[M] feeding marine fish
Cindi
The books I have say that, regardless of whether I feed flake food,
pellets, frozen or fresh, to my fish (actually I don't have any fish
yet...) that I should hold the food between my fingers and swish it
around in front of the fish and try to get them to eat from my hand. The
book says that most marine fish won't eat something that just floats on
the top of the tank for a while and then sinks...
However, the pet store I just went to said that is baloney. They said
just sprinkle some flakes on the top and the marine fish will eat them
just like freshwater fish do.
So, what do you recommend? And for the damsels I'll be cycling my tank
with, what do you recommend for them?
Thanks!
cindi
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_ (^) "There are no guarantees. From a
( ) ( ) standpoint of fear, none are strong
( O ) (^) (( : )) _ enough. From a standpoint of
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Thomas M. Sasala
>Hi!
>
>The books I have say that, regardless of whether I feed flake food,
>pellets, frozen or fresh, to my fish (actually I don't have any fish
>yet...) that I should hold the food between my fingers and swish it
>around in front of the fish and try to get them to eat from my hand. The
>book says that most marine fish won't eat something that just floats on
>the top of the tank for a while and then sinks...
>
>However, the pet store I just went to said that is baloney. They said
And his first name was O S C A R....
Yes, as much as I hate to say it, the pet store people are right. Most
fish will eat flake food. Most won't, however, come to the surface to
get it though. Marine fish aren't surface feeders. I put the flake food
into the tank near the return from the sump. This 'blows' the food into the
tank where the fish can get it. The damsels usually have the food eaten
before any of it hits the gravel or the other side of the tank. Quick
little buggers.
>just sprinkle some flakes on the top and the marine fish will eat them
>just like freshwater fish do.
Sort of, see above.
>
>So, what do you recommend? And for the damsels I'll be cycling my tank
>with, what do you recommend for them?
>
A mixure of flake food, fresh/frozen shrimp & clams (the kind people
eat) and fresh/frozen brine shrimp. Mix it up. Don't stick with any one
food too long (like 3 days or so). Like to feed flake on monday, frozen
shrimp/clam/lettuce balls on wednesday and whichever on friday. As soon as
I find a good place for live adult brine shrimp, I'll be feeding that too.
>Thanks!
>cindi
>--
>
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+ Happiness, n.: An agreeable sensation arising from contemplating the +
+ misery of another. +
+ -- Ambrose Bierce, "The Devil's Dictionary" +
Mike
> The books I have say that, regardless of whether I feed flake food,
> pellets, frozen or fresh, to my fish (actually I don't have any fish
> yet...) that I should hold the food between my fingers and swish it
> around in front of the fish and try to get them to eat from my hand. The
> book says that most marine fish won't eat something that just floats on
> the top of the tank for a while and then sinks...
>
> However, the pet store I just went to said that is baloney. They said
> just sprinkle some flakes on the top and the marine fish will eat them
> just like freshwater fish do.
I think both are wrong. I can't get my fish to eat flakes, they sometimes take
bite as it's dropping to the bottom, but they spit it out. Ture, that my
marine fish are MUCH pickier than my freshwater, but they will eat frozen brine
shrimp. I also feed the Prime Reef and Formula One (they LOVE both of them).
It also depends on the fish you keep. Tangs, and some trigger love romain
lettuce....
> So, what do you recommend? And for the damsels I'll be cycling my tank
> with, what do you recommend for them?
Damsels will eat frozen brine shrimp like there's no tomorrow. In my
experience, that are no pickey at all.
Mike
:-----------------------------:
:Hatred is not a family value!:
:-----------------------------:
ao...@asuvm.inre.asu.edu
>From: cin...@netcom.com (Cindi)
>Subject: [M] feeding marine fish
>Date: Thu, 19 Jan 1995 23:36:10 GMT
>Hi!
>The books I have say that, regardless of whether I feed flake food,
>pellets, frozen or fresh, to my fish (actually I don't have any fish
>yet...) that I should hold the food between my fingers and swish it
>around in front of the fish and try to get them to eat from my hand. The
>book says that most marine fish won't eat something that just floats on
>the top of the tank for a while and then sinks...
>However, the pet store I just went to said that is baloney. They said
>just sprinkle some flakes on the top and the marine fish will eat them
>just like freshwater fish do.
>So, what do you recommend? And for the damsels I'll be cycling my tank
>with, what do you recommend for them?
Hi Cindi,
Again, I would like to know what book you are reading. It is full of some
very strange and dated advice. Marine fish do not like to eat from the
surface, but most readily attack sinking food. Damsels eat ravenously and
should be fed, like most marine fish, a variety of flake and frozen foods with
occassional feedings of live brine fish
MIke Moore, TEmpe Az