Powerfeeding Flagtail

[Rafini]

Hi all, I have a 4.5" flagtail that has grown from around 1.5" at christmas. He's growing really slowly I think it has soemthing to do with the fact that he won't eat cichlid pellets and has now completely irradicated algae from my 225. My oscar is around 6.5" right now and I'm worried his rapid outgrowth of the flagtail will lead to the flagtail being bullied and beaten up.

So I have moved the flagtail into my 20 long growout tank that has an abundance of algae. the idea is that I can feed him heavily and make sure he eats a lot. any ideas on how to boost his growth? I'm currently growing out a small datnoid and 2 bichirs. they spend all their time hiding and I'm sure the flagtail won't bother them.

Flagtails been in there for a few minutes now and the initial shock has warn off and he is now feeding on an algae wafer. the Ornate bichir already came over to check him out but acted scared of him.

Here is my feeding plan

Algae wafers - he loves them
cichlid flakes (high in protein) - he comes to the surface and enhales flakes
shrimp pellets - when they go all mushy he just sucks them up

Problem is when I feeed these things in the 225 the other fish eat them all way before the flagtail has a chance to get some. I've seen him try and eat hikari gold but he just spits them back out. any other ideas to get some good growth?

 

[pdk2089]

I think what you are doing is good idea. Sounds like he wasn't getting enough food in the big tank and by moving him in a growout he will have a better chance to get the food before the others eat it. You can try ocean nutrition formula one flakes to feed your flagtail if it prefers flakes. I've had great success using the food on similar type fish.

 

[Rafini]

Thanks PDK, I have heard that these guys are easier to feed at larger sizes so all I need to do is bulk him up a little bit. the bichirs won't be competing with him as they only really eat Massivores or feeder minnows. same with the datnoid. I actually have some algae flakes somewhere that I could use. but I read that if you give them a more protein rich diet they will grow faster