Feeding Issues, Take 2

[Zhent]

I'm back [again!]

In my 29Gal tank I now have two separate groups - 5 Golden Barbs and 3 [soon to be 6] Panda Corys. The corys, as one may expect, are primarily bottom dwellers and the barbs currently tend to roam pretty much everywhere else throughout the tank. In addition to the fish, I have a couple Amano Shrimp and some Assassin snails, but they are doing pretty well on their own and I trust they can fend for themselves.

I have recently added the corys, and am running into an issue. I have sinking shrimp pellets to feed the corys, and flake food for the barbs.

Wardleys Shrimp Pellets

However. Over the past couple of days, as the corys have settled in and the barbs are used to their new tankmates, I've noticed that the barbs eat all their flake and then dive down and steal what appears to be a majority of the pellet food after it has swollen up before the corys even find it! They head over there, but it's half gone, and I cant help but think they are still kind of hungry after they finish off whats left.

In addition to this is a rather disturbing trend, having watched everyone eat tonight, of the barbs nipping off a piece of the pellet and the spitting it back out all over the floor of the aquarium.

I don't want to feed more than I am already, and would like everyone to eat their own food. Any suggestions on what I may be able to do to get the barbs and corys on their own respective diets? Or do I need to try and find something that will please everybody, and just feed a little more of it rather than two separate foods?

 

[fluttermoth]

You could try putting the sinking pellets in with the tank lights off and just the room lights on; this sometimes helps to get food to the corys.

Or, put half the flake and the pellets in, and then the rest of the flake; you might find the barbs come back up to eat the flake giving the corys a chance.

Also, make sure you always put the pellets in the same place; fish soon learn where the food comes from.

If the fish are eating all the food in less than 5 minutes or so you could put a bit more in.

 

[james_fish]

You could try feeding some King British Mini Pellets tiny little floating pellets that I have found 'fill' fish up a bit more when used in conjuction with flakes. Or alternatively, frozen bloodworm. I also find this takes less to satisfy my middle/top dwelling fish. This way you can fill up your top/middle dwellers, and hopefully they wont be too interested in the sinking foods.

Don't be worried about the pellets being spat out all over the aquarium, your Cories/Shrimp will soon clean up the mess.
Also don't be worried about adding more food, as long as it goes in the fish and does not rot in the tank, your bacteria should be able to adjust. Obviously don't go ridiculous with the over feeding.

Also, I believe Corys are not strictly nocturnal. But you could try feeding the sinking foods after hours?

Hope I was of help

James.

 

[Zhent]

Thanks guys,

I will try feeding with the lights off. I also thought about perhaps splitting it up more? Feeding the pellets in the morning, perhaps, when everyone is asleep, and feeding the flake at night?

 

[waterdrop]

yup, agree with the other members, nice posts - WD

 

[Timmy_Bee]

are your sinking pellets tropical ones, or catfish ones?
I have some catfish ones which are much harder / denser than 'tropical' sinking pellets. My barbs try to eat these, but dont get anywhere, resulting in them being left for my plec.
My pellets in question are cheap, Pets @ Home own brand but they do the job!