Rainbowfish Death Wish !

[CarbonDreams]

I have just added a few days ago 4 boesmani rainbow fish to my 80 gallon tank, and I'm getting a little worried about their disregard for their own safety when I drop in sinking shrimp pellets for my corys and German blue rams. They are lightning quick feeders, and when they notice a pellet sinking, they rush to grab it. They can inhale the hard pellet, but they can't swallow. The little fellas just float there stupidly still trying to inhale the pellet, until after spitting it out four or five time, give up.

I am worried about one or two things happening, either one will end up choking and die, or it will dislocate its jaw. They are sweet little fish, but anything that fits into their mouths, they will try to eat. When I first floated the bag, I had used scissors to cut the rubber band, and apparently a piece floated down to a corner of the tank. Well that night I saw one of them swimming around with a bit of rubber band sticking out of his mouth! I had to chase him about with the net for a bit to get him to spit it out! I've heard of kid-proofing a house, but fish-proofing an aquarium?!

Any suggestions on an alternate food for the corys, that might be more safe for the rainbows? Should I just crush up the pellets in a mortar and pestle first?

Cheers,

Carbon Dreams

 

[andyw823]

I have the same problem with mine, any pellets i drop in for the loaches the rainbows get them first. I have started using my long pinchers, basicly grip the pellets and feed the arm to the bottom of the tank.

 

[CarbonDreams]

yeah, I was hopeing I wouldnt have to go that route. What if I take a piece of tubing that has a larger ID than the pellet, and then just drop it down to the bottom. Hummm....any excuse to invent new useless gadgets!yeah, I was hopeing I wouldnt have to go that route. What if I take a piece of tubing that has a larger ID than the pellet, and then just drop it down to the bottom. Hummm....any excuse to invent new useless gadgets!

 

[Dorkhedeos]

Just get a pvc pipe and use that, or if you got a gravel vac, you can just take the hose off and use that.

 

[SJ2K]

Some good ideas there may try them out to stop my guppies eating the cory's pellets before they even reach the ground!

 

[CarbonDreams]

update,

the tube worked like a camp! the rainbows didnt even register it as food until the feeding frenzy had commenced. Man, I should patent this! I mean it worked for the python!

 

[Dorkhedeos]

update,

the tube worked like a camp! the rainbows didnt even register it as food until the feeding frenzy had commenced. Man, I should patent this! I mean it worked for the python!

You can patent it, but i dont think anybody would buy a plastic tube for 5 bucks