Aggressive eater - Melanurus Wrasse

[Nrupaw]

I currently have 2 firefish gobys and 1 Melanurus Wrasse in my tank (IM 38 Nuvo). The issue i am facing is at feeding time. The Melanurus is a much more Aggressive eater compared to the Firefish.

Any food (mainly NLS pellets, and Mysis) i put in the tank gets gobbled up by the Melanurus. He doesn't even give a chance for the firefish to eat. He will often chase the Firefish away from the food and eat it himself.


- I have tried to feed the Wrasse first and then put in more food for the firefish... but he goes after that too
- I have tried putting food in opposite ends of the tank to keep the wrasse away from the firefish but he will eat on his side and dash over to the other side.

the result of all this is that i think i have been overfeeding the tank and this has led to increase in wastage and is throwing my water parameters out of whack. I am not happy about that!

Other than that the wrasse has been a model citizen. doesn't nip at corals or bully the firefish. He just turns into a monster at feeding time.

Anyone else deal with a similar problem? any ideas on how i can tackle this?

 

[3dees]

do you turn your pumps off when feeding? I leave everything running so the food goes all over the tank. my piggish foxface and melanurus can't be everywhere at once. I don't have firefish but my three darts all get enough food.

 

[Nrupaw]

do you turn your pumps off when feeding? I leave everything running so the food goes all over the tank. my piggish foxface and melanurus can't be everywhere at once. I don't have firefish but my three darts all get enough food.

Yup i do turn off my pumps when i feed. i don't think i actually have ever fed with pumps on.... Pellets float so i always figured that if i fed with pumps on, the food would just end up in the overflows

 

[Maxxingout]

My Melanurus is nuts during feeding time! He'll actually hoard food in his mouth till he gets to his eating spot. Then spits it out and eats it bit by bit.

I actually leave my pumps on for a few seconds to move the food around with flow. This way all fish have a chance when I turn the pumps off.

 

[Nrupaw]

My Melanurus is nuts during feeding time! He'll actually hoard food in his mouth till he gets to his eating spot. Then spits it out and eats it bit by bit.

I actually leave my pumps on for a few seconds to move the food around with flow. This way all fish have a chance when I turn the pumps off.

Yeah mine does the same thing. Grabs all the food, goes to his little cave/hiding spot, gulps it down, and comes back for more.

Guess its their instinct.

 

[scooter31707]

with the pellets try putting them in a little water before putting them in the tank so they will sink faster before he can get all of them. With Mysis try and putting some on 1 side of the tank to keep him busy and place some down by the firefish. Might have to use a Turkey Blaster.

 

[Nrupaw]

with the pellets try putting them in a little water before putting them in the tank so they will sink faster before he can get all of them. With Mysis try and putting some on 1 side of the tank to keep him busy and place some down by the firefish. Might have to use a Turkey Blaster.

Yup, this is exactly what my LFS suggested... been doing that. Been using a turkey baster to feed in separate corners of the tank. But the damn wrasse tries to cover each corner. hell, he even starts chomping at the turkey blaster even before i have squirted the food out!

 

[Nrupaw]

My Melanurus is nuts during feeding time! He'll actually hoard food in his mouth till he gets to his eating spot. Then spits it out and eats it bit by bit.

I actually leave my pumps on for a few seconds to move the food around with flow. This way all fish have a chance when I turn the pumps off.

This idea actually helped me. Usually i turn off all pumps for a bit to feed the fish. this time i hit the Feed mode on the Vortech instead and then fed the fish. The flow does move the food around and gives all fish a chance to eat.

Simple idea but it seems to be effective. wonder why i didn't think about it! :facepalm:

 

[ca1ore]

In addition, many fish are conditioned to respond more aggressively to food that is moving (trying to escape). Turning pumps off to feed is one of those common practices that never made any sense to me.

 

[Nrupaw]

In addition, many fish are conditioned to respond more aggressively to food that is moving (trying to escape). Turning pumps off to feed is one of those common practices that never made any sense to me.

Turning pumps off is something from my fresh water days. My dad always does it... so its been a habit for me for as long as i can remember to turn pumps off before feeding.

i still find it weird when pumps are left on :eek1:

 

[benjc]

Try feeding smaller food for the firefish. Frozen cyclopeeze is too small for the wrasse to hoard.

 

[Nrupaw]

Try feeding smaller food for the firefish. Frozen cyclopeeze is too small for the wrasse to hoard.

Yeah I have introduced broadcast feeding h2o's coral food. I believe it's frozen Rotifers I think. The firefish go after that and the wrasse goes after the meatier food. But I wonder if this food is any nutritious. Plus I hate broadcast feeding tiny food... I always feel that I am polluting the water with any uneaten food