I accidentally bought some floating cichlid gold to feed my Geophagus Tapajos, They have been fed sinking pellets ever since they were fry. Is there anyway I could get them used to the Floating Pellets? I don't want to waste the food. Some of them will swim up there occasionally and find the food, But most of them are not getting fed...
Geophagus Tapajos Not Used To Floating Pellets?
- Thread starter PayaraMan
- Start date
If you only feed them floating pellets for a while they will learn.
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That's what I thought would happen originally but I wasn't sure considering they spend most of their time at the bottom sifting sand. Thanks, Hopefully they will learn.
I disagree with first reply.
Geos' instinctively feed off bottom. They're called sand sifters, because that is their feeding method.
Their mouths, and the front of their face is sloped for it. They don't really look up for food. more likely to see food if it happens to be at the level they are swimming at....sometimes the lower half of tank, while it is sinking.
Going up to the top is brief, so getting top food is more by chance, not seeking it.
I feed NLS pellets. They like the TheraA most.
I get a pinch of it and submerge my fingers under top water, swishing it between fingers to wet it, and that makes it sink. otherwise it'd get sucked out my top skimmer before they can eat..
A purely floating pellet will have to get all soggy before it sinks, then they don't like it. That pollutes the water too.
Geos' instinctively feed off bottom. They're called sand sifters, because that is their feeding method.
Their mouths, and the front of their face is sloped for it. They don't really look up for food. more likely to see food if it happens to be at the level they are swimming at....sometimes the lower half of tank, while it is sinking.
Going up to the top is brief, so getting top food is more by chance, not seeking it.
I feed NLS pellets. They like the TheraA most.
I get a pinch of it and submerge my fingers under top water, swishing it between fingers to wet it, and that makes it sink. otherwise it'd get sucked out my top skimmer before they can eat..
A purely floating pellet will have to get all soggy before it sinks, then they don't like it. That pollutes the water too.
They will eat pellets wherever they are. Floating or sinking, when they figure out where their food is at they go for it, I know that they are made to be bottom feeders, but trust me, they will kill floating pellets. I speak from experience...
probably to avoid starvation. What's so hard about getting more sinkable pellets, and accommodate, rather than fight species natural instincts?
The OP said "most of them are not getting fed..." I don't get the importance of forcing things contrary to their makeups. not considering all the other deficits we make them live with, in tanks.
I use sinking pellets but my geos will all swim to the top waiting for food. They'll eat the pellets even before they begin sinking. So I'm pretty sure they can be trained to eat floating pellets.
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If limiting their option to that works, does that mean it's necessary to deny them their norm ?
Providing fish access to some natural behaviors is good for them and rewarding to most keepers.
Tank life is already sub-par compared to natural conditions.
What is the big hardship about buying sand sifters sinking foods instead of floating?
It just seems pointless.
Providing fish access to some natural behaviors is good for them and rewarding to most keepers.
Tank life is already sub-par compared to natural conditions.
What is the big hardship about buying sand sifters sinking foods instead of floating?
It just seems pointless.
I completely agree with you, I most likely will be switching them back to sinking pellets if they still aren't getting properly fed or if the food runs out. They seem to be learning that the food is at the top of the water, One of them will swim up to the top to eat and the rest of them follow. I understand what your saying, Why change their natural behavior over food type? For now I'll keep feeding the floating pellets and see if they keep consistently eating, if not then I'm going to buy sinking pellets.
Fish will learn to eat what ever type of food if you give them time. And yes sometimes it can take longer than other times and some fish are more picky but they need to eat and love to eat.