Sterbai: Amount To Feed/using Marbles Instead Of Gravel

[bettainseattle]

Hi,

I have two sterbai cory catfish. I just wanted to check on amount of tablets they should be getting and how using marbles instead of gravel could effect amount of food they are eating.

I have been feeding them TetraMin Tropical Tablets. Usually giving them 1/2 tablet (split into two 1/4 tablets) every other day. Plus when we feed the betta frozen bloodworms, there is extra that floats to bottom.

I switched to using marbles instead of gravel when we were medicating our betta (who just passed away last week) on the advice of the fish store because they said it was easier to keep the tank clean using marbles. My concern is whether the tablets may be dissolving and sinking to bottom of tank under the marbles and whether the sterbai are getting enough food. We have been using the marbles for about a month+. They are active and seem well but I just am concerned. Also when I clean the tank and vaccum the gravel there is alot of stuff that looks green fuzz that comes up (is that the tablets?).

Any thoughts on feeding and use of marbles would be greatly appreciated.

Lissa

 

[rocknurworld2006]

Hi,

I have two sterbai cory catfish. I just wanted to check on amount of tablets they should be getting and how using marbles instead of gravel could effect amount of food they are eating.

I have been feeding them TetraMin Tropical Tablets. Usually giving them 1/2 tablet (split into two 1/4 tablets) every other day. Plus when we feed the betta frozen bloodworms, there is extra that floats to bottom.

I switched to using marbles instead of gravel when we were medicating our betta (who just passed away last week) on the advice of the fish store because they said it was easier to keep the tank clean using marbles. My concern is whether the tablets may be dissolving and sinking to bottom of tank under the marbles and whether the sterbai are getting enough food. We have been using the marbles for about a month+. They are active and seem well but I just am concerned. Also when I clean the tank and vaccum the gravel there is alot of stuff that looks green fuzz that comes up (is that the tablets?).

Any thoughts on feeding and use of marbles would be greatly appreciated.

Lissa

ur going to have to change it to gravel or sand


sand is better

as marbles is no good as a substrate especiall when got catfish

marbles is only really used for brreding egg layers ie danios tetras

also if its algae tablets ur feeding these shouldnt be te bulk of the diet the need more meat in their diet not veg

feed pellets ie catfish pellets, etc etc bllodworm

 

[JenCliBee]

/\ agreed

 

[bettainseattle]

Thank you for your input. I just invested a bunch of $$ in marbles while medicating and trying to save the betta. Ugh!!

Can I put gravel on top/mix with marbles? I have the old gravel I had in tank just sitting in a bucket but I would imagine I need to toss that.

I do not want to compromise the catfish, so I am all ears.

 

[Inchworm]

Now I've heard everything! I sometimes wonder if people who work in these lfs even think at all.

Corydoras do best with sand or fine gravel. Marbels or even pebble type gravel could be harmful to them when uneaten food falls down into it. This makes a good breeding place for harmful bacteria and since corys spend most of their time there, it increases their risk of illness. Beside that, it doesn't even sound comfortable for them to be on.

If money is a problem, you can pick up a bag of play sand at a Home Depot or similar store. It's the stuff people put in children's sand boxes and is perfectly safe for cory's delicate barbells to sift through. It tends to be silty, but if you was it well, it will work out great. I think it sells for about $2.50 for a big bag.

Just take the marbels out and add the well washed sand. Your corys will love it.

 

[bettainseattle]

You know the fish store has been great in many respects but I do feel sometimes that I am being just pushed into buying yet one more thing!!!

OK. Starting from scratch with my new betta and two sterbai, what would be the best thing for everyone? Would the sand be ok for betta? Do you just vaccum it like you would the gravel? Money is not a problem, I am just miffed that I get things and then I have to get rid of it.

Thank you!

 

[Inchworm]

Hi bettainseattle

I know what you mean about the lfs. I shop at a good one and have been going there for years. They know what kind of fish I have and how I keep my tanks. Even so, I still find myself saying, "Not right now. I'll have to think about it for a while." to many of their suggestions.

Another thing they probably haven't told you is that bettas and corys are not necessarily the best combination of fish you could put together. The problem (and I had to learn this the hard way) is that bettas need still water and corys are river fish who require well oxygenated water. If a betta has to swim against a current from the filter, it will tire easily and have a shorter life than it might have had. It's hard to come to a satisfactory compromise, but you'll have to try.

Sand is fine for a betta. You'll notice that their waste products lay on the top and can easily be siphoned away. If you find the siphon pulling up the sand too, move it up a little or raise the level of the bucket to reduce the suction. You'll get the hang of it with a little practice.

You don't need the sand to be deep. 1/2 to 1" is plenty. If you run your fingers through it every few weeks you will be sure that it doesn't compact and no gas pockets form.

 

[bettainseattle]

Hi,

Thank you for your sympathy in this fish store thing! I am so new to this and I just want to do the best I can for these little creatures and I feel like I am going around in circles!

I will try and head over to the other fish store where I bought the sterbai and talk to them and get this all straight. I stopped going to them because they totally missed our betta's tail rot and when I finally got medication for him, they did not tell me how to administer it correctly (like taking carbon filter out) and I found this other fish store who helped me with the medication and we kept betta alive for another couple of months but they steered me down the marble path! Thank goodness for the forum.

Once again, thank you for your advice. Will make this work for betta and sterbai so they can live together happily ever after!

bettainseattle (aka Lissa)