Rainbowfish Feeding

[MoonstruckMuse]

I recently bought a few rainbowfish of unknown identity (most are m. lacustris, but it's debatable... and that'll be another thread sometime, haha), and they're living quite happily in my 46 gallon tank.

They don't seem to like flake food. Oh, it's not that they won't eat it... but rather that they eat it and then spit it back out. I've tried different types of flake, like spirulina. Not that tasty, apparently.
They aren't starving. They've nibbled a bit at the algae growing on the driftwood, haha. And when I feed frozen bloodworms and krill, they'll eat that too. However... I'll be going away later in the summer for 2 weeks, and my friend is deathly scared of the worms and krill, haha. It is pretty much imperative that they learn to eat flake, and keep it down.

...So. How do you train a fish to eat flake? Should I go out and buy pellets instead?

 

[The-Wolf]

I've found for finicky eaters that starving them for a few days then feeding the new food results in them eating it.
if that doesn't work use seachem garlic guard and soak the flake in that, let it dry then feed it to them.
you'll be amazed at the results

 

[Suicidal_AZN]

PICS PLEASE!!!

 

[Mad Duff]

What I have done in the past with rainbows that wont eat normal flake is to starve them for two days and then feed spirulina flake they will usually take to the spirulina quite well and after a couple more days start adding some normal flake with the spirulina and they should start taking both.

 

[MoonstruckMuse]

Haha, I'll try starving them, then. I just won't be able to look at the tank for the next few days cause they're always dancing there, begging for more food (that they don't eat anyhow. =P).

I take it Rainbowfish do this often, Mad Duff?

And I'll keep an eye out for Seachem Garlic Guard. Thanks!

 

[Lateral Line]

Something to remember when going away for a couple of weeks is that in most normal tanks, most common tropicals will live without major problems with no feeding. Inexpert feeding can cause a much greater problem then fasting them. People not used to caring for fish always tend to overfeed, they mean well of course, but do not understand the metabolic pathways in a cycled tank, and can easily cause Nitrogen spikes. Have your friend look in regularly, but only feed 2-3 times while you are away, or if you can, measure out the right amount of food for each feeding, label it up, then hide the food tub!

 

[MoonstruckMuse]

HAHA, that's an awesome idea, thanks! One of my friends did exactly that once - called me on vacation, crying her eyes out... she killed a betta of mine because "he looked hungry". Poor dear seemed traumatized. At least the fishie had a nice banquet before he left.
I've found a new friend to feed them though, and she's done it several times, no problem. She's got tons of pets of her own. Just... not a bug person - can't get over the idea of even looking at 'em.

Thanks again!

 

[Mad Duff]

I take it Rainbowfish do this often, Mad Duff?

I have had quite a few do it especially newly imported fish that may well have never seen flake before or its very different from what they have had, starvation and spirulina normally do the trick.

On the subject of going on holiday I put what I would normally feed them in small air tight tubs (1 tub for each feeding) and leave them on top of each tank and then my Dad only has to open the tub and tip it in, if we are away for 10 days the fish will normally get fed 3 or 4 times and they are fine.