how much to feed?

what do you suggest..just get me in the ballpark.

4 small fish 1.5 to 2.0 inches
blue tang
wrasse
purple flame
clown
and a couple of cleaner shrimp and a couple of crabs...and the star fish.
Cleaner crew

Currently feeding twice a day 1/4 tsp. flake and every other day 1/4 tsp flake and about 1/2 tsp shrimp.x2
They always seem hungry??
I dont want the troubles of over feeding but I also do not want them to be hungry..

btw
I give my GBT a small piece of salad shrimp once a week.
Thanx in advance.

 

The way I feed my fish all depends on the fish. Some fish need to be fed 2-3 times a day and some can go a couple of days without food. I stopped feeding flake b/c supposedly I was told that frozen is better. I feed my creatures (2) frozen cubes(mix and match) and two small sheets of seaweed sheets daily. Every Sat. I skip one of the cubes and feed them mosquito larve. I feed every day. Do some research on the feeding habits of each fish and feed accordingly.

 

BTW, blue tangs require tanks at least 100g. Great excuse to up-grade

 

Fish will always seem to be hungry and will congregate around the top of your tank as if their is a fire, in hopes that you will feed them. You could do this every five minutes and the same response will be evident. TRUST ME THEY WILL NOT GO HUNGRY AND STARVE by feeding small amounts 2-3 times a day or even missing a day or so. Besides their is an abundance of food that we may or not be able to see in our tanks residing in and on the live rock and sand for them to graze and pick on.
Also I would try and offer vegetable matter as well as proteinaceous foods stuff such as FROZEN mysis and brine shrimp, squid, rotifers, daphnia, krill and even silversides that are cut up small to offer a variety and a beneficial staple to all your livestock!
It is best not to get in the habit of feeding too much to degrade your water...besides your livestock will do fine, and I would try to get out of the mindset that your fish are or will starve..you will see, you will be fine as well as the animals in your tank!
good luck and enjoy!
Tom

 

Thanx a bunch...I will continue my research. It sounds like I am ok so far...I have even seen people mix up the flake with diferent colors...I need to look into that also...It does sound binificial for sure. I got my frozen "stuff" at the LFS (who never gives the same answer twice) I believe it is the "mysis", I threw the wrapper away before I could record it in my "Aqurium record book" (yes I have a journal for the tank) The flake Im using is Nutrafin max, red color flake....oh and now Im adding a tiny bit (1/2 cap a week) of "photoPlex for the sponge and the feather duster...and I was told that it was also helpful to the zoas?
Anyhow a nice saturday morning researching feeding habits...and a couple cups of coffee for sure.
Tanks again people.
Tim...
"going slow"
BTW
100 GALLONS !!! not today lunitic...not today. : ) next year? I feel the strange tug on my wallet. damn! what a hobby.

 

What, how much, how often, when...

Eternal question for all Reef keepers.


A matter you will decide for yourself over time.

It is a fish's job to look hungry.

I feed mine twice a day. Corals every other day. Always at same time.

A mixture I make from different flakes, some sinking pellet and nori chopped very fine.

In morning they get a (very) little chopped shrimp, squid, scallops, oysters.

Feed no more then fish can clean up in minute or so.

I do not feed all at once.

Would guess about 1/8 - 1/4 teaspoon each feeding.

Don't want to overfeed or underfeed also.

If in error, would overfeed and let shrimp, hermits, and other little critters clean up. They need to eat also.

Algae growth/nitrates will give you indication you are feeding too much.

In time you will come up with a schedule and amount both you and your fish are comfortable with.



Scott

 

for your tang and angel i would get some nori (stuff used to wrap sushi) you would be surprised how they attack it. I actually play tug of war, lol, with my yellow tang! i take a strip, put my hand in water and she eyes it over and comes closer and closer. in about a minute shes eating out of my hand and if i start to pull it away she pulls it back!

BTW, your blue tang will grow up fast so be prepared, and its awesome that you have a tank journal!

 

I think what Luna was getting at is a Blue Tang is way oversized for that tank. I wouldn't even dream of putting one in my 55. They are natural swimmers, and need lots of room for that reason. They can get stressed very easily in smaller tanks, and are ick prone anyways, let alone when they are stressed from a small tank. They grow pretty quickly too. Here is some info: Tang (fish - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) Google Blue Tang to find out even more!!!

 

Also soak dry food in cup for while before feeding to minimize any float on surface and just going into overflows.

Once a week I add a drop or two of garlic extract (not oil) in water I am soaking food in.


Would not be surprized that many an ICK problem can be attributed to stress on fish from over/under feeding or not providing proper diet.

Another good reason for feeding as wide a diet as you can.

Mine seem all fit, healthy and happy.

 

my fish havent had a trace of since i got a blue goby! but then he got sucked into closed loop