So, I've had two skunk shrimp for a while now in qt with my clowns, every time I feed the tank no matter what I feed the larger skunk decimates most of the food, as soon as I walk up to the tank he's upside down on the surface of the water almost begging me to pour the brine shrimp right on his face. Is this a sign I'm not feeding enough? I'm putting in 1 cube of frozen brine shrimp a day for 2 shrimp and 2 clowns and there is usuly a few a couple shrimp still uneaten after 5-10 min. I get the 36 ct 1.75 oz Mini Cubes pack of this stuff from my lfs. Also so I'm not sure if it matters, but the big one and now the little one I think are carrying eggs. They have these green dots in the tail section where their "swimmer legs", as my wife calls them, are. The larger one has had them the 3-4 weeks we have had the shrimp and the smaller one has only had them less then a week.
Skunk shrimp, or should I say Piggy shrimp..
- Thread starter Drakon
- Start date
actually, that almost sounds like TOO much food. if you are seeing uneaten food, i would cut back.
what i do is thaw the frozen cubes in a tiny bit of tank water. then, i suck them up in a syringe (minus the needle, of course). i put the syringe just under the surface and squeeze a little out. after the fish have had enough, i squirt a tiny bit more in for the brittle star to scavenge for.
also, there isn't a whole lot of nutrition in brine shrimp. see if you can find the frozen mysis (it comes in the same sort of package). i feed both and also feed squid (again, comes in the same sort of package). i like to give a variety and it's fun to watch the fish pick out their favorites.
what i do is thaw the frozen cubes in a tiny bit of tank water. then, i suck them up in a syringe (minus the needle, of course). i put the syringe just under the surface and squeeze a little out. after the fish have had enough, i squirt a tiny bit more in for the brittle star to scavenge for.
also, there isn't a whole lot of nutrition in brine shrimp. see if you can find the frozen mysis (it comes in the same sort of package). i feed both and also feed squid (again, comes in the same sort of package). i like to give a variety and it's fun to watch the fish pick out their favorites.
Calappidae
Harlequin Shrimp
If you read the nutrition facts on it (similar to our foods) it will actually tell you what is in it.
For example, the brine your feeding them have: (if you read "more information" at that link)
4.7% protein
0.8% fat
0.5% fiber
92.0% moisture -more water then food in each cube by a long shot
I actually did the same thing until eventually an LFS employee pointed out that the food I was feeding was lacking and showed me the back of it.
Dodgy Russian
New member
I think that you need to feed twice a day at a minimum only enough that each can eat in 5 minutes in each feeding. Feed a variety so all frquirements are catered for the brittle star will appreciate a raw shrimp or clam twice a week along with leftovers from the clowns. The cleaner shrimp always learn to beg for food, mine prefer to be hand fed with raw fish.
