Help how much to feed??

C

carlna

Registered Member
Aug 11, 2006
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Hi! I'm a newbie. I've started a fresh water tank (44 gallon). Talked extensively with a local run aquarium store about set up (added plant food for the live plants; aquarium salt; and of course stress coat) and research types of fish for that size of tank. Also was able to use some of their water in the bags the plants were in and used 2 rocks out of their tanks... So hopefully that will help the new tank. I brought a sample of the water into the store yesterday and they said it looked great and we could add fish. They suggested we go with 6 (3 neon Barbs, and 3 long fin rosy barbs) as they tend to be a hardy fish. I added "Cycle" to the water last night. But my question is how much do I feed? I bought the flake food they recommended and also a frozen brine shrimp. The back of the flake food says to feed them 2-3 times for day for what they'll eat over 2-4 minutes... Huh? So is that two pinches of flakes? I dont want to overfeed... but also dont want to underfeed. Any advice would be sooooo appreciated. Thanks!!
 
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Hi,

I would only feed your fish once a day, as much as they can eat within 4 or 5 minutes. Don't believe everything you read ;). Your tank MAY cycle with the additions of your new fish, or if your lucky and have enough beneficial bacteria, it may not (this bacteria will come from whatever substances you managed to aquire from LFS from the old tank for your new tank). I will tell you now that "cycle" does absolutly nothing to help cycle your tank. It is a big waste of money. Make sure to get a freshwater master test kit, and test daily for ammonia and nitrite in case your tank cycles. If it does, do compensatory water changes to help keep levels down and treat your water with "prime" to help detoxify the ammonia and nitrites. Good luck.

Sandy
 
Once a day, no more than they will eat in 1 minute.

"Cycle" does more harm than good - it's the wrong type of bacteria.

Aquarium salt also does more long term harm than actual good - it shortens the lifespans of your fish and it is possible to get salt resisitant diseases in your tank (the whole reason why salt is suposed to "benifiit" the fish).

cycling a tank Read the link, and go purchase your own test kit, your gonna need it. Use water changes to take care of any and all ammonia/nitrite that comes up on your test kit.
 
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most small community fish are constantly feeding in the wild, that means that in captivity you need to simulate this (it is what their digestive system is made to handle) so multiple feedings every day of small amounts, eaten in about 3 minutes depending on how fast they eat, is the best way to keep them happy and properly fed. i feed about twice a day, but if you can feed 2-3 (or even more) times a day you will be simulating their natural feeding habits most accurately. these fish arent made to only get food once a day. although most barbs can take down quite a bit of food in a feeding, it isnt the best thing for them (and dictates that if their stomach is very large after eating, you need to cut down a little). i cant say exactly how much to feed at every feeding, it takes a little trial and error to see what your tank needs, and it will change every time your fish population changes and as they get bigger.
 
i agree with dorkfish. ONLY use salt when there is a problem, not as a preventative. it stresses the fish, inhibits plant growth, and creates resistant diseases. if you see a problem starting, THEN add salt. don't keep it in the tank all the time.

and the only kind of "bottled bacteria" that works is Biospira. its kind of expensive and hard to find though, but it REALLY works if you can find it. make sure its kept refrigerated (not frozen) at the store and that you keep it cold on the way home, and put it in your home fridge until your ready to use it. the cold keeps the bacteria in a dormant state so they don't run out of food in the packet and die.
 
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