Overfeeding a growout?

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Madou

Madou

Polypterus
MFK Member
Nov 22, 2013
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Belgique
Hey guys,

I've set up a growout tank in my bedroom, intending to grow fishes until they are big enough not to be considered food by the inhabitants of the main tanks.

I came to ask myself: Given a proper maintenance (I think my filter also pumps three times what it should...), is overfeeding even a thing, if what you are aiming at is growing your fishes as fast as possible?

Are there any downsides to this?

As much as I want them in the 180s, I don't want them there bad enough to make them diformed monsters, or even just unhealthy. Nor do I want them starving once there because the amount of food they get differs...
 
Don't over feed just be faithful with wc's, and good parameters especially keep nitrate level low.:)
 
I agree, that the most important growth enhancement strategy would be water changes.
Years ago, rumor has it, the thing Asian discus breeders found, and would do, to bring their discus to market size, faster than anything else, were daily 90% water changes.
 
A good portion of Asian discus breeders powerfeed beefheart, which is why they require massive daily water changes. Those type of breeders typically aren't interested in long term health, only getting their fish to market size as quickly as humanly possible.

The downside to powerfeeding fish, even very young fish, is excessive fatty deposition in & around the liver. It's unhealthy and if continued long term can lead to disease, and even premature death.
 
RD. said:
A good portion of Asian discus breeders powerfeed beefheart, which is why they require massive daily water changes. Those type of breeders typically aren't interested in long term health, only getting their fish to market size as quickly as humanly possible.

The downside to powerfeeding fish, even very young fish, is excessive fatty deposition in & around the liver. It's unhealthy and if continued long term can lead to disease, and even premature death.
Click to expand...

That is exactly the answer I was looking for.
It is, therefore, out of the question. While I'd consider an additional cube of red worms for my cichlas every few days, I would hate them to act unnatural (we all know they'll never act really natural in a home aquarium but you get the point), unhealthy, or look fat.

Thank you, RD, I will make sure not to even try it!

PS: If you have a solution to my Oscar eating most of my carnisticks before anyone can even look at them when I toss them in, I'll take that as well. ;)
 
RD. said:
A good portion of Asian discus breeders powerfeed beefheart, which is why they require massive daily water changes. Those type of breeders typically aren't interested in long term health, only getting their fish to market size as quickly as humanly possible.

The downside to powerfeeding fish, even very young fish, is excessive fatty deposition in & around the liver. It's unhealthy and if continued long term can lead to disease, and even premature death.
Click to expand...

Great answer.
 
I feed young fish a quality diet and frequency depends on the age and size of the fish. A good diet and clean water will give you steady growth and long lived healthy fish. Power feeding is a recipe for health issues and a shortened life span.
 
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