How Can I Tell If They Are Eating?

[Jooniefish]

i have 3 panda corys i just added last week. i've been trying to feed them API Bottom Feeder shrimp pellets, because i've heard they like shrimp pellets, however, the corys will go right past them with out eating them, usually its my mickeymouse platy or mollies that will eat them. infact sometimes the corys will get them, take a bite, and then just swim away. i cant tell if they are eating, possibly when im not looking or foraging enough flake food from the bottom to keep them eating. they are actively swimming together in a group. and foraging through the sand for food. they do not seem sick no spots, no red gills and no abrasions. water tests are all fine, 24C, 0 ammonia 10nitrate 0 nitrite 15gh 0 chlorine 6.9 ph. infact because of the softness of the water they should thrive. the tank is lightly planted but also has hiding caves. should i switch food? since they are active and seem to have normal behavior should i assume they are foraging enough food or eating the pellet particles as it breaks up on the bottom of the tank?

 

[Mowbz]

Try crushed Tetra Prima Mini.

I foudn it really hard to get mine to eat for the first few days. The guy in the shop swore blind they were being fed on Mini blood worm and Baby Bruine Shrimp, buy only now are they big enough to comfortably handle these. When i first got them, they couldnt even get a whole peice of Tetra Prima in their mouths.

If you've got babaies (i have 10, now nearly grown out) i would recommend crushed prima and flake, that pretty much all their tiny mouths seems to be able to handle. Perhaps baby brine shrimp once each weekend. When feeding live/frozen food, sit an watch hem, see how they handle the food. If they just suck it and spit it back out, its probably just a bit to big for them to swallow.

Mine wont eat any sort of sinking pellet, they hate them. No idea why, they just wont. (most seem to like them!?) Ive tried shrimp and algae pellets, no hope.

 

[Jooniefish]

ok i will have to try this. is they any particular way to get the crushed up food to the bottom? ive heard soaking them for a few mins and turning your filter off for a few mins while they feed is the way to go? anyone point me in the right direction?

 

[KittyKat]

Have you tried feeding them after dark or at the same time as the other fish? Have you considered increasing the group size to around 10 because they are schooling fish?

Your water doesn't look soft, just slightly acidic. Are you using a liquid test kit or strips?

Between three fish, one or two "Cory"-sized pellets should be fine per day, they will eat them if you leave them in. They will also quite happily pick up any other foods that make it to the ground… I think that you're just seeing some well fed Corys which haven't quite settled into their new tank and maybe don't quite feel confident enough because they're in a small group. As long as their bellies do not look sunken, you probably have nothing to worry about.

 

[Jooniefish]

Have you tried feeding them after dark or at the same time as the other fish? Have you considered increasing the group size to around 10 because they are schooling fish?

Your water doesn't look soft, just slightly acidic. Are you using a liquid test kit or strips?

Between three fish, one or two "Cory"-sized pellets should be fine per day, they will eat them if you leave them in. They will also quite happily pick up any other foods that make it to the ground… I think that you're just seeing some well fed Corys which haven't quite settled into their new tank and maybe don't quite feel confident enough because they're in a small group. As long as their bellies do not look sunken, you probably have nothing to worry about.

dgh@ 15 is very soft water. currently im using Tetra brand strips, i have a liquid master kit coming in, however, my local LFS tests water for free, and ive brought in several sample over the week, since its right in town in a plaza with the grocery store ect so i usually have to go right there to do almost anything anyways, and all they're results have been the same.

yes im also working on getting more in the shoal, but cory panda's aren't always readily available. the LFS said they would try to order, so im waiting, also im afriad to try to have some directly sent to me because of my cold climate, durning the day its not uncommon for it to be 40F or lower.

i also do feed right before "lights out" some flake and a few pellets right before i turn the light off.

im hoping your last statement is what im looking at. although i know i should have a larger shoal they do not seem threatened and are actually quite active, although there is caves and plants, they are almost never hiding.

 

[cynic]

I was concerned for mine too, i have found feeding tactically works, i pop some flakes in to keep the harlequins busy as they will eat ANYTHING, then i grind up a pellet so its just dust and soak it with some dried bloodworm for a few mins.

Then in it goes, the pump scatters the dust across the entire tank, most of which sinks, what doesent tops the harlequins up and the columbians are happy with the bloodworm. The layer of fine dust is what the panda's are after and they scour the tank for it happily spouting sand.

 

[Harlequins]

Thankfully i've never had a problem with corys not liking food,probably because i fed them a varied diet, tetramin prima mini granules is a bit favourite for my lot

Even normal size granules they will happy nibble away at,has mentioned unless their belly have sunken in you have nowt to worry about,i'm sure they'll be hunting out at night finding tasty morsels missed by the others