It's not that complicated really, add a little aquarium salt to fight bacteria and a UV sterilizer will pretty much remove most of the nasty free swimming pathogens, ofcourse you would have to remove the big parasites manually...daimion;4991879; said:
Armatus - Live Food Choices (Need advice)
- Thread starter daimion
- Start date
Have you tried dropping in a slice of raw fish fillet yet? Mine has eaten smelt,flounder,and tilapia.
krichardson;4994560; said:
Yup, you should really try going to non-live. I never realized how convenient and healthy it is going that route. I used to have to run to the store all the time for feeders. Now I can control their food much better and only give them live once in a while.
You can argue that yes they are pcisivores but they're also not in their natural environment and are depending on you to provide for them.
krichardson;4994560; said:
I haven't actually attempting feeding anything non-live yet. Considering he wouldn't even eat an injured/dying fish, I'm sure it's not gonna be easy "training" them - from what I've read by other owners.
sashimimaster;4994656; said:
I agree, it isn't their natural environment, and feeding non-live is a good alternative, and surely worth the training. For now, I think I'm gonna stick with the live-food option for as long as I can.
There isn't a shortage of available sources for live, though they haven't been very cheap. If anything, it's the large number of variety, is why I'm having to do so much research. For today, I just bought - Iridescent Sharks and Silver Dollars.
Just my opinion, you shouldn't switch them off live.
Remember all those HUGE Armatus we've seen, especially those out of the US? Most were fed live only, and from what I've observed, many Armatus that aren't fed live have died off some time or another(not to say that EVERY one of them has).
I believe that there is something in live fish that Armatus require. A part from the hassle of having to run to the store frequently(though here in Singapore it really isn't a problem) and the tiny risk of introducing parasites, feeding live has only benefits.
I'd try feeding large cichlids, I don't think it's easy to find live fish in the wet markets that are between 4-5 inches in length. I don't think it really matters which species you feed them, as long as they aren't dangerous in anyway.
Remember all those HUGE Armatus we've seen, especially those out of the US? Most were fed live only, and from what I've observed, many Armatus that aren't fed live have died off some time or another(not to say that EVERY one of them has).
I believe that there is something in live fish that Armatus require. A part from the hassle of having to run to the store frequently(though here in Singapore it really isn't a problem) and the tiny risk of introducing parasites, feeding live has only benefits.
I'd try feeding large cichlids, I don't think it's easy to find live fish in the wet markets that are between 4-5 inches in length. I don't think it really matters which species you feed them, as long as they aren't dangerous in anyway.
Thanks Michel,
I kinda feel that way too, hence my reluctance to switch him off it. It could be as simple as a psychological thing.. which I derived from the fact that he doesn't even like to eat injured fishes. (Should point out that he was the one who injured them - an earlier attack that didn't result in a kill).
I've currently got 3 green terror cichlids, which he's eaten previously. He also took well to 3 of the 4 Pacus I had bought last week. Decided to stick with South American fishes, and so got some Silver Dollars now too.
I kinda feel that way too, hence my reluctance to switch him off it. It could be as simple as a psychological thing.. which I derived from the fact that he doesn't even like to eat injured fishes. (Should point out that he was the one who injured them - an earlier attack that didn't result in a kill).
I've currently got 3 green terror cichlids, which he's eaten previously. He also took well to 3 of the 4 Pacus I had bought last week. Decided to stick with South American fishes, and so got some Silver Dollars now too.
Just an observation:
He seems to not be attacking the Cichlids. They seem to know that too, and don't really get out of his way when he "prowls". All the other fishes dart away.
He has eaten one before, which was the only reason I bought more of them. Since then though, nothing.
He seems to not be attacking the Cichlids. They seem to know that too, and don't really get out of his way when he "prowls". All the other fishes dart away.
He has eaten one before, which was the only reason I bought more of them. Since then though, nothing.
daimion;5002144; said:
Probably isn't hungry from all the large meals he's been having?
He'll probably eat them in time.
Yeah, he is eating. He still goes after the Irridescent Sharks, and the Pacu's gone too. Just quite obvious the way both fishes interact that neither seems to bother about the other. I'm sure though, that he'd still have a go at them when the feeders get lesser in the tank.
I do know that when the lights are off, all the cichlids squeeze into the back of the filter to rest. That could be why too. Since he mainly hunts at night.
I do know that when the lights are off, all the cichlids squeeze into the back of the filter to rest. That could be why too. Since he mainly hunts at night.
