live feeder vs hikari pellets

[raven89]

I have been findhing my 5 orantes and one endii(around 13cm each) small live catfish and ghost shrimps for about 3 weeks since i bought them. I have been thinking if i should let them continue wth theis diet or switch to hikari carnivours pellets. Will the pellets be a better diet , imrove colouration? will i have trouble getting them to eat the pellet if i do a diet switch?

 

[Keeper of the Ropes]

Vary the fishes diet as much as you can. There's no reason why you can't switch to the pellets (which, yes, are healthier provided they have enough protein) and supplement with live food every once in a while. Also remember that the fish won't be able to eat ghost shrimp forever. Once they're big enough, they won't even notice them.

Personally, I feed market shrimp. I have to deshell and detail it myself, but I don't mind. My fish love it and I get excellent coloration and growth rates from it. I supplement that with chopped earthworm (you could consider it diced for the babies lol), the occasional silverside, and sinking Massivore pellets.

I think if you check Beblondie's sticky (the primer one) it'll tell you the breakdown of nutritional needs you need to look for in bichir food - complete analysis of the percentage of protein versus the yata yata and even what the vitamins will do. It's an excellent read if you haven't done so yet.

Keeper

 

[raven89]

hey guys i think i will wait till they finish the current "live stock" before i change to pellets. Will i have any problem when i 1st introduce pellets?

 

[ewurm]

Vary the fishes diet as much as you can. There's no reason why you can't switch to the pellets (which, yes, are healthier provided they have enough protein) and supplement with live food every once in a while. Also remember that the fish won't be able to eat ghost shrimp forever. Once they're big enough, they won't even notice them.

Personally, I feed market shrimp. I have to deshell and detail it myself, but I don't mind. My fish love it and I get excellent coloration and growth rates from it. I supplement that with chopped earthworm (you could consider it diced for the babies lol), the occasional silverside, and sinking Massivore pellets.

I think if you check Beblondie's sticky (the primer one) it'll tell you the breakdown of nutritional needs you need to look for in bichir food - complete analysis of the percentage of protein versus the yata yata and even what the vitamins will do. It's an excellent read if you haven't done so yet.

Keeper

Thanks for recommending massivore, I just went and bought it on your recommendation.

 

[cichla1004]

Offer live food and pellets simultaneously and they should go for the pellets right away. You'll get them into feeding mode with the live food and then they'll recognize the pellets as food. At least that's what worked for me.