Feeding Blue Rams

[Moe]

I'm having a bit of a feeding problem in my tank. The 6 danio are very aggressive eaters, they go crazy at feeding time and very little food falls to bottom. My German Rams seem to really take their time they will swim up to the food, look at it and then eat it. But by then one of the danio will swoop in and snatch up the food. My problem really is not that I think the rams will starve to death because I keep putting food in until they all get something but by that time I think the danio are really overeating. Also the rams are absolutely the messiest eaters. When I give them flakes they seem to bite it then tons of tiny pieces come back out. They are a little better with the micro pellets. They really enjoy the blood worms and none seems to come shooting back out of their mouths, but I can't feed them only blood worms can I? I'd like to hear from anyone that has rams in a community tank. What is the best thing to feed them and how do you make sure they get enough?

 

[EMdina]

I have a blue ram, whom I just adore...
I feed him (along with the other fishies) bloodworms and granules...sometimes it seems like he's going to jump right out of the water to get his food and other times he stays at the bottom waiting for it to come to him...it really depends on his mood, I guess- and how hungry he is...
I'm sure your ram is getting more than enough food- especially since they can go days without eating...
If he looks okay, and he isn't acting suspiciously, I wouldn't worry....
E

 

[smb]

EMdina pretty much said it but would like to add you can feed them meaty foods, brine shrimp, glass worms and tubifex worms also.

Cichlids are messy eaters and it's normal for them to expel a lot of it thru their gills. That's why I clean my tanks twice a week.

When they get hungry enough they'll get to the food in most cases. I wouldn't keep feeding the zebra danios until the rams have a chance to feed. I think the rams will become more aggressive at feeding time if they miss a couple days of eating and they'll get theirs and it might even condition them to always be like that at feeding time.

 

[Moe]

OK, I feel better. They are acting fine. I will stop overfeeding the danios. It's good to know that it is normal for them to be such messy eaters. I'll also try the other foods you recommended. Are granules and pellets the same thing? I'd like to cut out the flakes altogether. Would that be OK? The tank is a mess after feeding them flakes there is stuff floating everywhere.

 

[smb]

Granules, Pellets and foodsticks are pretty much the same thing just shaped different. Sure, you can forget about the flakes if you give a variety of other foods. You could also do what I do and feed them flake food the same day you're going to do a water change and have the best of both worlds.

Just keep an eye out for a few days and see if they get more aggro to get the food as they get hungrier. Rams are known to be a little put off by aggressive eaters but they usually learn.

 

[Waterloo Kid]

My 3 rams are a bit of a problem to feed, just like you said. To compound matters, one of the rams has a reduced swim bladder (genetic problem I think, he's always been this way) which means he rarely comes off the gravel. I also have rainbow fish in my tank which are just as keen on eating as the danios. I've started to put floating food in one area for the fast feeders and when they are all happily going nuts over the stuff at the surface I put sinking granules in another place for the rams. works a treat! the granules are near enough at the bottom of the tank before the hungry brigade know it's in the tank.
Another thing you could do is feed them shelled frozen peas. Remove the outer shell and microwave them in a small amount of water for a few seconds , just enough time to boil the water. The pea halves are too large for the danios (although they try!) and the rams LOVE them.

Just a few ideas,

WK

 

[Moe]

Thanks for the help. I'll try all of your suggestions.

 

[ChiclidBoy]

TURN THE LIGHT OF AND MAKE SURE U FEED A VARIETY OF FOODS LIKE CICHLID PELETS THE DANIOS WONT TOUCH EM