Feeding Bass

[The Wolf Pack]

I have a 300 with some 3 peacock bass and a jardini all 16" and up. They're all trained to eat massivore but that became quite expensive. I then started feeding market shrimp soaked in Vita-chem and they went bananas over it but all of a sudden after 7 months or so of the shrimp, 2 bass stopped eating the shrimp. Water parameters were fine also the 3rd bass and the Jar continued eating all the shrimp like pigs. I decided to go 3 weeks without feeding, then gave them the shrimp. The Jar and 3rd bass ate very well the first 2 bass swallowed but then spit out the shrimp. Waited one more week then fed them frozen tilapia and everyone ate til their bellies were round. Problem for me is the tilapia seems very messy and the tank looks like crap with tilapia bits everywhere. The filter will definitely take care of the mess but it's an eyesore to me. This is my first time feeding tilapia, is this common? Any suggestions.

 

[Kelly_Aquatics]

fish especially cichlids can get bored of the same food my oscars stoped eating pellets for a while and only wanted shrimp and mealworms I starved them for a week or so and they went right back to eating pellets

 

[Rocksor]

Cut back the feeding amount. My bass makes a mess too when it’s close to full. Or feed once every 2 weeks that way before a water change so you can cleanup afterwards

 

[dr exum]

i thaw the frozen costco filet on counter for 5 minutes or so, cut frozen .5” cubes or so, feed - does not seem messy as it’s integrity is together still.... sadly only 2 bass eat it...

others want mainly krill... pellets here and there.... i’m catering to them to keep the piece after black arow got damaged....

 

[The Wolf Pack]

thanks for the replies. So a combination of shrimp (if they eat it again) or tilapia soaked in vitamins is good long term?

 

[Rocksor]

thanks for the replies. So a combination of shrimp (if they eat it again) or tilapia soaked in vitamins is good long term?

Asian stores sell whole frozen fish that should be easily swallowed by 16” fish. You can soak those in vitachem or equivalent. I prefer those more often than filet pieces since it contains bone, fat, scales, etc.You could stuff 1mm or 2mm pellets every now and then into the whole fish or wrap in filet pieces.