I have 4 young polypterus (2 ornatipinnis, 1 weeksii, 1 delhezi) and 9 ctenopoma acutirostre, also young, sharing a tank. It's the first time I've owned any of these fish. I am feeding them mainly on a variety of frozen food. I'm astonished by how much they eat!
The ctenopoma usually grab the lions share of the food so issue one is that I have concerns about the poly's getting enough to eat. Apart from the delhezi, the others are quite shy and don't start looking for the food (usually) until it has been in the tank for 5 - 10 minutes by which time others have eaten it. If I put more in they eat that too.
I'm also worried about the amount the Ctenopoma stuff into their mouths - basically as much as possible and then some. They like big chunks. They stuff them in until they can't close their mouths and STILL grab more. They look like they've swallowed marbles. Surely this can't be good for them? I don't know how to stop them doing this. I am wrong to worry? I cut the food up as small as I can but the smaller it is the more they cram in. Is this normal?
Any advice or thoughts would be appreciated.
The ctenopoma usually grab the lions share of the food so issue one is that I have concerns about the poly's getting enough to eat. Apart from the delhezi, the others are quite shy and don't start looking for the food (usually) until it has been in the tank for 5 - 10 minutes by which time others have eaten it. If I put more in they eat that too.
I'm also worried about the amount the Ctenopoma stuff into their mouths - basically as much as possible and then some. They like big chunks. They stuff them in until they can't close their mouths and STILL grab more. They look like they've swallowed marbles. Surely this can't be good for them? I don't know how to stop them doing this. I am wrong to worry? I cut the food up as small as I can but the smaller it is the more they cram in. Is this normal?
Any advice or thoughts would be appreciated.