Ruby Red Dragonet

[fernalfer]

How exactly do you tell if dragonet is eating? I have mine in QT tank with 1 rock. I added pods and also feed artic pods every day. I do see him pecking constantly but can't tell if he is actually eating anything. He also perks up and becomes active when i add the artic pods yet i don't really see him eat. Now he has been in QT for 10 days now and still active so i assume he is eating something.

I just want to make sure he is eating well before i start Tank Transfer Method and Prazipro.

Should i assume he is eating because he is actively pecking and moving about the tank.

 

[MondoBongo]

since the food they eat is so small, it can be really difficult.

if they're foraging, i.e. pecking around, then i assume that they're eating. they're very good at identifying and getting the benthic critters they typically subsist on. when they're not pecking around, that's when you should worry.

now their weight and body condition are a great indicator if they're eating, but that is very much a lagging indicator, taking days, weeks, or sometimes even months to show significant changes depending on the conditions.

try giving him something a little bigger for food. freshly hatched baby brine shrimp are great for this, and usually dragonets like them. also live white worms and live black worms make great food sources. i've yet to meet a dragonet that will pass up either of those. you can also try some frozen foods, although don't be surprised if they're ignored. with the exception of nutramar ova (which you can finally get again, hooray!) my dragons are typically ambivalent to anything i offer.

 

[laga77]

since the food they eat is so small, it can be really difficult.

if they're foraging, i.e. pecking around, then i assume that they're eating. they're very good at identifying and getting the benthic critters they typically subsist on. when they're not pecking around, that's when you should worry.

now their weight and body condition are a great indicator if they're eating, but that is very much a lagging indicator, taking days, weeks, or sometimes even months to show significant changes depending on the conditions.

try giving him something a little bigger for food. freshly hatched baby brine shrimp are great for this, and usually dragonets like them. also live white worms and live black worms make great food sources. i've yet to meet a dragonet that will pass up either of those. you can also try some frozen foods, although don't be surprised if they're ignored. with the exception of nutramar ova (which you can finally get again, hooray!) my dragons are typically ambivalent to anything i offer.

I have seen all 8 of my Dragonets eat a whole live worm the length of their body. Worms and Ova are the best supplemental food for them out there. When starting out cut up the worms into smaller pieces so they are more likely to accept and gently squirt with baster in front of them. You can also feed fish eggs from LRS.