Feeding Help

[clovis]

Hi all,
My son and I delighted with our set up.  80 liter tank all cycled, 5 neon tetras and 4 panda corys.
My big question is that since we bought the corys I am not sure about how we are feeding the fish.
The tetras used to get just chopped up JBL flakes every day (skipping a day here and there).
Now that we have the corys, the LFS told us to use the JBL tabs every 2 to 3 days for the corys.  But when we stick the tabs to the side of the tanknear the bottom the tetras tend to really get at it w the corys getting just a few scraps here and there.  Does one remove the tab after a few minutes of feeding, or do you leave them there until they are gone (that's a long time as the tabs are HUGE)?  Do you sink the tab to the bottom (where the corys really feast on it and excludes the tetras which have there flakes).  Do I forget about the flakes?
If anyone could tell me a proper feeding schedule and method for this combination of fish, I would be very appreciative.
Cheers 
 
 

 

[Munroco]

Pellets that sink are good for corys, the neons will get their share on the way down, and the corys will hoover up what they miss.
 
There are lots of conflicting ideas of feeding schedules. I tend to feed my fish 4 or 5 times a day, some reckon once a day or less is best. As long as you don't end up with loads of uneaten food you should be ok.

 

[Baccus]

I would stick with some tropical flakes for the tetras (any bits the tetras miss the corys will hoover up) and at the same time drop a couple of pellet foods (carnivore types rather than all vegetarian types) in for the corys that they will find almost immediately.
I would feed once a day but if your really concerned with the corys getting enough food, feed the tetras in the morning and drop in some food for the corys at night just at lights out, that will leave the corys the darkness of night to hunt out their food which is more natural for almost all catfish while the tetras sleep.
 
If you want to give your tetras and corys a treat you can give them frozen ( but defrosted my fish have never liked freeze dried foods so I avoid them) mosquito wrigglers, rinsed brine shrimp and bloodworms. My fish all go crazy for these foods given live as well.

 

[clovis]

I guess what I am worried about is excess food. 
the tablets the the LFS sold me are JBL tabs.  It seems like an awful lot of food for 4 corys, and the 5 mooching tetras that are fed flakes every day but do seem to muscle in pretty heavily on the tab action.
After about 8 or 9 minutes the half tab that I put down on the bed of the aquarium is broken down into tiny particles that the corys ostensibly are eating throughout the day.
So I guess the final question is, is feeding the tetras once a day a small amount of flakes, and feeding the corys half a tab (it really is quite a bit of food IMO) every two to three days a proper feeding regimen? thumbs up or down appreciated (or a specific feeding regimen that you strongly suggest).  
Thanks for all the advice here.
Cheers

 

[RobRocksFishTank]

I've always been of the "school" of thought that with smaller fish, feeding multiple times daily is better for the fish and the tank. The theory is that with multiple smaller feedings, the fish will eat all or most of it quickly. Therefore. there is less of a chance of any uneaten food getting into the filter or trapped somewhere in the tank.
 
As far as bottom feeders go, it really depends on the specific community. A small number of bottom feeders will usually do okay with the leftovers and an occasional supplemental/directed feeding. Keep an eye on their bellies. If they become bloated, you are overfeeding. If they get sunken in, additional food is in order.

 

[the_lock_man]

 I tend to feed my fish 4 or 5 times a day,

 
Seriously? Fish can go for a week and more between being fed - just because they eat it, doesn't mean they need it. They have no "I'm full, I can't eat any more" mechanism like humans have.

 

[goldfinger]

I have to agree especially with goldfish there gut can only take so much and they will carry on eating, but with fancy goldfish they can get swim bladder issues and other diesases due to over feeding.
I've always been told leave a couple of days even three without food so their gut is empty and can digest food properly.
If someone over feeds my fish, I see undigested poo trails which is a bad sign over feeding has been done. 
Smaller fishes I feed tiny amounts twice a day for the reason that lots of it gets sucked up into the filter. Its a waste of food and some might settle on gravel and start moulding and in my case when we went on holiday our house sitters over fed and I had a carpet of mould and fungus growing on the substrate.
 
Quick question what do Danios feed on as they are fresh water and not tropical is it okay to use tropical flakes?

 

[Munroco]

 

 I tend to feed my fish 4 or 5 times a day,

 
Seriously? Fish can go for a week and more between being fed - just because they eat it, doesn't mean they need it. They have no "I'm full, I can't eat any more" mechanism like humans have.
 

And just because fish will survive for a while without food isn't a reason not to feed them. I would probably survive for a week or more without food but I have no plans to try it.
 
I did say there was more than one school of thought on the subject and wasn't advocating that my way was the best. It works for me. My fish are healthy, growing well & spawning frequently. It doesn't seem to have done them any harm.

 

[fluttermoth]

Most aquarium fish are massively overfed; even if there's no uneaten food. Fish, being cold blooded need very little food for their body size.

With the exception of growing fry/youngsters, there is absolutely no need be feeding fish more than once a day, or possibly twice, if you prefer i]and[/i] you make sure both meals are appropriately small sized.

Tropical fish are the same as goldfish in that they don't even have a 'stomach' as we'd think of one, and if they're eating too much it just passes through undigested anyway.

Quick question what do Danios feed on as they are fresh water and not tropical is it okay to use tropical flakes?

I think you might be getting confused here? Danios are fresh water, temperate fish, but fish can be both fresh water and tropical; in fact most of the species we keep are. They're fine on tropical food though

 

[goldfinger]

Most aquarium fish are massively overfed; even if there's no uneaten food. Fish, being cold blooded need very little food for their body size.

With the exception of growing fry/youngsters, there is absolutely no need be feeding fish more than once a day, or possibly twice, if you prefer i]and[/i] you make sure both meals are appropriately small sized.

Tropical fish are the same as goldfish in that they don't even have a 'stomach' as we'd think of one, and if they're eating too much it just passes through undigested anyway.

 

Quick question what do Danios feed on as they are fresh water and not tropical is it okay to use tropical flakes?

I think you might be getting confused here? Danios are fresh water, temperate fish, but fish can be both fresh water and tropical; in fact most of the species we keep are. They're fine on tropical food though

Hi Flutter hope you are well?

I was being too specific as in Hong Kong we keep goldfish in high temperatures due to the ambient heat near enough tropical, but heard Danios are very hardy fish and can handle lower temperatures in the uk.
It was more a question of using goldfish flakes or tropical flakes?
I got a few Danios two zebras and some generic ones and find the crushed pellets (Tetra Gold). The zebra's love them and the other ones like flakes.
I've ordered some tropical micro pellets from Hanari in hope they are better suited for their diet?
 
 

 

[RobRocksFishTank]

Most aquarium fish are massively overfed; even if there's no uneaten food.

 
I'm sorry, but how does that even make sense?
 
I think it might be more correct to say that most beginners tend to overfeed.
 
In the wild, small fish eat multiple times a day. The larger the fish, the less often they tend to eat. There are exceptions but it can be said for most fish.
 
It is easy to tell if fish are getting overfed. Extremely, fat bellies after feeding... not a good sign.
 
I totally agree with the fact that fish can easily go for long periods without food. I've seen fish shrink from lack of feeding in an unkempt tank. No filtration, no heater, no food, no added water. The water evaporated and so did the fish, almost. That same tank with feedings would have killed those fish. The point is without human intervention, mother nature tries like hell to win. IYKWIM...

 

[the_lock_man]

 

 


 I tend to feed my fish 4 or 5 times a day,

 
Seriously? Fish can go for a week and more between being fed - just because they eat it, doesn't mean they need it. They have no "I'm full, I can't eat any more" mechanism like humans have.
 

And just because fish will survive for a while without food isn't a reason not to feed them. I would probably survive for a week or more without food but I have no plans to try it.


 
I didn't say it was a reason not to feed them. I was trying to illustrate that they are naturally disposed toward less feeding rather than more. Personally, I feed mine once per day, with an occasional fast day, but I'm quite happy to go on holiday for a week without arranging to feed them.
 
I don't know if you're doing your fish harm by feeding them 5 times a day, I'm more than happy to accept your word that they are OK. You are wasting rather a lot of money though.