How Much To Feed This Tank?

[boon4376]

Hi Everyone,

I'm just trying to get settled on how much I need to feed these fish. I'm terrified of over-feeding them - but a few of my fish have died this week, and I am wondering if it's possible they are under or over-fed?

Right now I have:

• 1 balloon molly
• 3 guppies
• 1 male betta
• 3 x-ray tetra
• 6 leopard danios

I have been feeding them a pinch or two of aqueon color enhancing tropical flakes once a day to once every other day.

They devour all of the flakes within about 30 seconds.

Am I underfeeding? How much (in teaspoons) would you recommend I feed?

Thanks,

 

[Slappy*McFish]

A pinch of flakes about the size and thickness of a quarter should be about right if feeding once a day. How long has this tank been running and is it cycled?

 

[boon4376]

A pinch of flakes about the size and thickness of a quarter should be about right if feeding once a day. How long has this tank been running and is it cycled?

The tank has been running for about 3 weeks - a week ago, I the water tested at the pet store and it all came back "great". They tested ph, amonia, nitrates, copper.

Coincidentally - the fishes that have died (a creamscicle molly, and two cobra guppies), have fins the same color as the fish food flakes - and I was starting to notice some tears in them. I was worried the fish were so hungry that they were trying to eat those fish and thats why they died. I have found the 3 cobra guppies all fin-less when they are dead. The danios were pretty mean to the creamscicle molly...

 

[lateinningmagic]

Depending on how the fish were introduced, i.e. one at a time or all at once; its possible your tank is not cycled. In fact, I'm willing to bet it isn't. If you had your tank tested 2 weeks into your stocking and you added many fish afterwards then they probably created an ammonia spike. You should really have your own testing kit, having your LFS test your water can get expensive, especially since it seems that your tank isn't cycled and you need daily testing until it has cycled. Once it's properly cycled you only need to test about once a week.

 

[Slappy*McFish]

I agree. Your tank likely has just begun the cycle and the new fish kick-started it by adding an ammonia source. Get a good liquid test kit (API) and test your ammonia, nitrites and nitrates, yourself.

 

[boon4376]

Ok, thanks for the testing information.

So everyone is in agreement that a quarter sized pinch of flakes once a day is appropriate?

 

[jpappy789]

It may be better to limit feeding if you are still in the middle of a cycle, or at least in theory that would lessen the load in terms of needing to do more than regular water changes. Definitely get a test kit of your own though so you know exactly where you stand in terms of ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate. The API test kit is probably most commonly used.

 

[tanker]

So everyone is in agreement that a quarter sized pinch of flakes once a day is appropriate?

Not quarter size, "a pinch the thickness of a quarter". and I even think that maybe too much.

 

[Glabe]

aside from the cycling, keep an eye on that betta. your casualties are prime victims of brutal betta brutality, or BBB.