Chinese Tiger Fish help (noob) feeding frequency?

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sevenspeed

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Aug 23, 2007
30
0
0
Parma, MI
Hello, I just got 2 of these from the LFS and they seem to be doing fine. What worries me though is I can't find out what causes color changes, can anyone help me out with that? At the store they were a dark greenish color and one of them is right now, the other one is really golden. Is that a sign of stress? I've got them in a 10 gallon grow out tank for now with a couple fake plants. I put bacteria in it as well as half the water from an established tank. Would they be better off to trade places into the established 10 gallon which has no plants and they would only get half of it (divider in there to keep 2 bettas apart)?

Also, if your feeding them feeder fish that are a good size for them, how often should you feed? Every other day, daily, couple times a week or what? Was figuring it would be less then daily since they're eating a whole fish instead of some flakes, kinda like how snakes don't eat that often (not that I have any, just from education.) I also was keeping a floating breeder in there with the feeder fish but I noticed them trying to attack it through the plastic. So I took them out and put them with the Betta. I'm assuming that was the right choice, don't want to mix them in one of the big tanks (for fun trying to get back out) or make a trip every day to the LFS.

Thanks for any help, I'm new to the fish scene but I'm pretty good at researching and great at learning. I've had the Bettas for a month along with the Tetras and a couple Corys. I've had Ottos and Cichlids for a week now. Oh and any tips for taking a picture of fish? I tried with flash on or off in a Cannon Powershot Pro1 and neither turned out very good.

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what you have is siniperca chuatsi, the mandarin fish or perch. they grow very fast, and have a huge appetite, can eat fish near their own size. they can definitely over eat, so a small fish once a day would suffice, can be trained to take non live food as well, like cooler temperatures, can take some salt with no problems. grows to 24" in the wild, peaceful fish otherwise. hope this info. helps.
 
Thanks, I thought it was a Siniperica through google searching, just wasn't sure because one pic I saw of a Chinese Perch looked nothing like it. Have a hard time finding info since it appears it's a delicacy as well :\ Are they still a Datenoid? Is Siamese Tiger the same thing?
Knowing they can overeat with a huge appetite and 1 small fish a day will suffice is great info, I appreciate it. That was my main concern, didn't want to overfeed or underfeed.
I've only had them for 2 days now with a new Penguin Biowheel so I hope they are okay, the color changing might not be such a big deal. I got the little guys (or girls, who knows?) from a self-serve Pet Supplies Plus so didn't even bother asking for info. As far as temperature my house has no A/C. Would I be better off setting the heater to 80 degrees so it doesn't vary much or really low and hoping the temps don't change to fast (right now it's hitting like 80s in the day and 60s at night outside in MI.) Is there a way to cool the water that isn't expensive and is automatic?
While I'm at it, this is unrelated but I finally found out why the Biowheels are so good (the bacteria using oxygen for conversion) and the best bang for the buck I think. However in m 2 bigger tanks I have an Eheim Classic and a Fluval 203 (they both came with the tanks used.) Since I already have them should I just leave it at that or would it actually be better to get rid of them and add the Penguins or just add a small penguin just to get the biowheel?
I'm thinking of getting a 2.5 or 5 gallon tank just for minnows with the spare whisper filter I got (replaced with the biowheel) but it'd look gaudy, I already have 2-10 gallon tanks in the house on a counter and a dresser. The bigger tanks look nice since they have stands....
Oh and any site to try and find local aquarium clubs? I started with 1 betta and went nuts cause he grew on me quick :) Mr. Wiggles....
 
nice little but soon to be big perch they are too.
i wish we could get them here.
i moved this to the correct section for you.
 
Thanks for the info everyone, too bad they just don't call them a Chinese Perch at the stores. I know it doesn't sound as neat but makes things alot less confusing.
It's 86 in the tank right now :( Is that okay or should I put some ice cubes in there slowly? I have well water or RO/DI availableso no worries of chlorine. I read they prefer like 36-72F but can accept a wider range if acclimated.
What kind of plants would be good for them to hide in? I've got Java Moss in a 26G tank that isn't growing as fast as I would have hoped. I want to spread it to the others.
 
sevenspeed, these fish are great and you'll enjoy them. The can tolerate higher temperature as juveniles but don't do as well when they're adults. My old one would have its stressed coloration and breath heavily anytime the temp goes over 80. I ended up keeping it at room temp, even during the winter, here in southern Cal. You can wean it off to dead foods like market shrimp once it hits 3 or 4 in. When I lost mine in a move it was close to 18 inches.
 
mine changed colors when i fed it. it went form a silver to a deep maroon. great fish. will hurt you in the wallet when it gets bigger. eats like crazy....
 
I hate to admit it, but I lost one of the little guys :( Not sure if it was because I was overdue for a water change (too busy with work and fixing up new daily driver car, old one needed rebuilt and not worth it) or if the temp changed too fast.
I noticed him acting odd so I hurried up and did a 50% water change (without letting the well water warm up) before work. But it also went from being like 70s to 50s that night outside (work nightshift in Michigan) and I didn't have a heater in there. When I came back home he was RIP :(
The other guy is okay and I feel terrible. I threw the deceased in the freezer, if they are as rare as it seems I wonder if I could get him immortalized by a taxidermist or something. Also, is there anywhere to get another one? I learned my lesson the hard way but can't seem to find anywhere online to get them and haven't seen them at the LFS since.
 
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