Feeding juvenile snakehead question

[Giganto]

Is it better to feed them until they are all full then take out the remaining feeders or just leave them to consume later ? Sometimes I notice that the feeder I left with them, they didn't even touch it at all, but after I change the water (100%), they will eat like crazy.

My question is, is it better if I just put all 20 feeders in the aquarium for them to consume slowly or just feed them periodically ? I want my juvenile snakehead to behave like snakehead, meaning always eating like crazy till their stomach bulging. hehe..

 

[Euge]

what type of sh is it?

Either way, i would feed it one or two feeders several times a day

 

[Giganto]

Mine is a juvenile redline or giant snakehead.

When I left all my feeders in the tank, I had a common perception that this will make them eat more and grow faster as well. All the research indicated that these guys are greedy bastard that will feed till their belly bulge (it's funny to see their stomach like this) so I thought by putting all my feeders at once, around 8 to 12 small goldfishes (1 inch) in my tank (4 redlines), I thought I did be making them happy and doing them a favor.

But after a few days of observation, it seems to me that sometimes they didn't even eat all these goldfishes. When I come back from work at night, I still notice that about 60 to 70percent still swimming around. Usually after coming back from work, I'll change the water and remove all the feeders from the tank. After all the water has been changed, I'll put back some feeders in the tank and only then will they start eating like crazy. Does this mean feeding them periodically is more effective at triggering them to eat more as there is no live food around as opposed to always having some kind of feeder around ? My goal is to make my sh eat more and grow faster. Any ideas ?

 

[Euge]

Yeah i think you should feed in smaller amounts but more frequently. Maybe once in the morning, when u get back for work and before u go to bed.. That way they can properly extract all the 'nutrients' from the feeders. Remeber to keep the water in your tnak in prestine condition. You could also try gut loading your feeders. By this i mean before you feed them to your feeders. Feed them some pellet food which is high in vitamins. I noticed when i had my red if i dumped awhole load of feeders in at once the snakehead would stuff him self stupid and then not move for a day or so.

 

[davo]

I'd try to feed a more varied diet than just goldfish. Have you tried non live food, say prawn?

 

[Euge]

i agree with davo. I used to feed my red freeze dried krill soaked in some vitamins. As well as bloodworms, prawns. The more varied your fish's diet the better.

 

[Giganto]

Problem is, mine won't even look at these non live food, let alone trying it. I've tried beefheart, but it just sink to the bottom and just remain there along wit its poo. Is it best to train them when they are still below 20 com long or wait till they grow a bit? If so, how do you train them properly (offtopic)?

My other concern is that dumping all the feeders at once, and be left to their own devices regardless of whether they eat it or not is better or feeding it more frequently is better?
I understand euro that you said to feed it more frequently, but at times, I'm on my workplace, morning till 10pm. meaninig if I follow your procedure, I only get to feed them twice, once in the morning and another time when I'm back. That is why I just buy in the morning and throw them into my redline tank, hoping they will consume all by the time I'm back at home.

 

[Euge]

again, feeding them smaller amounts frequently is better than one large amount at once. However if you're at work all day i don't think you really have a choice. It is possible to get them off live food. It just takes a lot of patience. You should try starving them for a week or two. And don't give them any feeders. Not even one. Don't give in.