How Much To Feed My Fish

metulburr · Oct 19, 2015

my fish:
TWO currently small silver dollars about 2 1/2 inches long
FIVE african dwarf frogs (small in size, about an inch long)
TWO neon tetras
ONE red wag platy
ONE black molly
ONE dalmatian molly
ONE kuhli loach (small in diameter, like a string)
ONE algae eater ( i am not sure for the name. The receipt says algae eater. It is not a plecostomus)

I feed them twice a day, morning and night the tropical fish flakes. Twice a week i feed about a teaspoon of dried blood worms in. The fish goes crazy for it. To get the frogs any i have to keep feeding them until the fish stop eating it seems.

I have just been feeding, and watching, then if they eat it all, i feed again. But i read online to make sure the ADF get a share. So i think i might be over feeding hte fish to try to feed the frogs.

hudsona85 · Oct 19, 2015

Hello and welcome!

How big is your tank? I think you are over feeding your tank as well. Silver Dollars are schooling fish just FYI. I am not sure as to what kind of algae eater you have. Can you post a pic? You have another question on another post that I am replying back to as well.

NickAu · Oct 19, 2015

TWO neon tetras

Tetras need to be kept in schools of at least 6 or more.

ONE kuhli loach (small in diameter, like a string)

Again Kuhli Loaches you need at least 6 of them.

metulburr · Oct 19, 2015

I posted some other info requested on the other thread.

I was going to buy more tetras later.

i think the algae eater is this one
http

/www.petsmart.com/live-pet/live-fish/algae-eater-zid36-15193/cat-36-catid-700002
At the store and on the reciept it is only labeled as "algae eater"

Petsmart is where i got it. Its darker than the one pictured. But i think it is that. It is a fast swimmer. About an inch to an inch and a half long. I cant find it currently otherwise i would take a pic of it and post it. It has black spots and a stipe

EDIT:
he finally came out. So here are pics i got of him
http

/imgur.com/a/q70fT

hudsona85 · Oct 20, 2015

Does it look like this? The algae eater that you showed me would be way too big and eventually too aggressive for the 30gal you have. Sorry for the pictures not showing right side up. Can't seem to figure out how to flip it around. The pic I posted are called Otocinclus. They are great algae eaters.

metulburr · Oct 20, 2015

Reading more about it and comparing mine to pics on the net. It looks like a chinese algae eater. Which after researchign that, it appears that instances of them killing fish.
It does not look like the one you have pictured.

I got a pic of him
http

/imgur.com/a/q70fT

Would you suggest i return him to petsmart? Assuming stores return fish?

hudsona85 · Oct 20, 2015

Petsmart has a 14 day return policy. I would suggest returning all of the fish if you are within the 14 day period and get some basics done first. You are right to say that Chinese Algae eaters are not suitable for your tank as they will grow to almost a foot long. It doesn't help that the aggression grows as well.

metulburr · Oct 20, 2015

Thank you for your help

Far_King · Oct 20, 2015

Seconded on the Chinese Algae eater. I have one that's around 7" long and about a half inch across and he can be a right stroppy bugger which is why he only resides in a large tank with other similarly sized fish. He was the other half's choice not mine!

Also Silver Dollars will grow to be very large as well and require a large tank. How large is your tank?

I'd recommend spending some time researching fish before you buy, always. I've seen some gorgeous fish when I've been out and about before and it would be so easy to impulse buy but I always restrain myself until I know exactly what I'm getting. If you can, make a note of the latin names as well as there can be confusion species. Siamese Algae eaters (not to be confused with Chinese algae eaters) are a prime example of this as you will get three types sold which can look almost identical.

Chad · Oct 20, 2015

As for the question how much to feed them, fish are, in my opinion, frequently overfed. They love to eat so much, and we love to watch them, that we sometimes allow the joy we feel to overshadow the practical realities of their metabolisms. But that doesn't give you a definitive answer. Because there isn't one to give. It's a value of the type of fish, the type of food, the size of the tank, the flow they have to fight against, and more. I feed my fish different types of food and depending on the type they may get more or less. For example when I feed flake, I feed less. When I feed natural foods like mysis I feed more. In all cases I watch the fish to make sure each is eating. Some fish are pretty good on their own. Like my yellow coris wrasse (the one in the photo isn't mine) that is a hunter and who eats on copepods and other infauna throughout the day.
So it's not an easy question to answer.

As for fish types and what is mentioned above I agree that some research would help you to narrow down the fish that are just right for your particular tank.

hudsona85 · Oct 20, 2015

metulburr said:
Thank you for your help

You're welcome. That is what we are here for!

tcamos said:
As for the question how much to feed them, fish are, in my opinion, frequently overfed. They love to eat so much, and we love to watch them, that we sometimes allow the joy we feel to overshadow the practical realities of their metabolisms. But that doesn't give you a definitive answer. Because there isn't one to give. It's a value of the type of fish, the type of food, the size of the tank, the flow they have to fight against, and more. I feed my fish different types of food and depending on the type they may get more or less. For example when I feed flake, I feed less. When I feed natural foods like mysis I feed more. In all cases I watch the fish to make sure each is eating. Some fish are pretty good on their own. Like my yellow coris wrasse (the one in the photo isn't mine) that is a hunter and who eats on copepods and other infauna throughout the day.
So it's not an easy question to answer.

As for fish types and what is mentioned above I agree that some research would help you to narrow down the fish that are just right for your particular tank.

Very well said indeed.

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