Do I need to ghost feed?

[jderimig]

I have set up a 55gal with LR and boosted the cycle with shrimp. Ammonia and nitrites went to 0, did a water change and added 5 small hermits and 3 snails this weekend.

I am waiting for my QT to finish its cycle before I add fish. This will be at least a month before they ever get to the DT.

Do I need to ghost feed the DT while the tank is fishless to keep bacteria levels up?

 

[nlgill13]

Did you ever have a spike in ammonia....if so, no you don't need to ghost feed.

 

[jderimig]

Did you ever have a spike in ammonia....if so, no you don't need to ghost feed.

Thanks.

Yes it rose to between 0.5 and 1ppm and dropped to zero with some dead shrimp still in the tank. Then I removed the gross remnants and did a water change.

 

[leveldrummer]

no you dont need to ghost feed, there are live animals currently living in the tank that will keep the bacteria supported. when you decide to add fish, make sure you do it slowly.

 

[chicagoreefer20]

Its kind of fun to feed the hermit crabs. Before I had fish, I would drop some pellets near the hermit crabs and they would scurry over and grab the food. Was surprisingly entertaining.

 

[snorvich]

Its kind of fun to feed the hermit crabs. Before I had fish, I would drop some pellets near the hermit crabs and they would scurry over and grab the food. Was surprisingly entertaining.

until, of course, they kill your snails.