bulldogod Posted November 11, 2006 Report Share Posted November 11, 2006 Im feeding my fish spirulina algae flake food and was wondering if theres anything I can feed them to make them grow bigger, faster??? Do fish need variety or just stick to same? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimTam22 Posted November 11, 2006 Report Share Posted November 11, 2006 What type of fish do you have?? I give my fish alot of live food and frozen bloodworms etc as well as lots of dried foods. I try to give them something different every night I have - frozen blood worms frozen daphnia (sp?) frozen brine shrimp two different types of flakes colour bits novo bits freeze dried tubifex worms freeze dried blood worms freeze dried daphnia zucchini for the bottem feeders and spiralina tablets too I think thats about it ??? Oh and live white worms Microworms and live daphnia when I have it and they would apreciate a variety of food i'm sure, mine sure do Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ljtan55 Posted November 11, 2006 Report Share Posted November 11, 2006 The prepared fish foods have a good mix of nutrients, but you know it gets boring My fish gets frozen bloodworms, daphnia every other day, but the staple is fish flakes, and discus food pellets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Discusguru Posted November 11, 2006 Report Share Posted November 11, 2006 For discus, oxheart, bloodworm, earthworm, whiteworm 6 or more time a day with daily waterchanges. ron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bulldogod Posted November 11, 2006 Author Report Share Posted November 11, 2006 I have got electric yellows, bumblebees, lionhead or is it lumpheads??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jettin Posted November 11, 2006 Report Share Posted November 11, 2006 Feed high protein foods for good growth. On food packages have a look at the ingredients and check out the protein amount on it. Anything above 45% is good, theres some foods that are 50%+ but not many. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishy_t Posted November 11, 2006 Report Share Posted November 11, 2006 Tetra Colour Bits are good - 47% protein Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
herefishiefishie Posted November 11, 2006 Report Share Posted November 11, 2006 Anything above 45% is good, theres some foods that are 50%+ but not many. Wow that is excessively high Did you note that there were a couple of species of mbuna mentioned? Also bulldogod stay away from blood worms too. The most important thing is space & clean water. The lower the levels on nitrate the better the growth of fish. Just a mixture of pellets, flake, mysis shrimp will keep them happy. Over feeding mbuna is very easy to do & can cause severe problems. As can high protein foods. Frenchy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bulldogod Posted November 12, 2006 Author Report Share Posted November 12, 2006 Thanks for the help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMAZONIAN Posted November 12, 2006 Report Share Posted November 12, 2006 This works for me and it should for others as well. Take a length of nylon line (5lb Breaking strain) and a couple of small hooks, and a bit of bait, and head of down to the wharf or boat harbour. Dont forget to "Take a Kid Fishing" as well, and catch a few herrings. :lol: Take them home and clean them up and place in the microwave and cook them. Let them cool and break them up over the tank/s and watch the feeding frenzy. A very old saying in the "Fish Fraternity" is WE ARE WHAT WE EAT!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
herefishiefishie Posted November 12, 2006 Report Share Posted November 12, 2006 A very old saying in the "Fish Fraternity" is WE ARE WHAT WE EAT!!!!! A more relevant one in this case, "To feed fish properly in captivity it is important to be aware of the natural diet & feeding habits of the species concerned." 8) Frenchy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bulldogod Posted November 13, 2006 Author Report Share Posted November 13, 2006 So why stay away from bloodworms??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caserole Posted November 13, 2006 Report Share Posted November 13, 2006 They are good and they are bad. We had a discussion on it. do a search to find. I think this comment is good and very pertinent in your case "To feed fish properly in captivity it is impotant to be aware of the natural diet & feeding habits of the species concerned." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
herefishiefishie Posted November 13, 2006 Report Share Posted November 13, 2006 This extract comes from an article written by Kjell Fohrman, from the book called "Enjoying Cichlids" Ad Konnings{Editor} Red mosquito larvae, one of the most popular frozen foods, are very bad and should not be fed to fishes. These are larvae found in the mud of stagnant pools & feed from the mud, including when this contains chemicals which are toxic to some fishies, especially to Malawi & Tanganyika cichlids. More over red mosquito larvae induce allergic reactions in about 30% of persons coming into contact with them{Liebers,1991} Me I prefer not to take the risk when you consider all the feeding options out there. I have seen the rash too a few people have got from handling blood worms too. Frenchy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishy_t Posted November 13, 2006 Report Share Posted November 13, 2006 Very interesting, thanks for that - I'm not going to use bloodworms anymore! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharn Posted November 13, 2006 Report Share Posted November 13, 2006 HFF- this applies to africans only right? i have read that bloodworms are bad for some species of apistos also, is it purely to do with the toxins or is it to do with protein levels etc? bloodworms are in all my fishies diets but i dont own any africans :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanjury Posted November 13, 2006 Report Share Posted November 13, 2006 Just found this interesting read http://www.cichlid-forum.com/phpBB/view ... p?t=126848 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
herefishiefishie Posted November 13, 2006 Report Share Posted November 13, 2006 Thats a good little read Ryan, Algae is a vital component of the ecosystem in natural fresh water environments. It makes sense that it should have a place in an artificial FW environment like an aquarium too. Fry and larger fish feed on the so-called Aufwuchs not just for its itself but also because of the myriad micro-organisms that live in there. If you looked at a clump of algae under a low power microscope you would see that it is a jungle swarming with cyclops, copepods, dinoflagellates, and all sorts of microscopic goodies for the fish to snack on. I have read something similar to this before. Part of classification, studying new species....fish are dissected to see what makes them tick. The contents of the stomach is one thing that is checked. That is why people like Ad Konnings release books with information on feeding habits, what to feed....& obviously there information is well sourced. My fry get spirulina flake, frozen cyclops & baby brine occasionally. Makes sense to about the algae growth rates, it is what they eat in the wild, who cares if a fry tank looks beautiful & clean. As long as the water is. HFF- this applies to africans only right? i have read that bloodworms are bad for some species of apistos also, is it purely to do with the toxins or is it to do with protein levels etc? Well it does say, should not be fed to fishes They mean all, as mentioned next this contains chemicals which are toxic to some fishies, especially to Malawi & Tanganyika cichlids. This is a seperate comment, some fish species are more susceptible to toxins, diseases than others. & allergic reactions in about 30% of persons would worry me a bit too. Once upon a time I was having the odd unexplained death & it bugged me to no end. My lfs guy asked about the fishies diet, he should me his arms & the rash caused by bloodworms. I did some research. Took bloodworms out of the diet. Been all good on the unexplained for years.{touch wood} Frenchy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishy_t Posted November 13, 2006 Report Share Posted November 13, 2006 I've read lots about "Aufwuchs" - but does anyone know how you actually say it??!! (I'm guessing it's German and you just pronounce it like any other german word) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanjury Posted November 13, 2006 Report Share Posted November 13, 2006 lol and to think my last weeks mission has been to take all my fry tanks down clean them all up and then mask them all from the sunlight with poly to stop the algae Just so they would be clean like everyone elses fry tanks! I used to just clean the front glass and do daily water changes but now ive got bristlenoses in every tank and got them clean as might have to let some light back in.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishy_t Posted November 13, 2006 Report Share Posted November 13, 2006 Yeah I always leave the algea/aufwuchs on the rocks in my tanks for my tanganyikans and their babies. I know the babies eat lots of it cause you can see it in their wee tummies! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoandWilly Posted November 14, 2006 Report Share Posted November 14, 2006 I feed all our africans, duckweed, they love it and clean up a hand full in a couple of mins, even have some in the fry tanks and although they to small to eat the big bits, it never speads so they must be eating all the little plantlets that grow, i try feed them as much vegetable matter as i can, just made up some last night that just had carrot, zuchhini, peas and a touch of garlic, and a couple of prawns, plended up and they go absolutly crazy over it, diffently will be doing that more often than trying to feed them processed foods 3 times a day. If anyone wants some duckweed just send me a pm, it's growing out of my ears. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evilknieval69 Posted November 14, 2006 Report Share Posted November 14, 2006 it's growing out of my ears. Man, thats gotta feel funny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caserole Posted November 14, 2006 Report Share Posted November 14, 2006 Having a dirty fry tank is not a good idea IMHO. It depends on individuals interpretations of cause - what is clean or dirty. If you have bacteria/fungus build up in your tank you can start to loose fry very very quickly. All my fry tanks are very clean and water is clear but not spotless by my standards (( but maybe by others )). I have learnt some hard lessons over the years that I really don't want to repeat. Even just last year and I'm still quitly p....d about it. This does not include algae as it will not harm my fry ( as long as it does not get out of control and catch dirt ), indeed they eat it, I mean dirt = uneaten food, bad water and excrement. I also have workers in my fry tanks baby B/N and baby bronze corys they help me to keep the tanks clean. The down size is I have alot of bronze corys, The up side is when they breed and I don't collect the eggs theres plenty of excitment in the tanks, fish love live food. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishy_t Posted November 15, 2006 Report Share Posted November 15, 2006 I feed all our africans, duckweed... Which African's do you mean? I always though you shouldn't let them gulp at the surface which I'm guessing they would have to for duckweed?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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