How long of wait to feed fish for 1st time?
- Thread starter FaFaFooey
- Start date
Tiger barbs are pigs on fin and will pretty much eat anything, anytime they can find something to fit in their mouths, actually even if they can't fit it in their mouths they will try to eat it. They try to eat me--and I don't even fit in the tank.
I'd make sure to soak the food in a little tank water before giving it to them, as they can get swimbladder problems from gulping air while pigging out on floating flakes. Overfeed them and they will get bloated and have problems swimming. I'd feed them this morning, just a little.
Have you cycled the tank? My tigers did make it through a fishy cycle, as I didn't know any better :red:, but now I do I know how important it is to test the water and change it frequently.
I'd make sure to soak the food in a little tank water before giving it to them, as they can get swimbladder problems from gulping air while pigging out on floating flakes. Overfeed them and they will get bloated and have problems swimming. I'd feed them this morning, just a little.
Have you cycled the tank? My tigers did make it through a fishy cycle, as I didn't know any better :red:, but now I do I know how important it is to test the water and change it frequently.
I've been told a few things from my LFS then what you guys are saying. They told me to cycle it with fish. I checked my numbers and they are at 0 and I threw in with the fishbthat Bio Spira (sp?) bacteria to quicken the cycle. They also told me to wait a day on feeding new fish. They didn't say anything about saoking the food, but looking at the size of these flakes that doesn't seem like a bad idea. Is there anything elsse I should know? Thank you guys for your input.
homer3d455840 said:
Ya i agree i give them a little food when ya first get them, if they want it they can take it but if they are still in shock and want nothin to do with it just take it out of the tank with a net
Birospira jump starts the cycle, but you still need to keep testing to make sure it took. You will know it worked when you see 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, and some nitrates. Sometimes birospira doesn't work, as it is alive it can die due to mishandling.
As for tiger barbs, it is nice to have some plants or decorations for them to hide in, as smaller/weaker barbs will be chased. They also like open space to chase each other around.
Oh and they always act like they are hungry--don't be fooled they don't need more food. When I come to look at them they all come to the top for food, even if I've just fed them.
As for tiger barbs, it is nice to have some plants or decorations for them to hide in, as smaller/weaker barbs will be chased. They also like open space to chase each other around.
Oh and they always act like they are hungry--don't be fooled they don't need more food. When I come to look at them they all come to the top for food, even if I've just fed them.
i would wait until the next day ... There really is no need to feed them and they were probably fed at the LFS that day anyways.
If you are cycling the tank with BioSpira you should contrl how much you feed them...
When I was cycling like that I fed my fish once every second day.
If you are cycling the tank with BioSpira you should contrl how much you feed them...
When I was cycling like that I fed my fish once every second day.
I agree with Twig. I wouldn't feed new fish the same day they are introduced. Because they need to use energy to deal with stress and osmoregulation, they have less available for digestion. It's called the Energy Budget. In fact, feeding fish that are under stress (if they will take food, that is) can put them over that Budget and result in problems. Besides, fish can go weeks without food so will be fine until the next day.twig said:
Like twig, when I cycle (or go through mini-cycles due to additions of new fish), I reduce feedings to once every two or three days. It reduces the frequency of water changes needed. Otherwise you end up having to do water changes once or twice a day! Save yourself the work. Your fish will be just fine, don't worry about them going hungry. It's amazing how much metabolic energy they save by not having to produce body heat like mammals and birds!