is a lot of microscopic life in any mature aquarium.

 

[the biffster]

Guys! Is dry flake food enough for my fish?

I have community 29G tank with 17 relatively young and little fish (2 Pearl gouramis, 2 neon tetras, 2 high fin black skirt tetras, 1 dalmatian molly, 1 swordtail, 1 guppy + 4 little ones, 2 oto, 2 siamese algae eaters), planted aquarium, 85 W lights, CO2, 2 filters, etc. I have the first tank for 4 months now. Continuing active learning.

My LFS says dry food is enough and good enough, and they have only flakes for sale (no frozen or live food for community tank).

I'm starting feeling what my fish need, and it seems that I should buy something online.

Is it so and is it critical? What should I buy them?

Thanks from me and my fish for your replies!

you can give them a treat now and again
like brine shrimp or blood worm live or
frozen theres loads of different types of
food you can feed

 

[aquaidoka]

Thanks OldMan, thanks The Biffster! No, I don't use chemicals aside of the fertilizers for plants. I appreciate your valuable advices!

 

[the biffster]

Thanks OldMan, thanks The Biffster! No, I don't use chemicals aside of the fertilizers for plants. I appreciate your valuable advices!

i didn't mentioned chemicals of any sorts there types of food
you give them as a treat like you treat yourself to something

 

[aquaidoka]

The Biffster, sorry for mixing the replies - one about chemicals was for OldMan's suggestion about the usefulness of planted aquariums if they are clean.

 

[the biffster]

The Biffster, sorry for mixing the replies - one about chemicals was for OldMan's suggestion about the usefulness of planted aquariums if they are clean.

sorry one of the mods on here
is the man you should be speaking to
ianho i think his name is good with
plants

 

[Carlovel1]

Ianho is the Plant man

 

[fluttermoth]

aquaidoka; if your LFS doesn't have much in the way of fish food, you can always vary your fishes diet with human food. Cooked, shelled peas, spinach, lettuce, prawns, fish; there are all sorts of things you can give them. Just avoid anything processed and go easy on any animals fats (so don't feed too much chicken or beef) and you'll be fine.

 

[aquaidoka]

Thanks Fluttermoth! I give them 30 second microwaved fresh cucumber slice a couple times a week, and thanks for your other suggestions. So I should be careful with meat. I heard somewhere that beef heart can be fed - I think because it is low in fat. Is it true? How it (and fish) should be prepared?

 

[fluttermoth]

I know some Dicsus people use beefheart, but I've never used it myself, so have no idea how it should be prepared; hopefully someone else knows and will be along in a bit to enlighten us
Fish is best given raw, I feel; just chop it up into the right size for whatever fish you have. Prawns the same; de-frost if they're frozen ones.
I was always told you should give freshwater fish seafish to eat, and marines should have fresh, so as not to risk passing on any diseases; I don't know if it's an old wive's tale or not, but it seems sensible; so cod for your Oscar and trout for your Lionfish

 

[aquaidoka]

Thanks, Fluttermoth!

Would other respected forum members add something about the experience of feeding beef, fish, or other meat?

Did you try to do it? Is it okay? What kind of meat did you feed; was it raw?

 

[the biffster]

Thanks, Fluttermoth!

Would other respected forum members add something about the experience of feeding beef, fish, or other meat?

Did you try to do it? Is it okay? What kind of meat did you feed; was it raw?

you can buy it in blister packs
frozen at the lfs i used to feed it
half block dropped in the tank
mind you watch your nitrates