Thanks again man. That's a good suggestion. I have a moonlight setting so maybe a little after lights out or in the morning I should try target feeding the Poly's
I used to occasionally just because I liked handfeeding but since I got the pikes it a no go. Creni's are wicked fast, draw blood and manage to snatch it away before I can even reach the bottom, but thank you for the suggestion.
Don't know why I hadn't thought of that myself? It would at least save my hands from the Crenicichla. Just don't know if the Pikes would go for the tongs like they go for my hands. It's definitely worth a try, thanks.
Never occurred to me and it should work well. The Cichlids and other fish that respond to my approach should be easy to corral to one side of the tank and a eggcrate divider should make keeping them there easy. The issues would be it as you said not real easy and being a bit tedious. Removing the glass top then waiting for the fish to settle again so that they can corralled. Getting them used to the eggcrate during feedings so they don't panic when it does come in during feedings. Thanks though for the suggestion.The grabber idea kind of works, another option could be waiting for the opportunity for the Poly's to congregate at one side of the tank, then move a divider in for the purposes of feeding, then simply remove once done
Probably easier said than done on that one though
Unfortunately my cichlids go for sinking food first. Especially something like Tilapia which at very least the Pikes will zone in on real quick. Thanks though.Chopped tilapia bowl full goes in and spread out due to water floe and then sinks. Good to entice ploy clan then throw in some pellets so greedy sa and ca go in that direction
Thanks for the suggestion Bro. The PVC might be the thing I need. It'll hide the food from the Cichlids eyes but not the Poly's sense of smell and will make pinpoint feeding easy.
Thanks man. It hadn't occurred to me until you and predatorkeeper87 suggested separate feeding times how effective that might be. I'm thinking between the separate feedings and the use of tongs or the PVC I might actually be able to make sure the Poly's get their fair share.
Unfortunately my Pikes prefer sinking food and only take surface food if it's the only thing offfered. Otherwise they'll quickly traverse to the other side of the tank to grab sinking food before it hits bottom. I also have Scats who find their way into the nooks and crannies before my Poly's and they pick the place clean. Thanks though for the suggestion.
koltsixx
Ive been battling this for some time too. 
The tongs only work for some time until they arent scared of them, same with the pvc. After a while they just get conditioned to the tongs/pvc and it gets worse now they KNOW food is coming and where it is.
Floating food didnt work because the damn polys are sooooo slow.
The divider is too much of a headache, im sure it would work but taking the lids/lights off isnt practical for me either.
Over feeding the cichlids could work but to me thats just asking for other issues down the road. I think you would have to severly over feed to even get to the point where they would leave the food meant for the polys alone.
I switched to feeding at night after lights out but even then the damn pearsei would just follow the polys around and still get his cut lol. I also like to see the polys eat but have completely given up. Now i basically wait a good hour after lights out throw the food in amd run before the cichlids see me lol.
Pvc worked until he started bull rushing it.
I would keep him at bay with the tongs but standing there waiting for the polys to do there thing took forever. My most recent attmept with the pvc...
Stopped the tongs a long time ago because he would just do this. Old vid lol
Glad to see someone else going through this too lol
I can see the egg crate working but to me that's just too much work, taking the lids and lights off getting the eggcrate into position and who knows eventually I would have to secure the thing because the fat s.o.b would eventually just ram it then wait for the polys to eat ...too much work for me
The tongs only work for some time until they arent scared of them, same with the pvc. After a while they just get conditioned to the tongs/pvc and it gets worse now they KNOW food is coming and where it is.
Floating food didnt work because the damn polys are sooooo slow.
The divider is too much of a headache, im sure it would work but taking the lids/lights off isnt practical for me either.
Over feeding the cichlids could work but to me thats just asking for other issues down the road. I think you would have to severly over feed to even get to the point where they would leave the food meant for the polys alone.
I switched to feeding at night after lights out but even then the damn pearsei would just follow the polys around and still get his cut lol. I also like to see the polys eat but have completely given up. Now i basically wait a good hour after lights out throw the food in amd run before the cichlids see me lol.
Pvc worked until he started bull rushing it.
I would keep him at bay with the tongs but standing there waiting for the polys to do there thing took forever. My most recent attmept with the pvc...
Stopped the tongs a long time ago because he would just do this. Old vid lol
Glad to see someone else going through this too lol
