Problem with over feeding

[jaylach]

Sigh, I know that I'm over feeding just by the results when I vacuum. I guess my problem is that I'm not used to using flake food as years ago, when I previously had tanks, the food was live or frozen brine shrimp/blood worms.

I would appreciate any advice as to how much flake food to use. The current population is one pleco between 2-3 inches, a little albino cory and 6 black skirt tetras. I feed the pleco twice per day with an average of 1/4 of a 1/2 inch round algae wafer. Other than that I use the flake food for the tetras and to have something for the cory to scavenge. I also feed the flakes twice a day just pinching some between my thumb and index finger. I would love to have a more precise measurement as to food based on a 1/8 tea spoon measure as just using my fingers is neither precise nor consistent. I know that the 1/8 tea spoon is also too much but can still use to measure even if it should be 1/2 or 1/4 of the measure.

 

[connorlindeman]

Sigh, I know that I'm over feeding just by the results when I vacuum. I guess my problem is that I'm not used to using flake food as years ago, when I previously had tanks, the food was live or frozen brine shrimp/blood worms.

I would appreciate any advice as to how much flake food to use. The current population is one pleco between 2-3 inches, a little albino cory and 6 black skirt tetras. I feed the pleco twice per day with an average of 1/4 of a 1/2 inch round algae wafer. Other than that I use the flake food for the tetras and to have something for the cory to scavenge. I also feed the flakes twice a day just pinching some between my thumb and index finger. I would love to have a more precise measurement as to food based on a 1/8 tea spoon measure as just using my fingers is neither precise nor consistent. I know that the 1/8 tea spoon is also too much but can still use to measure even if it should be 1/2 or 1/4 of the measure.

Use as much food as the fish can eat in 2 minutes. Add a little at a time

 

[jaylach]

Thanks.

 

[Colin_T]

I would feed once a day so they are hungry when you go to feed them.

You can crumble the flake up a bit for small fish.

It's all trial and error. Offer a little bit and let them eat it. If it's all gone in 20 or 30 seconds, offer a bit more. If it's still there after a couple of minutes, offer less next time.

 

[AdoraBelle Dearheart]

While I understand the desire for exact measurements, it's really not possible for anyone to reasonably make an accurate guide, since it depends so much on what type of fish and how many you have!

I'm a bit of a snob and don't like the flake foods. I use Bug Bites microgranules, since it's made of insects, not random filler material, you know? It sinks slowly, so works well for fish at the upper levels, as well as feeding fish like cories. I also use FishScience Corydoras tablets since it's recommended by cory expert Ian Fuller, and it's very popular with my cories. Only problem is that the tabs are quite large, so I cut them up a bit, and that crumbles some, so the tetra/platies etc also eat that too. I'd try to use a variety of quality foods though.

Would you still be interested in culturing live foods? I keep a microworm culture going mainly for fry, which are really easy to maintain, but it's also super popular when I add it to the tank with platies, tetra and the cories of course. Frozen variety packs are also available in most pet stores and fish shops!

 

[jaylach]

I MIGHT be interested culturing live foods but still am not sure will be the 'feature fish'. Perferably they will be dwarf red breast cichlids but seem REALLY hard to fine right now.

Years ago I fed mostly feeder golds for my cichlids and meal worms for my ropes. Currently I have 6 black skirt tetras in the tank and, to be honest, I really don't know how to properly feed as I've never before kept tetras.

 

[itiwhetu]

A fish will eat about as much flake food as you can put on the black part of it's eye. So a very small amount.

 

[jaylach]

Thanks.

 

[GaryE]

It's science time. We have to be precise!

You pinch a little, once a day. By eye, you determine if you think it's the right amount. When you are satisfied, feed half that amount and you'll probably have it right.

We all overfeed. I only feed twice a day when I'm conditioning fish for egg production, or growing juveniles out. I usually skip one day a week for the tanks that get flake.

 

[Slaphppy7]

Fish don't need to be fed every day.

Mine get fed every 2 or 3 days, an amount they can consume in about 5 minutes...

 

[jaylach]

Thanks for all the good advice. I'm just not real used to using flakes.

 

[itiwhetu]

Remember if you are keeping Cichlids a feeding regime is important, they have an expectation that they will be fed. I feed my Discus twice a day and they are waiting to be fed

 

[Colin_T]

A fish will eat about as much flake food as you can put on the black part of it's eye. So a very small amount.

You have never kept Galaxias. They can stretch/ extend their stomach so it runs half the length of their body. And they can eat. It's an adaptation to living in isolated pockets of water where there isn't much food. They can stop eating for weeks or months and then gorge themselves when food becomes available. And their stomach is capable of digesting food straight away even if they haven't eaten for weeks.

 

[jaylach]

I remember long ago when I had cichlids I'd give them cubes of dried food as a treat. I can't remember if it was brine shrimp or worms but you just pressed the cube against the side of the tank and it would stay there and the fish would just nibble away.

 

[itiwhetu]

I remember long ago when I had cichlids I'd give them cubes of dried food as a treat. I can't remember if it was brine shrimp or worms but you just pressed the cube against the side of the tank and it would stay there and the fish would just nibble away.

Dried Tubifex worms were a staple food ages ago and I would feed the fish with those like that.