i have a 5" tsn (i know hes a baby still) and the lfs i got him from fed him nothing but feeders.. i want to start early and stop feeding him feeders and feed him non live foods cause ive heard quite a few things about feeders giving diseases. does anyone have any advice on how to stop feeding feeders and start feeding other non live more healthy foods?
how to stop feeding feeders.
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Have you tried anything yet? If you have, and he didn't take it, ust don't feed for a couple of days. Then switch to shrimp with the shells (cut any of this up so that he doesn't have to struggle to eat it), fish fillets, massivore delite or sinking carnivore pellets (the only difference is size), earthworms, you name it! I've never known a catfish who wasn't hungry all the time. They are constantly looking for a snack. You should have no problem. Congrats on your decision to go off of feeders. Your fish will be happier and healthier with a varied, parasite-free diet. It's also so much easier than dealing with feeders.
justonemoretank;3245850; said:
thanks ,i have bought some sinking carnivore pellets. im not going to feed him for a couple days then drop some pellets in at night and ill keep a close watch on him and see if he takes them. if he doesnt eat them ill try new things such as shrimp , earthworms , and maybe ill go buy some tilapia fish fillets to see.
edit: i have tried some pellets and he hasnt took them yet. he has interest in them tho. i think he is still pretty full on the feeders from last night.
Mine took a few days and would only eat with the lights off but no problems eating anything and everything.
I have an RTC, but being that they're all hungry lil' catfishes, I'm sure you won't have any problems. Something I forgot to mention is squid -- it's like three bucks a box, and my catfish loves it. Also, it has the heads, which he really likes. Sometimes, depending on where you live, it's hard to find shrimp with heads, but the frozen calamari usually has them. Just make up little tasy packages (a little tilapia, a little calamari, a little shrimp), put them in the cheap sandwich bags, close it up with a piece of tape, freeze it, and you've got months worth of food (while he's small, at least!) for very little money. Supplement with your Hikari food, algae wafers etc.
thanks i will look at walmart for some squid, btw has anyone fed there catfish livers or chicken heart?
I tend to stick with stuff my catfish would find in the wild. Livers are definitely very, very greasy, especially if you buy them frozen, and thaw them. I have used them for bait when I went fishing, and I wouldn't want that in my tank or pond! As for heart, I don't know, but again, I think it's best to stick with stuff they'd naturally encounter.