Feeding my False Percula mysis only?

[virginiadiver69]

I have had my clowns in QT for 5 weeks and will be adding them to my display today. I have fed them mysis only so far. My display is young so there is not a lot of pods or algae. Should I mix it up a little or will the mysis only do?
P.S. I did read the FAQ sticky but not see an answer to this particular question.

 

[OrionN]

IMO, a good flake food diet is better than Mysis for clowns. I rarely feed my froxen mysis.

 

[davocean]

I think variety is good for all livestock, and mix it up a bit.
Mysis/cyclopeez every other day, flakes the other, nori for tangs which my clown also nibbles.

 

[Amphiprion]

Variety is important. For clownfish, I also suggest a diet with extra algal matter included.

 

[cschweitzer]

Clowns are omnivores, so they'll eat just about anything. I would keep the diet varied, though. Do not just feed mysis, because although it is a great energy source for the clowns, they need some of the veggies once in a while to thrive. Formula 1 is mixed formula specifically designed towards clownfish, but once in a while formula 2(herbavore food), spirulina, flakes, or pellets is a good switch for them. Mysis is fed to all my corals, anems, and clowns most nights, but I add garlic and selcon to complete the mysis's beneficialuse for all of my things. I feed pellets when the lights come on, though.

In the wild, I think close to 40% of their food is algae(could be lower or higher...if anyone has Frank Hoff's book they can correct this for me...) and most of the other part is pods, like copepods, amphipods, etc, which mysis will be a fair substitute for.

 

[virginiadiver69]

When you do your flakes do you just sprinkle them dry onto the surface or rehydrate them first?
What about vitamin supplements?

 

[davocean]

I just sprinkle on top.
Garlic and selcon seem to be the most popular choice for supplement.

 

[Amphiprion]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9646364#post9646364 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cschweitzer
Clowns are omnivores, so they'll eat just about anything. I would keep the diet varied, though. Do not just feed mysis, because although it is a great energy source for the clowns, they need some of the veggies once in a while to thrive. Formula 1 is mixed formula specifically designed towards clownfish, but once in a while formula 2(herbavore food), spirulina, flakes, or pellets is a good switch for them. Mysis is fed to all my corals, anems, and clowns most nights, but I add garlic and selcon to complete the mysis's beneficialuse for all of my things. I feed pellets when the lights come on, though.

In the wild, I think close to 40% of their food is algae(could be lower or higher...if anyone has Frank Hoff's book they can correct this for me...) and most of the other part is pods, like copepods, amphipods, etc, which mysis will be a fair substitute for.

I don't have that book, but I can tell you that it is up to 50% in some species. A. percula has around 25%. However, these values vary, but it is safe to say that plenty of algae is important.

 

[OrionN]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9646369#post9646369 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by virginiadiver69
When you do your flakes do you just sprinkle them dry onto the surface or rehydrate them first?
What about vitamin supplements?

I use Omega One super color, ORAGlo and and Cyclop-reez. I only rarely feed Frozen Mysis.
I put the dry food into a cup mix it with water from the tank and use a dropper to squirt it into the tank. I squirt it slowly out and none of the food get farther than two or three inches from the dropper. It is a long plastic disposable lab dropper that I cut the tip off to get a wide tip, about 3/16 inches.
I have my tank in my office so I feed them at least two times a day, Monday-Friday. Only rarely, I feed them on weekend. I have some frozen Mysis but have not use all of the package in 6+ month.

 

[virginiadiver69]

Thank you all. This has all been some very good info. I just added my clown pair to the display today and I can see why everybody loves these fish so much.