I was reading a scientific paper on polypterus diet in Lake Chad, and it said that Tilapia was a big part of the diet. Previously I fed most pellets, but I am now incorporating more fish into the diet. Has anyone been feeding a diet heavy in fish? If so, have you seen any change in growth or color?
Polypterus diet
- Thread starter ewurm
- Start date
my delhezi will only eat massivores... hes nice and fat and around 2 years old... i think its working well for him!
He's far too slow and blind to eat fish!... has a hard enough time finding the massivores before the plecos and other catfish do!
He's far too slow and blind to eat fish!... has a hard enough time finding the massivores before the plecos and other catfish do!
Here's the paper in case anyone would like to look at it:
http://aquacomm.fcla.edu/1265/1/FISON2003_186-193.pdf
http://aquacomm.fcla.edu/1265/1/FISON2003_186-193.pdf
well i guess as natural as possible will always be best... I can only get a couple of massivores to my poly every couple of days as the other fish are way faster than him... though hes in very good nick if not slightly overweight!
After reading that same paper, I switched to mainly tilapia as their diet, with cichlid pellets and massivore mixed in for added variety.
They do seem to keep a fuller body shape on the tilapia, but it doesn't affect their color IME.
I didn't see any abnormally increased growth that couldn't be due to large weekly water changes and proper diet.
They do seem to keep a fuller body shape on the tilapia, but it doesn't affect their color IME.
I didn't see any abnormally increased growth that couldn't be due to large weekly water changes and proper diet.
Good to hear, here are a couple quick pointers:
defrost the tilapia by running under cold water for a few seconds then use a sharp knife to cut it into small pieces the bichirs can easily eat. The easier it is to eat, the more they will eat.
tilapia leaves an oil slick on the surface of your water that will reduce oxygen exchange, so I strongly recommend a surface skimmer.
defrost the tilapia by running under cold water for a few seconds then use a sharp knife to cut it into small pieces the bichirs can easily eat. The easier it is to eat, the more they will eat.
tilapia leaves an oil slick on the surface of your water that will reduce oxygen exchange, so I strongly recommend a surface skimmer.