feeding fish question

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ms_cori

ms_cori

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Apr 29, 2006
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i have 2 swordtails and 5 platys. the problem i have is feeding. i've read so many different things about it. i was feeding them several small amounts a day. then i read that i was probably overfeeding them. so now i'm trying to feed them only once or twice a day. now the problem, they're all in the corner where i feed them, looking for food. when they see me start walking, or they see me where i'm sitting, they line up and look at me. it breaks my heart. i don't want to overfeed them, but, i don't want them starving either. when i was feeding them several times a day, they weren't looking for food like they are now. is it just out of habit, being used to eating several times a day or are they actually hungry? any opinions would be appreciated.
 
jwddboy

jwddboy

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Apr 8, 2006
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Fish will always beg for food even when not hungry. I'd advise a maximum of 1 feeding per day.
 
ms_cori

ms_cori

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Apr 29, 2006
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thank you. that's exactly what i was wondering about. i'll feed them once a day no matter how much they beg. it won't be easy though. :)
 
C

CJC

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Apr 14, 2006
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I have platies and it doesn't matter what corner of the tank you go to, they will follow b/c you are the "feeder" and the "care giver". My platies are very social w/ me, and when I turn the lights on they automatically know that it is feeding time. When I turn the filters off to do a good cleaning, the know it too, and when I have my hand or arm in the tank, they weave around my fingers or nip at my arms.

I usually feed them once a day, and that is in the evenings. I don't believe you are starving them, they are just beggers!

Hope this helps you out!
 
ms_cori

ms_cori

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Apr 29, 2006
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thank you. it does help alot. evening feedings sound good to me. and i should feed them as much as they will eat in 5 minutes?
 
jwddboy

jwddboy

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Apr 8, 2006
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as much as they will eat in 30seconds - 1Min is as much as you should.
 
dorkfish

dorkfish

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Jul 25, 2005
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30s should be the max, 1min is a little exessive, personally I feed about a pinch of food wich is eaten within 5-10s in the majority of my tanks.

also, you should feeed any veggies/fruit/marine seafood your fish will eat atleast once a week, this gives them a WAY better and varied diet.
 
C

CJC

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I agree, I only feed what they will eat w/ in 30 seconds, sometimes I do give slightly larger amounts of time due to the fry coming up out of the decor (not used to the schedule yet).

Dorkfish is right, I sometimes give them zucchini (spelling?), espcially when I had my bristlenose algae eater. I don't do much else other than that.
 
ms_cori

ms_cori

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Apr 29, 2006
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30 seconds to 1 minute? i guess that probably is about right. thinking to when i feed them, they do gobble the food down pretty quick. i'll pay alot closer attention to the time factor. maybe i wasn't only feeding them too often, but too much. that would explain having to change my filter so often. thanks for the info.
 
R

Ray Pollett

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Jun 6, 2003
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While the amounts they are telling you is correct - I disagree with the number of feedings a day. Those fish should be feed no less than 3 times a day. 4 is even better. Fish use the energy from the food up in a surpriseing short period of time.
 
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