feeding POLYPTERUS

[tdnp]

I have two polypterus and I've only had them for about two weeks I have been told too feed them once a week and not with flake food, so far I tried them on earthworms which they loved and also tried Lance Fish (defrosted) which they also loved. What I'm unsure about is two how often am I supposed too feed them and this is because they are in a comunity tank with 7 other fish between 6" and 15" (who all get fed on flake food twice a day) when I feed my others the polys seem to be eating the flake food, what I have noticed is they spit the lightly coloured flakes out but eat the darker and don't spit them out! They both look healthy and are swimming about the tank quite nicely, None of the other Fish are aggresive to them infact they have settled quite well.

 

[CFC]

Sorry mate my fault,when i said only feed them once a week i meant only feed them lance fish once a week ) You can feed them earthworms bloodworm or rivershrimp every day.As they grow you can increase the ammount of fish you fed them to every other day but when theyre small its best to keep it to only once.

 

[tdnp]

Thanks for that mate luckily I've been feeding them a worm everyday so they haven't starved. but would a lance fish every three days harm them?

 

[CFC]

The trouble with feeding lance fish too often is the fish can actually get addicted to eating just one food and while they are still growing they need to have a varied diet so that they get all the vitamins and minerals that they need to grow,older fish can be fed on just fish as in the wild they become more predatory with age (bigger fish can take bigger prey)but the juvenile fish would be feeding on aquatic insects and their larva and the occasional small fish.

 

[tdnp]

I've just meassured mine and they are 10cm body 11cm with tale so what sort of diet should mine be on now?

 

[CFC]

Theyre only a third of the size theyre going to get so theyre still juveniles,stick to giving them the fish just once a week until they are at least 20cm the earthworms bloodworm and rivershrimp are better for them at the moment.

 

[tdnp]

thanks for that mate but I've heard about bloodworms having some sort of hooks or something and getting stuck in the throats of fish what have you heard?

 

[CFC]

I feed my fish a total of 100grams of large bloodworm every week and have never had any problems (dont try this with cichlids though)it is probably the most natural food you can give your fish and i have never heard of them being harmful.

 

[tdnp]

why not try it with cichilds I have a green terror he doesn't go near earthworms or the lance fish?

 

[CFC]

From what i understand cichlids can get constipated if they have to much live food (or something like that)but theyre not really my thing,prehaps CM or Semper Fi could explain why more clearly.