Bahia feeding options?

[High City Rida]

I thought feeders were not recommended.?????Ppl tell me once they get hooked they won't go back.
Come to think of it, it was about the same time when I started lossing dither is when the other bahias gained size. Good question HCR.

I will not tell you any different since you already have them on pellets. But out of the 23 Cichla I have raised I feed them all feeders and have not had one die to any diesease. Not saying that feeders don't transfer disease I am sure they do. I also have about 3 years of feeding feeders and still do twice a week at 25 and 50 feeders for both tanks.

I was instructed by Cichla keepers to feed them feeders until the reach 8'' (a safe size to convert to pellets or frozen foods.) But I am not saying what your doing is not right, I was just going to suggest if you want to bulk him up then feed him feeders stuffed with hikari pellets. Good luck with the little guy I hope he catches up with the rest of the group but my experience is he will need a little extra care and possiably will by himself for a while.

 

[kendragon]

I will not tell you any different since you already have them on pellets. But out of the 23 Cichla I have raised I feed them all feeders and have not had one die to any diesease. Not saying that feeders don't transfer disease I am sure they do. I also have about 3 years of feeding feeders and still do twice a week at 25 and 50 feeders for both tanks.

I was instructed by Cichla keepers to feed them feeders until the reach 8'' (a safe size to convert to pellets or frozen foods.) But I am not saying what your doing is not right, I was just going to suggest if you want to bulk him up then feed him feeders stuffed with hikari pellets. Good luck with the little guy I hope he catches up with the rest of the group but my experience is he will need a little extra care and possiably will by himself for a while.

I think you're right about it being by himself for a while. I'm afraid he is just a runt.
I like your idea about trying feeder to bulk him up. Since he is already by himself it should be easier to manage. I'll try it starting this weekend and let everyone know of the results.
Here's pictures of his brothers.

 

[MFM]

They are looking great!! I want to see them when they are larger...

I see a severum still in there.

Also, you can try to cut down feeding to the larger guys so they slow down and power feed the little guy, but if you have any more small dithers in there it might not be a good idea. You can always do feeders one night and pellets the next to try to keep him on pellets. I have 15 orinos at 2-3 inches in a tank and I can already pick out 5 runts that need to go to the big tank first to grow a little. It is best to isolate the runts like you have done, because they will take out the weaker fish in no time. Often they are slower growers and they should reach their growth spurt later in life then the rest and easily catch up/pass the larger bass. So, good luck bulking him up, and keep us updated.

 

[High City Rida]

I agree with MFM keep feeding the pellets and frozen options as well as the feeders. He should bulk up in no time. Gut load the feeders as well. It's all time consuming but I am sure it will pay off in the end. After he hits the 8'' then just feed feeders as treats. My larger Cichla have not had feeders in almost over a year but there big enough now the occasional unwanted cichlid is snack enough for them.

 

[Scatocephalus]

When you feed live fish try adding more fish than he can eat in a single go. I've got an individual kelberi in a tank by himself that is not the best looking Cichla but I love to watch it hunt. I'll drop 100 feeder goldfish into the tank which the 12" PBass takes out 20-25 almost immediately. The rest he will hunt over the next few days. I feel it keeps him sharp and gives him "purpose in life" if that makes any sense. Kind of like how zoos make their animals work for their food by placing it in old stumps and what not.

 

[kendragon]

Okay after a week of feeders and a week of pellets, this runt prefers pellets. I know...I know.... he's a retard. What I did notice is it did bring out the natural instincts in him. He hits the pellets a lot harder and has built up his appetite which in turn gained some size. If he continues he will be with the gang soon.

 

[Venom SS]

Tried: frozen kill, freeze dried krill, shirmp, smelt, silverside. All no go. Only accepts Hikari Gold.
Yeah got them all on pellet early but this guy wasn't fast enough and didn't get his fair share. Isolated him because he was so small. I was afraid the others will swallow him. He has gain 1.5" by himself but what am I going to do what one fish of this size?. Need to get him back in with the others.

Massivore is like a weight gainer protein shake for a body builder. Its super high calorie, and its quality stuff. Once I got my fish onto Massivore they exploded in growth. I lost my 2 best adult fish to bad feeders recently. It was negligence on my part, Havent given them feeders in over a year and gave them like 5 dozen when I was going out of town for a week to try and get them an extra day of food. 3 weeks later had to cure a bad case of fish lice and then lost a f'n stud Orino and a beast of a Peru mono to what I can only assume was internal parasite. There is no substitute for high quality feeders, but high quality feeders are hard to come by unless youre raising your own.

 

[kendragon]

Massivore is like a weight gainer protein shake for a body builder. Its super high calorie, and its quality stuff. Once I got my fish onto Massivore they exploded in growth. I lost my 2 best adult fish to bad feeders recently. It was negligence on my part, Havent given them feeders in over a year and gave them like 5 dozen when I was going out of town for a week to try and get them an extra day of food. 3 weeks later had to cure a bad case of fish lice and then lost a f'n stud Orino and a beast of a Peru mono to what I can only assume was internal parasite. There is no substitute for high quality feeders, but high quality feeders are hard to come by unless youre raising your own.

Thanks for the advice. I just bought a bag of Massivore....wow $30 for a not so big bag. Must be good

. Only problem is my bahias do not pick up food off the bottom

 

[X-Tank]

Thanks for the advice. I just bought a bag of Massivore....wow $30 for a not so big bag. Must be good

. Only problem is my bahias do not pick up food off the bottom

My kelberi had growth spurt since I switched them to massivore. They pick up those sink to the bottom as well. It is just matter of time to learn.
http://www.petmountain.com/product/tropical-fish-food/512749/2-2-lbs.html
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2.2 lbs bag will cost you average of $42/bag if you buy like 5 of them.