Help with feeding my Oscar's

[no911forme]

I have a 125gal tank with 4 Oscar's.... 2 are 2" and the other 2 are 3"

My question is how often to feed them.... I feed them now at least 4 times a day... they are like puppy dogs swimming to the top and swaying as if they were begging to be fed. Each time I feed them (Live minnows) they eat, then linger off to the bottom of the tank for a while.. They wont eat anything other than live food.. I stay on top of keeping the tank clean and my water quality is perfect... Can I still be over feeding them...

Heck, I think they got me trained too...

 

[bob965]

I recommend you stop giving them feeders and get them on a good quality pellet as a staple food. It's just much better for you and the fish. Nutritionally, pellets are far more complete, and you eliminate the possibility of introducing disease and parasites. It's also more convenient for you, since you don't have to worry about going to get more feeders, keeping a separate tank, etc. Stop giving in to their begging for food. Oscars will act like they are starving when you approach the tank no matter how much you feed them. Twice a day is plenty, with an occasional skipped day to let their systems clear out. You claim they won't eat anything other than live food, but I bet you just haven't given it a good enough try. Fast them for a few days then start feeding pellets.

 

[flyin lizard]

Try frozen blood worms,mine loved them, also grab a bag of frozen shrimp or tilapia from the grocery store cut one into bite sized pieces, after a day or two they will eat and its cheaper ,more convienient and healthier than live.

 

[DMD123]

I agree on the pellet thing.

Fish will work you for the live food (feeders), but it is not a good to just give one type of food. Mix it up and make sure pellets are a staple, because they have a lot of vitamin's they may otherwise miss out on.

 

[Noddy]

i aggree on pellets, if they take them.
I fed my baby O bloodworms and he will only eat live worms , like mealworms.
Cheap, nutricional and easy to get.

btw what are your future plans, for your tank will not hold 4 adult O's without some trouble!

 

[thepede]

my 11"er is picky about food...he'll eat Hikari growth pellets, but not coloration pellets. He went into a funk and didn't eat but 1 pellet a day for a week and then started eating feverishly after that (maybe if was the zoloft i gave him for depression). Say no to live food because of the risk. This site gives you a lot of advice based on experience.