feeding my baby monsters

[keeno]

Hello everyone. IM new to monster fish keepers. For a long time i have wanted to start a monster fish collection and finally in in the position to be able to care and provide for my very owns little monsters. I have started out with a beautiful little rtc, tsn and a arowana. IM considering adding a sting ray too. At the moment my 3 monsters are still only babies. But are all growing very fast and eating well. The only problem i seem to have with all 3 is when they are eating. They are all eating cod/haddock fillets and prawns all chopped into pieces. I feed them around 7:30pm about half an hour before lights out. But none of them feed straight away. The food has to be left overnight and only when i get up for work is it all gone or very little is left. This worries me as i know that food should not be left over night, especially dead fish. I have tried to starve them for a day to get them to feed straight away but that doesn't happen. The food will just sit there untill everyone is asleep.

both my cats are very shy, which is understandable given the fact they are still only very young. I have placed bog wood in the tank to provide hiding places for them untill they are bigger and more confident. Sometimes i think i should take this out so they are forced to get used to being out in the pen and that may help them feed quicker. But i really don't want to stress them out.

because the food sits there most of the night i syphon anything that is left straight out in the morning. I also do a 30% water change twice a week, and once a week i take all the sand out and clean it.

has anyone else had this problem? I really don't want my fish in bad water conditions. Thanks for any help.

keeno.

 

[arosky]

Alright first of all WELCOME TO MFK glad to have you with us.

What are your tank parameters? Ammonia,nitrate,nitrite

Even if you siphon the left over food when you get up they have been sitting in your water for sometime ammonia will most likely be present.

Have you tried any other types of food? Depending on size of your fish some bloodworms can give an appetitive.

Sounds like a nice group of monsters if you don't mind me asking what size tank are you housing them in?

 

[Fat Homer]

Feed them earlier in the day rather than 30min before lights out...


Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app

 

[keeno]

Thanks for the quick reply. To be totally honest i don't know my exact levels. I have kept tropical fish for a few years and have never really worried about it or had any problems. But i have never kept anything that eats actual fish meat before. I use tetra aqua safe and aqua balance and also have some healthy plants which i beleive help keep a healthy environment. I will get a test kit tomorrow as the levels of waste and food have gone up considerably since i got these new fish.

they are currently housed in my baby tank. 4x2x2 feet. They are in there with my beloved bumblebee catfish and redtail shark. In the 3 weeks that ive had them they have grown very fast. They will be going into my bigger tank which is 7x3x2 feet as soon as in sure they wont be seen as food to my knife fish which are currently in there. I think the rtc is already big enough.

i do give them blood worm twice a week when i do my water changes. Again that goes in about 7:30pm. But i don't see any of the fish. But when i get up all the bloodworm is gone.

 

[arosky]

Feed them earlier in the day rather than 30min before lights out...


Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app

X2

 

[keeno]

Thanks for the reply fat homer. I have tried that but again it will just sit there untill everyone is asleep. So i figure better to put it in as late as possible as they only seem to be eating in the dead of night.

 

[arosky]

Have you tried turning off or dimming the lights to your tank and feed them?

 

[keeno]

I haven't tried dimming them. That's something ill try today. It is very bright in my smaller fish tank so that may be an issue. Thanks

 

[Fat Homer]

If the lights trick doesnt work, maybe they either need a little more time to adjust, or they need more deco to feel safe and comfortable...

I know with more deco, fish tend to venture out more knowing theres always a safe spot to hide in if need be...




Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app

 

[keeno]

The tank is well decorated with bogwood and plants. Plenty of hiding places, in fact i hardly see the cats at all. The arowana patrols the top of the tank.