He's 25" long. I only give him 3-4 per day. He would eat more but that is not necessary to keep him healthy. I believe in feeding growing fish as much as they will eat, as often as they will eat it. And "whole" prey items (i.e., crayfish/mussels/snails, where the fish gets the body, viscera, everything...) are always preferable to partial prey items such as prawn tails, etc. It's what works for me, anyway.
Best food to grow / breed for fahaka
- Thread starter Jag586
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He's 25" long. I only give him 3-4 per day. He would eat more but that is not necessary to keep him healthy. I believe in feeding growing fish as much as they will eat, as often as they will eat it. And "whole" prey items (i.e., crayfish/mussels/snails, where the fish gets the body, viscera, everything...) are always preferable to partial prey items such as prawn tails, etc. It's what works for me, anyway.
I think most aquarium fish are obese because we love to watch them eat, so we feed until they are overstuffed. I feed my fahaka till he's nice and round and I only feed 2-3 times a week.
Your guy looks real healthy though (not obese) and I like the setup.
Your guy looks real healthy though (not obese) and I like the setup.
Just my opinion: "Overfeeding" fish is a myth. Not fish with genetically stunted bodies, such as fancy goldfish, but normal fish. Yes, you can feed your fish too large a meal at one sitting or feed them food which might cause intestinal impactions but if someone is implying that a fish will become obese from eating every day, I doubt it. Or at least, I have never seen it in 25+ years of keeping all sorts of fish. Sure, putting too much food in the tank can cause other issues but I have never seen an obese fish that was genetically normal. Fish are biologically engineered to be eating all the time. Ask any commercial fish breeder how much they feed their fish and I think you will be surprised. 4X-5X a day, probably. Of course, they are doing massive water changes, too, but that is a different issue.
Again, just my 2-cents.
Again, just my 2-cents.
I don't think it's a myth, and I'm not talking about a gulper catfish after a good meal. It's especially a problem for sub tropical fish with slower metabolism.
This is a quote from Brucki, a well respected snakehead keeper and breeder:
"A friend of mine (the second one that bred aurantimaculata) had the species in large numbers for years, and no breeding at all. So hi gave some specimen to a veterinary university were the fish were guttet and so it became visible, only fat inside, no visible genitals."
Essentially, the fish he's talking about were so fat, they couldn't find the genitals.
Just as a fish can be too skinny, they can also be too fat.
Sorry OP, not trying to derail your thread... It's an interesting topic that maybe deserves its own thread.
This is a quote from Brucki, a well respected snakehead keeper and breeder:
"A friend of mine (the second one that bred aurantimaculata) had the species in large numbers for years, and no breeding at all. So hi gave some specimen to a veterinary university were the fish were guttet and so it became visible, only fat inside, no visible genitals."
Essentially, the fish he's talking about were so fat, they couldn't find the genitals.
Just as a fish can be too skinny, they can also be too fat.
Sorry OP, not trying to derail your thread... It's an interesting topic that maybe deserves its own thread.
I've never seen a fat fish sure they're bigger after eating most fish are cold blooded so warmer water means more intake more burned energy the myth that a fish will eat till death is not true I feel... when I was younger keeping paranahas I had 4 every week id drop in 2 dozen feeders wake up the next day maybe 6 were missing then through out the week they'd finish the rest off ... humans are over weight because we live to eat fish eat to live just my two ¢
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http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?442340-Can-Fish-Become-Obese-Photos
Apparently the topic has been done. Temperature, feeding amount, and the contents of the food all play a roll, but I can say that I have seen fish that I would consider obese.
We are way off topic...
Apparently the topic has been done. Temperature, feeding amount, and the contents of the food all play a roll, but I can say that I have seen fish that I would consider obese.
We are way off topic...
That's an interesting read. I have a suspicion that if we are seeing obese fish, then diet has more to do with it than anything. Aquafarmed fish were mentioned as the obese ones in that link, above ^^^^ and I would be willing to bet that the food they were being raisedon was some type of super high-fat, high-carb diet that is designed to bulk them up as quick as possible, as opposed to a natural diet like what they would ordinarily eat. Same reason grass-fed cows are smaller than grain-fed ones, but their meat is way healthier to eat.
I also agree with the poster in there who sais that his fattest fish were always his longest lived. I have never owned a fish I would consider obese but I think catfich, for example, with a big gut is a normal thing. Ditto on puffers. Probably 3/4's of the photos of Mbu (not so much fahaka) I have seen from captive fish keepers, I would consider underweight.
Getting back to the topic at hand, I don't believe you can feed a big puffer too many crawfish. That's a super-nutritious food item that is, unlike just the tail of a prawn or the leg of a crab, nutritionally complete and has no artificially manipulated leves of fat or carbs.
As always, just my 2-cents.
I also agree with the poster in there who sais that his fattest fish were always his longest lived. I have never owned a fish I would consider obese but I think catfich, for example, with a big gut is a normal thing. Ditto on puffers. Probably 3/4's of the photos of Mbu (not so much fahaka) I have seen from captive fish keepers, I would consider underweight.
Getting back to the topic at hand, I don't believe you can feed a big puffer too many crawfish. That's a super-nutritious food item that is, unlike just the tail of a prawn or the leg of a crab, nutritionally complete and has no artificially manipulated leves of fat or carbs.
As always, just my 2-cents.
I find it interesting and I'll see what else I can find for one way or the other.
On topic, I breed my own crays. I raise them on java moss, spinach, carrots and snails, and once in a while some worms.
They are definitely a very healthy food source. If you have an empty 50g I'd say go for it.
On topic, I breed my own crays. I raise them on java moss, spinach, carrots and snails, and once in a while some worms.
They are definitely a very healthy food source. If you have an empty 50g I'd say go for it.
Where as I do feed my puffers every day, they are smaller portions. I feed one clam or one shrimp each per day. My fahaka is not skinny by ANY means either, or my mbu. This is a great, interesting, friendly debate. I'm usually bored in the puffer section,lol.
