How long between feedings?

[JBinFla]

So in my small tank I have two clowns, one small tang and a goby. I'm working on my 75g so hopefully before the tang gets bigger (it's a baby, about 1.5" long) I'll have that I understand it's not right for the biocube but wifes permission for this whole aquatic adventure was necessary (her words: gotta have a dory).

Anyway so here I am and I feed these things as I've been instructed by LFS. I feed one cube (or about 3/4) every three days. I feel terrible as I see others feeding daily. The fish have done fine like this, so I just want to verify I'm not being cruel to my animals by going every three days. My tank is "okay" on the test, ammonia and nitrites don't show up I did have a spike (20ppm) of nitrates when I started feeding more regular so I'm thinking in order to have these fish in this tank I have to starve them. It bothers me. I have a 75g but it'll be a few months as I only have tank and stand and a lot on my plate (work, school, family!) so I'm finding things go slow.

So, what are your thoughts? The fish seem healthy, they are way more vibrant than at my LFS (and PetCo fish look like swimming death!) so they appear healthy to me, but if this were my dog I'd never go three days without food. Any insight into fish eating habits is appreciated and good animal husbandry. Thnks!

 

[woodnaquanut]

Um, I'll let the official Tang police comment about Dory in a small tank.

As to feeding, that is just not right. I feed between 3 and 5 times per day. Not much each time and it's all gone in a flash. Some of the feeding is done by autofeeder.

In the ocean fish eat all the time. Feast or famine is really unnatural. They'll get grumpy just like we would and become more aggressive.

Besides watching, feeding is one of the most fun aspects of the tank. Don't deprive yourself of the experience! Just don't feed much at a time.

Also, you might want to find a new LFS.

 

[snorvich]

Also, you might want to find a new LFS.

This.

 

[sreefs]

Great advice given by both! My regal went from 1" to over 6" in less than a year in my 135, just to let you know. He went to a 300 gallon 8 foot tank shortly after.

 

[o2manyfish]

Feed the cube every 3 day. But get yourself an assortment of other foods, that are easier to serve appropriate servings of. Get some different pellets, a flake food. And feed something different every day and a couple times of day. But something that you can easily portion for the # of fish in your tank.

Dave B

 

[AirForceAquariu]

Using a kitchen knofe to cut the cubes up isn't hard. That is what I did while I was stocking up slowly. Thirds and Halves are really easy to eyeball.

I also like to mix it up. Some flake (usually when I am in a hurry to leave for work) some mysis some brine and recently LRS Reef Frenzy (really easy to portion as it is one easily breakable frozen sheet).

 

[JBinFla]

Thanks guys I think I'll get some flake food for "in-between". I have been leaving strips of algae in there as all seem to like it but the Mysis and Krill they go crazy for but that also makes a mess. I'll have to speed up my 75g so maybe I can have it by end of Feb and start moving fish over. Although spring break is more likely as school is kicking my butt!

 

[Betta132]

Hit a frozen cube with a big spoon (while it's in a bag) and it crunches up into something that can easily be served.
Feed daily, especially since you have a baby fish. Baby fish need frequent feeding to be healthy.
A 75g isn't anywhere near enough room for a 'dory'. You may want to talk to your wife and impress upon her that keeping a tang in a small tank is like locking a greyhound in a room and never letting it out. Bad things happen to anything in the room, as well as how unhappy the critter in question is, and the fact that (with fish at least) stunting is pretty much inevitable.