Determining how much/often to feed your fish

[Fmellish]

I struggle with this topic. First the animals in question:

My pets:
3" - Resplendent Anthias
3" - Salifin tang
1.5" - Pajama Cardinal
1.5" - Pajama Cardinal
1" - Percula Clown
2" - Ocellaris
1" - six line wrasse
12" - Long Tentacle Anemone (hosting perc)
4" - Sand sifting star
6" - Brittle Star
(10) - Turbo snails
(4) - Cortez hermit crabs


I currently feed 2-3 times a day a small amount each time. I am motivated to reduce the feedings down to only one a day, but I don't think the fish will tolerate it. If I can't, how much do I feed each feeding? Each feeding so far consists of mysis shrimp, cyclopeeze, and nori every other day on a clip.

Below are the general observations I need to consider when determining the correct practices for feeding my fish.


- It is recommended in text that some of my fish require 3-4 feedings per day.

- It is recommended in text that some of my fish only require one feeding per day.

- It is recommended by the community and water quality research to only feed my fish how much they can consume in 3-5 minutes.

- My fish could eat 3 cubes of mysis shrimp in 5 minutes.

- My fish get frantic when I walk up to the tank, they act as if I've never fed them.

- If I go for the recommended "several times a day" method, but use smaller portions, (1/3 - 1/2 cube mysis per feeding), then each feeding is finished in 20 seconds, not 3-5 minutes.

- If I go for the recommended "several times a day" method, but use a portion sized to take 3-5 minutes to eat, there will undoubtedly be more cost involved in feeding the fish and more nutrients in my water.

- I've had an Anthias die after not feeding the tank for one day. Maybe the fish was sick already, but starving clearly pushed the fish over the edge.

- I feel like only one feeding per day will starve them based on how they are so excited to see me at the tank glass.

- Some people feed only once per day.

- Some pets such as a six line wrasse and tang should be able to get some nurishment from the algaes and pods on my live rock, however they are voracious eaters with large appetites.


So what do you all think?

Thanks
Josh

 

[whiirly]

I feed on MON/WED/FRI and thats all one time each of those days

 

[clown2be]

I feed once a day or everyother day. I watch the wait of my fish to help with how much I need to feed. If my fish are getting fat then I cut back on food. To thin and I increase food. The older your tank gets the more natural food from the reef you fish can feed on.

 

[km133688]

I feed based on my schedule. this means twice a day, once in the morning, once in the evening. I feed 3 or 4 times/day on the weekends. The again I have seahorses too so they need to eat often. Still, I like to feed my fish and tank, it is fun. Get a phosban reactor and then you won't have to worry about overfeading as much.

Good luck, Kevin

 

[cweder]

You may get by with once a day, except for your anthias. Need someone with more knowledge to chime in on those. My fish are happy to eat 2 or 3 times a day, but I am trying to cut back to once a day also.