my dats ate shrimp!

[ceejaye23]

Here's a strategy that's worked for me..feed them shrimp consecutively and then start mashing pellets into the shrimp. They'll get used to it after a while but don't ever go back to feeders. IMO, feeder fish are the best way to introduce disease to your tank. Think about the nastiest overcrowded tank in any petshop...it's the feeder tank.

i agree with you 100%. thanks man.

 

[ceejaye23]

One other thing you can do to get some additional mileage out of the shrimp is to soak the pieces in Kent Zoe before feeding. I do this once a week to give them Vitamin C.

yeah ive heard of it. soaking the foods you want them to eat in vitamins.
does it really work? i mean cant they detect the smell and the taste? ive tried using the garlic soaking with my piranhas, did not work.

 

[brianp]

Here's a strategy that's worked for me..feed them shrimp consecutively and then start mashing pellets into the shrimp. They'll get used to it after a while but don't ever go back to feeders. IMO, feeder fish are the best way to introduce disease to your tank. Think about the nastiest overcrowded tank in any petshop...it's the feeder tank.

I must admit that it's difficult to argue with this point of view.

 

[vaine111]

When they get bigger you can put the pellets in with the shrimp.

I like the idea of crushing the pellets smaller and stuffing it in the shrimp. I stuff shrimp with massivore pellets for my 12" bass and 9" jardini.

Try bloodworms too. When I first started with dats it was all I fed them. I don't anymore though.

Feeders are a no no unless you breed your own and that is an annoying process.

 

[brianp]

yeah ive heard of it. soaking the foods you want them to eat in vitamins.
does it really work? i mean cant they detect the smell and the taste? ive tried using the garlic soaking with my piranhas, did not work.

Zoe does not seem to cause a problem. I soak the chunks in water to remove the salt and then press between paper towels to squeeze out the excess water. Now the pieces of shrimp are semi-dry and this allows the Zoe to soak in rapidly. I dribble Zoe over the shrimp and immediately drop into the tank. The shrimp chunks are eaten rapidly and I doubt that much of the Zoe has a chance to diffuse out. Zoe is good because it doesn't contain any phosphates. I've attempted other nutty things like stuffing food sticks into the shrimp and mouths of frozen/thawed feeders, etc. If you go to an Asian market and look in the freezer, you'll find lots of stuff that your Dats may eat...such as small clams, squid, anchovies, periwinkles, etc.

 

[KMKN]

good job

 

[ceejaye23]

thank you all for the replies!!!
i will try the techniques you taught me.

thanks again!

 

[vaine111]

Started stuffing the chopped up massivore pellets in smaller pieces of shrimp and my NGT eats them unknowinglly. Can't believe I didn't think of this before. Awesome idea. Thanks guys.

 

[Wet Whiskers]

Congratulations! I just got my guys off feeders a couple weeks ago too. I think it's a huge step as its so nice not having to keep feeders around and worrying about introducing disease.