The great feeding debate

[demodiki]

Hi guys! Wife half here...

So we can't agree on how much to feed our fish. We have a coral beauty angel and a fire shrimp who LOVE the frozen brine shrimp. Our peppermint shrimp and crabs are indifferent. So I bought Aqua Yums frozen brine that are in an ice cube tray-like container. The little blocks are about 1/2" cubes or so, maybe a touch bigger. I defrost these guys in a little water from the tank before tossing them in. My question is how much of that cube is enough for my fish and shrimp (and not too much)? The hubby gets antsy if I put more than about 1/4 of the cube in, but I think they can take more. So... I bet I'll get 20 different answer to this, ;) but how much is the right amount?

Thanks! :D

[GaryP]

The answer is it depends. :) My theory is to feed in small batches so that none of the food hits the bottom. Feeding small amounts several times a day is better that a lot at one time. That's how fish feed in the wild anyway. Large volumes of low nutrition food. What we often do is sit them down for Thanksgiving dinner every day. I thaw out some frozen food like you do and maybe use it to feed over a couple day period. I just put the container back in the refrigerator and use it later the same day or the next day. I also mix feeding flake and frozen for my fish, as well as Nori and maybe an occasional black mussel. Be awaqre that brine shrimp are fairly low in nutritional value and some other frozen foods such as mysids and blood worms have better nutritional content. I feed a mixture of all of them.

[Tim Marvin]

The right amount is what they can eat within a few minutes and not letting any hit the bottom. Fish have very primative digestive systems and it is actually better to feed them a tiny bit a few times per day. So depending on how big they are they can probably eat one cube through out the day. If the coral beauty is still small I'd say your safer doing 1/2 cube during the span of a day, shrimp and crabs shouldn't be considered when feeding because they will clean up and get plenty of food.

[mathias]

in my tank what the fish don't get the aiptasia does :)

but I used to put in 3 cubes a day..... fish are fat and happy... you can almost see them smiling :)

[GaryP]

I also like to have scavengers in the tank such as hermits or nassarius snails to scavenge the leftovers.

[jaded]

put a Sea World sized protien skimmer on there and feed all you want!!! j/k

I think I overfed my system into a pretty bad place, I followed GaryP and Tim's advice and the problem is well under control... It just makes sense. On the other hand if your feeding a full cube once a day and your fish are happy and healthy and the water parameters are good... then you must be doing something right!

The skimmer joke does make a point... if you have the clean up crew and filtration then overfeeding would be better... theres just no easy answer, but listen to these guys... they know what they're talking about

[GaryP]

but listen to these guys... they know what they're talking about

Don't go starting rumors. You might ruin my reputation. :)

[jaded]

I wasnt talking about you, you obviously dont have a clue ;)

[demodiki]

LOL... thanks for the advice, guys. We are getting some snails and hermits here soon, so they will definitely help with any leftover food. However, I have yet to see a piece of shrimp go uneaten! My fish and shrimp go nuts over them. So I guess we're doing okay since we don't have leftovers in the tank. And I didn't think to put the leftovers in the fridge - that will make me feel much better to not waste what I don't give them right away.

We have been giving some pellet/flake food also. I'll pick up some other frozen stuff this weekend and also a lettuce clip so I can give her some greens.

[demodiki]

Hubby here...

She lies I tell you. Some of that has to get to the sand! It's like a shrimp shower in there. That one 3 inch fish can't get it all!

[jaded]

no worries... those shrimp, crabs, etc. have to eat too... hows the tank params?

[Polkster13]

As long as you are not feeding plain (iceburg) lettace. That stuff has no nuterional value at all for your fish. But you can use the clip for feeding Nori or similar.

[jaded]

I used to feed romaine about 10 years ago... I actually was concidering trying it just to get the fish used to the clip(they wont eat nori yet), but it doesnt sound like a good idea. From what I've heard it will actually stay in the digestive tract and cause issues, even death

[Polkster13]

It is all of the fiber that is in the romaine lettace. It can cause blockages in the digestive tract of the fish which would lead to its death. Stick to stuff that comes naturally from the ocean and you will have much fewer problems.

[demodiki]

(Wife back now!) No, I was planning on feeding spinach and Nori - no lettuce though.


And no I don't lie, you naughty man! ;) It may be a shrimp shower, but our fish and fire shrimp go nuts trying to get to it all! :P

[GaryP]

I wasnt talking about you, you obviously dont have a clue ;)

OK, I'm relieved.