Feeding Kribensis

[aldo_01]

Hi,

I've recently purchased a couple of kribensis for my community tank. I have been been trying to feed them flakes and pellets (as per lfs advice) but the top and middle dwelling fish tend to devour the food before it gets anywhere near the bottom of the tank for the kribs to get at. They seem to be ok but i just worry because i don't really see them eating very often.

I was wondering if anyone could suggest (and possibly provide links) to suitable food for the kribs as my lfs wasn't very helpful?

Thanks!

 

[Ben M]

hi, my kribs always get enough food, with about 30 little fish that eat really fast. i'm surprised that your kribs aren't getting enough food. i occasionally feed mine earthworms, which the other fish can't eat very fast. you could try feeding them a couple of earthworms. to prepare them, i wash them in tank water, and then kill them by pinching really hard a couple of cm behind the head. i then squeeze the guts out by squeezing right down the body, this stops the guts fouling the water. i then give them 1 worm each whole. if you give them an earthworm each, then they may be keener to eat flake food later, which is what mine eat normally. but make sure not to feed them earthworms too often, as they are quite fatty.

hope this helps

 

[aldo_01]

Thanks Pest Control,

They may be getting enough food. As i said they seem to be ok, i just don't see them eating very often. They do scavenge the sand along the bottom of the tank regularly. I live in a tenement flat in the city centre without a garden so it might be a little difficult getting hold of earthworms but i'll keep that in mind. Thanks!

 

[Ben M]

no problem, hope your kribs do ok.

 

[kribensis12]

A good food to try would be HBH African Attack. It's a sinking pellet. Also, HBH SuperSoft Sprinula Pellets (or any brand).

 

[Gilli]

Kribs also need a meaty diet as well as a veggie one. Its easy to get frozen cubes of blood worm, glass worm, shrimp brine, chopped muscles, daphnia, etc. Also feed algae tablets along with the flake. Mine also have a go at anything I put in for my BN plecs such as courgette , cucumber, sweet potato etc. With a varied diet you will find they colour up better and come into breeding mode.

When you feed the flake food put a little of the tank water into an egg cup then add the flake, swish round and pour into the tank- a little in the middle, left and right so everyone gets a chance as some fish are greedy or bullies. You will find the flake sinks immediately. Not only does this give bottom feeders a chance but it also stops fish from gulping too much air at the top causing bouyancy problems!