Feeding/Food suggestions.

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M

mshill90

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Nov 4, 2009
3,179
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Mechanicsburg, PA
I've got an array of tanks, with an array of different types of fish.

I've never had an issues with feeding until recently.

It's my 125.. I currently have the following in my tank:

1 Jaguar Cichlid
1 Red tail shovel nose hybrid Cat
3 senegal bichirs
1 ornate bichir
1 striped raphael cat


I originally started the Jag, Cat, and the senegals in a 55 gallon. All ate dried krill, blood worms, raw tilapia, worms, massivore... pretty much anything.

I then moved them down stairs into a 125, and things were still fine.

Then I rescued a 5" Oscar, who was a complete bully and ended up breaking off part of my cats barbel. Since this incident, I can't get my cat to eat.

In the last 3 weeks I added the ornate, and the raphael- they don't seem to bother the cat.

Normally when I would drop in the massivore the fish would go nuts, all at the top and wanting more and more. My Cat has no interest in it now, and neither does the Jag. The senegals LOVE it, and the ornate will only eat shrimp, freshly killed yellow labs, or silver sides.

I tried putting in live yellow labs as feeders for them-- the jag chased it around the tank, and that was it.

I was able to get the cat to eat a chunk of shrimp, but I've got so many different foods that I've been trying and nothing is working.

I've got cichlid pellets, shrimp pellets, massivore, several different foods from kens, frozen blood worms, silver sides, yellow labs, frzn krill, dried krill, dried earth worms...

The water is 80 F- Water params show 0 ammonia, 0 nitrates, 5 nitrites. Ph of 7.4

Any suggestions?
 
You could try moving the bully fish out of the aquarium, and try dropping in food after the lights are out for the cat to eat when the other fish are sleeping.

I make gel food out of different canned fishes, fresh veggies, and fresh greens. This last time I did a proportion of 3 parts fish, one part veggies/greens. All the fish seem to really like it this way. I used a can of salmon, a can of anchovies (in olive oil), and a can of sardines. For greens I got some fresh kale and spinach, and chopped up some spaghetti squash and zucchini, and a few pieces of green bell pepper to change things up a bit. You use a food processor and mash everything up into somewhat of a gooey, liquidous mush. Then add everything together, mix til uniform.

I used the water from the can of sardines and the can of salmon, put it in a small pot on the stove, heated it til boiling, let the water cool some (so I didn't scorch the gelatine) and added two packets of gelatin (Knox brand plain gelatin) and stir vigorously with a fork or whisk. Once it's well mixed and there are no lumps, you add this to the fish/veggie/greens and stir til incorporated.

You can also crush up a men's multivitamin and an acidophilus pill to increase the live flora in the fish's gut and make sure they get the vitamins they need.

Pour into a long flat container, and let it set over a few hours in the fridge. After the gelatin has set, you cut it into squares, place them on a piece of plastic wrap on a cookie sheet. If you have too many pieces for them to be separate on the cookie sheet, add another layer of plastic wrap on top, and put the other pieces on top of the first layer. Stick this in the freezer so you can later put the squares in a large ziplock bag to stay in the freezer until you need to use them again.

Keep one gel square out, in a small ziplock bag to feed your fish, and when your square begins to run out, take out another piece from the freezer. Sometimes it's still a little bit frozen, but the fish don't mind.

To feed, cut into bite-sized chunks and drop them into the tank.
 
Laticauda;4710577; said:
You could try moving the bully fish out of the aquarium, and try dropping in food after the lights are out for the cat to eat when the other fish are sleeping.

I make gel food out of different canned fishes, fresh veggies, and fresh greens. This last time I did a proportion of 3 parts fish, one part veggies/greens. All the fish seem to really like it this way. I used a can of salmon, a can of anchovies (in olive oil), and a can of sardines. For greens I got some fresh kale and spinach, and chopped up some spaghetti squash and zucchini, and a few pieces of green bell pepper to change things up a bit. You use a food processor and mash everything up into somewhat of a gooey, liquidous mush. Then add everything together, mix til uniform.

I used the water from the can of sardines and the can of salmon, put it in a small pot on the stove, heated it til boiling, let the water cool some (so I didn't scorch the gelatine) and added two packets of gelatin (Knox brand plain gelatin) and stir vigorously with a fork or whisk. Once it's well mixed and there are no lumps, you add this to the fish/veggie/greens and stir til incorporated.

You can also crush up a men's multivitamin and an acidophilus pill to increase the live flora in the fish's gut and make sure they get the vitamins they need.

Pour into a long flat container, and let it set over a few hours in the fridge. After the gelatin has set, you cut it into squares, place them on a piece of plastic wrap on a cookie sheet. If you have too many pieces for them to be separate on the cookie sheet, add another layer of plastic wrap on top, and put the other pieces on top of the first layer. Stick this in the freezer so you can later put the squares in a large ziplock bag to stay in the freezer until you need to use them again.

Keep one gel square out, in a small ziplock bag to feed your fish, and when your square begins to run out, take out another piece from the freezer. Sometimes it's still a little bit frozen, but the fish don't mind.

To feed, cut into bite-sized chunks and drop them into the tank.
Click to expand...

I was able to get the cat to eat 2 pieces of raw shrimp.

There is no bully in the tank, so that's not an issue. I removed the oscar 2 weeks back.
 
i don't wanna change the subject of this post. but i tried an attempt to make my own fish food as well and posted my exact recipe a week ago. Problem is the gelatin didn't take? any suggestions there? Thanks
 
I don't mind spending money on getting them food.. I just want my cat to eat. He was always a pig when he was a wee little fishy. Now he just seems all depressed and not interested.

I am moving them to a 150 soon.. maybe that will help. Get a different light on their tank, and maybe get some current going..

I made gel food before; I actually make it when I have to medicate my koi food. It took fine for me...

Make sure you use the plain gelatin- don't know why it wouldn't have set...
 
Laticauda;4710865; said:
You have to heat the gelatin to "activate" it before it will set in the fridge.

Also, you have to be sure to use enough.
Click to expand...

I didn't even know they make gelatin that you don't have to heat... haha
 
i do have a post with my exact recipe. Maybe i didnt use enough gelatin .... but i added hot water to my cold water that had the gelatin granules dissolved in .... not to mention i fried my smoothie maker .. lol what an experience....
Do you just drop the food in the tank frozen?
 
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