Feeding patterns...

[Nanook]

I see a lot of threads in my local forum and in the main discussion forums where folks only feed their fish every other day, or a couple of days each week. Can some of the long-time fish keepers chime in on frequency of feeding for their fish? Also, maybe the types of food you consider "staples"?

Thanks!

 

[snorvich]

I normally feed three times per day, but a minimum of twice per day. I would normally feed frozen for two of the three times. I also feed nori every day (on a clip). I have been in the hobby since 1991.

 

[iFrag]

I feed once-twice every week. A good staple I recommend is "New Life Spectrum" pellets. I also like to occasionally feed mysis shrimp, half a clam and scallops.

 

[rduong89]

multiple times a day(pinch here and there). But some random days i dont feed. I recommend aquadine or new life spectrum.

 

[roktsintst]

I have been keeping SaltWater Fish for 5 years now. Like Steve, I found that multiple SMALL daily feedings is the best route to take. Fish need to be fed often as in their natural habitat, they eat all day long. This way, they can have multiple small meals per day and they can fatten up. A fat healthy strong fish is what you want!!! Just my Opinion...

 

[maynardjames]

I feed once-twice every week. A good staple I recommend is "New Life Spectrum" pellets. I also like to occasionally feed mysis shrimp, half a clam and scallops.

do you only eat once or twice a week?

 

[sedor]

I feed every day as well. Always once, sometimes twice. People skimp on their feeding schedules because they don't want to create nitrates in their system. I purposely overfeed because I dose vodka. I also feel that in the wild fish are eating constantly, its only natural to attempt to simulate that same pattern. Humans could survive on a every other or every couple of days feeding schedule, but we would suffer both physically and emotionally as a result.

 

[rort]

multiple times a day(pinch here and there). But some random days i dont feed. I recommend aquadine or new life spectrum.

random assortment/combo of
froze = brine, spirulina brine, hikari and ocean nutrition mysis, PE Mysis, Cyclopeez

Flakes, and different sized pellets.

 

[rydr119]

I always feed 2 to 3 times per day. I like to feed at random times as well. I feed mostly new life spectrum pellets. I mix it up once or twice a week with frozen mysis or brine shrimp plus or whatever i grab first our of the freezer. I also feed nori everyday. I think this type of feeding not only keeps any aggression that may occur down, but they would be eating all day in the wild why should t they in my tank as well.

 

[Nanook]

Thanks for the input so far!

 

[SDguy]

I feed every day. Lights come on at noon. I get home from work at 3:30pm. First everyone gets either flake or pellets. After several small feedings with this (spaced about 15-30 minutes apart), everyone gets some sort of frozen food (scallop, shrimp, mysis, PE mysis, Formula 1 or 2, etc...). Again, several small feedings spaced apart. On weekends, if I am home, they get fed all day long. Most all my fish are planktivores, and don't really pick off the rocks.

My FOWLR gets fed less often (still every day though), simply because the fish in there stuff themselves so quickly during even one feeding of pellets

 

[jmaneyapanda]

I too, feed many times a day. I cant stand the sight of thin and emaciated fish. You NEVER see fish like that in the ocean. They are dead and eaten. If these fish were regulated like some mammals were, the owners would be arrested for animal abuse.

In the AM, before I go to work, nori in the clip, and pellets. When I get back from work, flake. Thaw frozen and feed at dinnertime. And pellets once more before bed. Variety of all.

 

[stunreefer]

In the AM, before I go to work, nori in the clip, and pellets. When I get back from work, flake. Thaw frozen and feed at dinnertime. And pellets once more before bed. Variety of all.

Same here, except no flake... 4-6 times a day - frozen at least once a day.

Staples are:

- Spectrum pellets
- PE Mysis
- Nori

Two to three times a week I'll toss some Rod's Food and/or O.N. angel formula for sponge content (angels ).

 

[Nanook]

Most folks that see me feed just laugh:wildone: I usually feed daily a couple times per day, sometimes three.

I generally feed a large portion of PE Mysis and Hikari Mysis shrimp each day. I also feed NLS pellets of three sizes. I also throw some Formula II and/or Nori in each day. Then I have a few different meaty foods like Krill, scallop and Rod's food I throw in. I do thaw my frozen foods first to drain the excess water.

 

[SDguy]

Just to clarify, my staples are NLS pellets, ON flakes, raw shrimp and scallop from the grocery store.

Other less frequent frozen treats are ON Formula 1 and 2, plankton, various forms of mysis.

 

[snorvich]

Most folks that see me feed just laugh:wildone: I usually feed daily a couple times per day, sometimes three.

I generally feed a large portion of PE Mysis and Hikari Mysis shrimp each day. I also feed NLS pellets of three sizes. I also throw some Formula II and/or Nori in each day. Then I have a few different meaty foods like Krill, scallop and Rod's food I throw in. I do thaw my frozen foods first to drain the excess water.

I forgot, but once mentioned above, I want to say that I DO thaw and drain all frozen food. I feel strongly about that as the water in many frozen foods contains stuff I want to avoid.

 

[SDguy]

I forgot, but once mentioned above, I want to say that I DO thaw and drain all frozen food. I feel strongly about that as the water in many frozen foods contains stuff I want to avoid.

+1. I don't buy the whole "but you're washing away the vitamins" argument

 

[iFrag]

do you only eat once or twice a week?

Why do you ask such a stupid question? The fish wont die, there are plenty of algae and a good population of pods in there for them to graze on; the LR is atleast 10 years old and all the fish are healthy and my nitrates are always in check. So why bother feeding them everyday? Its been working for me for the past 5 years, I have no problem feeding my fish everyday but all it is doing is making the nitrates go up.

 

[SDguy]

Why do you ask such a stupid question? The fish wont die, there are plenty of algae and a good population of pods in there for them to graze on; the LR is at least 10 years old and all the fish are healthy and my nitrates are always in check. So why bother feeding them everyday? Its been working for me for the past 5 years, I have no problem feeding my fish everyday but all it is doing is making the nitrates go up.

1. I don't think it's a stupid question. If you have one tang in a huge tank full of algae, fine, I can see not feeding as often. It really depends on the types of fish you have, and I hope more people elaborate on this point in their posts for this thread, for clarification purposes.

2. IMO if you can't feed your fish every day due to resulting tank problems , then you do not have a properly setup/maintained aquarium. Depending on species being kept, of course....

 

[Nanook]

Why do you ask such a stupid question? The fish wont die, there are plenty of algae and a good population of pods in there for them to graze on; the LR is atleast 10 years old and all the fish are healthy and my nitrates are always in check. So why bother feeding them everyday? Its been working for me for the past 5 years, I have no problem feeding my fish everyday but all it is doing is making the nitrates go up.

This is exactly the type of reasoning that I am trying to counter or support from the veteran fishkeepers (15-30 year folks).