Powerfeeding question

[Ponera]

When I get this bichir in the new tank setup I will be wanting to make it as big as possible. Sadly, the only bichirs available in my town are too small to sex otherwise I'd get a female. Gotta roll those dice I guess.

How do I powerfeed this baby?

 

[twentyleagues]

When I get this bichir in the new tank setup I will be wanting to make it as big as possible. Sadly, the only bichirs available in my town are too small to sex otherwise I'd get a female. Gotta roll those dice I guess.

How do I powerfeed this baby?

You can't safely "power feed" anything. You can how ever feed high protein foods daily and keep the water pristine and fresh. Don't forget to mix in a quality pellet with greens in it also.

 

[Ponera]

I have a bunch of new life spectrum medium fish formula sinking pellets waiting, as well as blood worms. I'll hit up a butcher eventually and cut up/freeze some beef heart when the time comes.

 

[tlindsey]

If you do consistent wc's and feed a good brand pellet your Polypterus should grow large normally.

 

[twentyleagues]

I have a bunch of new life spectrum medium fish formula sinking pellets waiting, as well as blood worms. I'll hit up a butcher eventually and cut up/freeze some beef heart when the time comes.

Beef heart contains fats that aquatic animals such as fish can not process properly. By feeding beef heart you are most likely cutting years off it's life. If you want to feed some meat feed it cut up frozen tilapia and catfish. Catfish is very oily so feed sparingly. Those pellets would be good. Bloodworms are not really all that nutritional either. There is a section on nutrition here I suggest reading it. Basically try to cut as much terrestrial food sources out as possible baring bugs those are a good terrestrial food source....usually.

 

[Ponera]

the staple diet is going to be the pellets. I was told that beef heart is awesome for bichirs though? Do you have resources about their inability to digest fats?

 

[twentyleagues]

the staple diet is going to be the pellets. I was told that beef heart is awesome for bichirs though? Do you have resources about their inability to digest fats?

Beef Heart

I have two new flowerhorns, my roomate swears by feeding them beef heart (says its fish steriods). However, I thought I read somewhere that it's not good for them? Just wondering what you guys think about it! If no to the beef heart what should I do??

www.monsterfishkeepers.com

That's one link. There are more. I am having a hard time finding the one in particular I was thinking about. I'll probably find it several weeks from now everyday until I need to again...lol

 

[Rocksor]

Not all fats are equal, just as not all protein is equal for all animals.

Feed whole fish like cutup frozen silversides in your mix of food. The fat from the stomach, eggs from females, gelatinous eyes, bone and scales will provide a lot of the nutrients it needs for good growth. Then there's krill.

 

[Milingu]

the staple diet is going to be the pellets. I was told that beef heart is awesome for bichirs though? Do you have resources about their inability to digest fats?

The problem is not the mammal fat but their connective tissue.
Polypterus seem to lack a certain collagenase enzym to digest the connective tissue in mammals and birds.
Source: the bichir handbook by J. Pickett

 

[Ponera]

I was planning on removing as much fat as I could and of course the connective tissue from the heart so it'll just be red meat.