Mini monsters - that dont need feeders

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
dbcb314;1198879; said:
there are many fish that refuse to get off of feeder... like leaf fish


That's why you don't start them on feeders. You think all your LFS that stock leaf fish will give them feeders? Petsmart gives em the same cheap flake that all tanks get.
 
Thanks for the suggestion of exodons - I have never seem then near me, and their activity and the way they go after food does look interesting.

@oscar suggestion - my tank is 180 litres, sorry for any confusion.

I'm thinking of 3/4 Ctenopoma acutirostre, with some top dwelling predator (something like a Belonesox belizanus, though I may have to settle for an african butterfly fish) and for the bottom, a dwarf giraffe catfish. Does this list seem ok? Thanks
 
How "dwarf" do those really stay?
 
Glacier;1199923; said:
Thanks for the suggestion of exodons - I have never seem then near me, and their activity and the way they go after food does look interesting.

@oscar suggestion - my tank is 180 litres, sorry for any confusion.

I'm thinking of 3/4 Ctenopoma acutirostre, with some top dwelling predator (something like a Belonesox belizanus, though I may have to settle for an african butterfly fish) and for the bottom, a dwarf giraffe catfish. Does this list seem ok? Thanks


The pike livebearer is too large and active for a rio 180, but a spotted climbing perch should be fine. The tank is a bit on the small side for a dwarf giraffe catfish, personally i would suggest a fish like Syno instead, see here for more info;

http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/species.php?species_id=89

:)
 
Would the pike livebearer work if I only kept males? Or could you suggest a similar fish to replace it with?

For the bottom region of the tank I originally thought of a dwarf pike (say regani) would these work with the ctenopoma?

The tank is 40"16"20" just for anyone who doesnt know.

ps. thanks for info
 
Druu;1199797;1199797 said:
That's why you don't start them on feeders. You think all your LFS that stock leaf fish will give them feeders? Petsmart gives em the same cheap flake that all tanks get.
oh the few places that have stocked REAL leaf fish... no they were on feeders actually bc they wouldnt eat
 
Most smaller predators that require live food will get along fine with segments of worms, crickets, live shrimp, etc. You don't need to rely on fish. Pike topminnows love crickets and moths, scuds work great as well. You can often get them to take small fresh or thawed dead shrimp by dropping them a couple at a time into the inflow from your filter.
 
Glacier;1203184; said:
Would the pike livebearer work if I only kept males? Or could you suggest a similar fish to replace it with?

For the bottom region of the tank I originally thought of a dwarf pike (say regani) would these work with the ctenopoma?

The tank is 40"16"20" just for anyone who doesnt know.

ps. thanks for info


The pike topminnow (Belonesox) will work in a tank of those dimensions (I have had them maintain a breeding colony in a 29g), use quite a few plants such as elodea. Also, it helps to make sure they stay well fed or they eat each other, especially females eating males. With this species it is best to have more males than females. Be prepared to cull, give away, or sell young ones frequently.
 
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