Food, how much is to much?

[Wulfonce]

I have a 9" Oscar and a 16" arowana in the same tank. When its feeding time the oscar will eat about 3/4's of the pellets and the aero who feeds much much slower will only eat about 1/4. The oscar ends up eating so many pellets that he cant even close his mouth for at least 5 minuets after feeding. I try to toss pellets in front of the arowana to lesson the odds of the oscar getting them but it doesn't always work.

So im wondering if its a problem that the oscar is gorging himself every feeding. I've since cut feedings back to every other day.

 

[MonsterPetey]

it could turn into a problem, but i doubt it..... just try ur best to feed ur aro

 

[knifegill]

Yeah, it's a problem. My Oscar will regurgitate if I stuff him silly. Stomach acid is not a good thing to have in your tank. And it's not good for fish to be overweight, either. There are a few things you can try.

Distract the Oscar with something so big his mouth is busy (or maybe a mirror you only use for this purpose) and quickly sneak food to the aro. Or get a long tube and shuttle food straight to the aro. Once he figures out it means food, he'll follow it around. And as long as the Oscar can be kept occupied, aro will stay close enough to it that he gets the food first.

You could also separate the tank during feeding time.

Be creative! Oscars are sneaky devils and you might need a combination of strategies for success. I use a tube to feed my raphael catfish. Oscar knows, but I chase him with the stick if he tries anything, so he stays away from it.

Best of luck!

 

[DWass]

They have those feeding sticks that may help you hith your problem.