Wolverine and others....
- Thread starter danorth
- Start date
Here is a picture to maybe help explain what and why I am asking.
See how fat the gut is? Full figured if you will. Mine only has a body like that if I feed it really heavy every day. Is that what I'm supposed to do? Same with my queen angel and coris. The bigger fish I have. They could easily eat 10 shrimp a day, again the pinky sized ones. If that is the case, I am going to have some water quality issues perhaps in the near future.
See how fat the gut is? Full figured if you will. Mine only has a body like that if I feed it really heavy every day. Is that what I'm supposed to do? Same with my queen angel and coris. The bigger fish I have. They could easily eat 10 shrimp a day, again the pinky sized ones. If that is the case, I am going to have some water quality issues perhaps in the near future.
Mike5252
New member
I wouldn't feed that much!
Keep in mind, a triggerfish's instinct is to eat when there is the opportunity. However, in captivity, they do not get nearly the exercise as they do in the wild. I keep my trigger fish full but not bloated (as seen above).
Overfeeding can result in health issues not to mention water quality issues. (fatty livers, etc)
Keep in mind, a triggerfish's instinct is to eat when there is the opportunity. However, in captivity, they do not get nearly the exercise as they do in the wild. I keep my trigger fish full but not bloated (as seen above).
Overfeeding can result in health issues not to mention water quality issues. (fatty livers, etc)
So if they are big like that in the wild, shouldn't I keep them something like that in my tank? I know it doesn't have 100s of yards to swim, but it does 100s of laps a day in the tank. I don't know if the calorie restriction is good for them. That one in the pic doesn't look bloated though, just healthy. I've seen bloated, got pics of it at home where the gut is twice as wide as the back. That isn't healthy I'm sure and didn't feed it like that again.
Mike5252
New member
I wouldn't call it 'calorie restriction'.
Both my triggers, clown and picasso, eat about 1-2 pieces of krill, squid, silversides, or shrimp every 1-2 days This is supplemented with various pellet food and greens in between. Actually I haven't found anything they won't eat.
I guess as I type it out, it seems like a lot, but I don't think they are overfed.
Looking at your pic again, I guess it's not so much bloated as I said before. But I would have to think that a captive fish should consume less than a wild one.
Both my triggers, clown and picasso, eat about 1-2 pieces of krill, squid, silversides, or shrimp every 1-2 days This is supplemented with various pellet food and greens in between. Actually I haven't found anything they won't eat.
I guess as I type it out, it seems like a lot, but I don't think they are overfed.
Looking at your pic again, I guess it's not so much bloated as I said before. But I would have to think that a captive fish should consume less than a wild one.
Wolverine
Premium Member
I agree with Mike that it's good to feed them until full. They don't need to get to that full bloated level. They'll eat until you stop feeding them. As for nitrates, I know some will disagree with me, but I've seen them in the 400+ range for years in FOWLR tanks without any apparent ill-effects on the fish.
I hope that's not a real feather-star in the tank in that pic (I've seen them in that color). If it is, it might be in trouble.
I hope that's not a real feather-star in the tank in that pic (I've seen them in that color). If it is, it might be in trouble.
JustinReef
New member
I think thats the ocean, not a tank...could be wrong though.
JustinReef
New member
I have actually never seen feather stars in peoples tanks, only on dives. Are people actually keeping them?
Sorry...WAY off topic.
Sorry...WAY off topic.
Shoot, I wish my clown was that big, and even more that my tank was that big....but that is the ocean.
The other concern is the impact that nitrates can have on coraline development. That is my goal with this new tank and I don't want to ruin my chances with nitrates. I have a big skimmer and a big growing tumbling ball of green spagetti under a light. So I will keep feeding properly and check my water chemistry. Thanks for the input.
The other concern is the impact that nitrates can have on coraline development. That is my goal with this new tank and I don't want to ruin my chances with nitrates. I have a big skimmer and a big growing tumbling ball of green spagetti under a light. So I will keep feeding properly and check my water chemistry. Thanks for the input.
sean48183
New member
That's a bit much on the corraline.
I use hair algae to consume my nitrates as I feed my fish 3 times daily as well as 2 sheets of nori and collard greens. I grow massive amounts of hair algae in my fuge and prune it every couple weeks. Tried chaeto, caulerpa and other macros but they couldn't keep up or were consumed by the hair algae. The trick is to grow it somewhere other than your main tank. My nitrates are around 10ppm which I don't feel is too bad considering my feeding schedule.
I use hair algae to consume my nitrates as I feed my fish 3 times daily as well as 2 sheets of nori and collard greens. I grow massive amounts of hair algae in my fuge and prune it every couple weeks. Tried chaeto, caulerpa and other macros but they couldn't keep up or were consumed by the hair algae. The trick is to grow it somewhere other than your main tank. My nitrates are around 10ppm which I don't feel is too bad considering my feeding schedule.
