What food for tetras?

[Owen Stubbs]

I finally picked up some fish. Primary occupants are green fire tetras. Guy at the LFS recommended Tetra Color Tropical Flakes. The fish are not too interested in it - seem to eat it, then spit most of it out, which then falls down into the gravel.

Any better recommendations?

[Drumachine09]

I finally picked up some fish. Primary occupants are green fire tetras. Guy at the LFS recommended Tetra Color Tropical Flakes. The fish are not too interested in it - seem to eat it, then spit most of it out, which then falls down into the gravel.

Any better recommendations?


Keep trying the flakes. Some fish just arent used to it. Ask what they were fed at the LFS and use that. if they WERE fed tetra color, then they will most likely eat it.

[freshwaterfishlover]

When I had Tetras way back when they loved Color Bites and eat it.

[hungryhound]

Our Rainbows used to do the same thing with their flake food, as we were giving them a well varied diet. So, we decided that if they weren't going to eat the flakes they weren't going to get their treats, so we went to a week of nothing but flake food. It's amazing how quickly they start eating something they once spurned when it's the only thing they get!

[Lady Hobbs]

Could be they are still a bit stressed and not used to their new surroundings. Mine eat Tetra color enhanced food and I think yours probably did as well if the store recommended it to you.

[Owen Stubbs]

I'm just not at all happy by all the excess flake ending up at the bottom of the tank. Might not feel the same way once I get the intended cherry shrimp in there, but they really do not seem that interested in it. Also bought some freeze dried blood worms. OMG - what a difference! They attack that stuff! At least, until it is too bloated from water absorption that they have difficulty with the size.

The LFS handed me this stuff, but I never asked if that is what they were feeding. Will make a phone call tomorrow and ask what the regular diet is there in the store. Regardless, I just have to wonder about flake food in general. Tetra does make slow-sinking granules - wonder if that would be a better choice.

[Chrona]

I highly recommend New Life Spectrum Small Fish formula. 0.5 mm sinking pellets. My cardinal tetras took a few days to adjust to it (must have thought it was poop or something lol) but now they all crowd around the front of the tank in a bunch when someone goes near and really attack the stuff. They've been more active and colorful as well. It's only like 1-2 dollars more than the tetra stuff where I am and the stuff stays good for a much longer time than flakes.

One thing to keep in mind is that 0.5mm is a lot smaller than you think, so feed a little bit at a time or else the fish might miss it at first. I believe it also contains garlic or something, which is an effective attractant.

[Drumachine09]

I highly recommend New Life Spectrum Small Fish formula. 0.5 mm sinking pellets. My cardinal tetras took a few days to adjust to it (must have thought it was poop or something lol) but now they all crowd around the front of the tank in a bunch when someone goes near and really attack the stuff. They've been more active and colorful as well. It's only like 1-2 dollars more than the tetra stuff where I am and the stuff stays good for a much longer time than flakes.

One thing to keep in mind is that 0.5mm is a lot smaller than you think, so feed a little bit at a time or else the fish might miss it at first. I believe it also contains garlic or something, which is an effective attractant.


Who do you think you are? Reptile guy???? lol


I would go with the NLS, because i keep hearing all of these wonderful things about it, and it sounds like it actually works too!

[Chrona]

Who do you think you are? Reptile guy???? lol


I would go with the NLS, because i keep hearing all of these wonderful things about it, and it sounds like it actually works too!

Yeah seriously lol. And to think I always snickered behind his back for his constant NLS plugs ;)

For bigger fish (like dwarf gourami size) you can get the community fish formula, which is 1 mm pellets.

[Chrona]

Here's the testimonial sent in by one of my LFS in fact. LOL

[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

[Lady Hobbs]

My tetra's like the blood worms too. They hit the surface so fast after everything it's fun to watch them.

[Owen Stubbs]

I have not seen that New Life Spectrum in any LFS. I have, however, seen it online - just do not need anything else at the moment, and they would probably charge me as much to ship it as what it costs.

[Owen Stubbs]

I found New Life Spectrum at a LFS I rarely visit. This stuff sinks like a rock if the filter is on (HOB), and the tetras are not nearly as interested in it if it is floating at the top vs. moving through the water due to current. So, for those of you with similar food and fish, do your fish ultimately find it in the substrate or on plant leaves? My concern is that they are not getting enough to eat and/or that I am leaving a good percentage of food in the tank.

[hungryhound]

We just got some new life spectrum as well. We have found that we need add a minute amount of it, and wait for them to notice it and start to feed. Then once they are eating, we add more. That way a whole lot less hits the bottom.

Of course we do not have a HOB so the current at the top of my tank is not strong enough to sink the pelets quickly, but it might work for you.

[Owen Stubbs]

What I need is some kind of feeding amount guideline that my 8 year old can understand. So, 9 inch or so long tetras.... any ideas?

[Drumachine09]

What I need is some kind of feeding amount guideline that my 8 year old can understand. So, 9 inch or so long tetras.... any ideas?


Take out the proper amount in you hand. Tell him "ONLY this much". worked for kids for me.

[Chrona]

Take out the proper amount in you hand. Tell him "ONLY this much". worked for kids like me.

Fixed your post

[Drumachine09]

Fixed your post

*Kicks Chrona in the jaw*

[Owen Stubbs]

Well, for those of you using this NLS small fish food, how much are you feeding your own fish?

[Chrona]

Well, for those of you using this NLS small fish food, how much are you feeding your own fish?

About 5-6 1 mm pellets for the dwarf gourami (the other fish try to steal them so I have to be fairly good about placement)
A small pinch of the small fish formula on the top of the water for the molly fry
A small pinch of the small fish formula underwater so that the cardinals get their share as well.

[jessie]

For the kids, you could always set aside the daily allowed amount into a pill divider box (the ones that have seven small compartments-one for each day of the week). This will give them an exact amount to feed, even if you are not there to supervise. With the New Life Spectrum pellets, they tend to sink fast so you need to go kind of slow. I feed enough for each fish to get at least a few pellets. (and only feed for about 2 minutes then stop)

[Drumachine09]

For the kids, you could always set aside the daily allowed amount into a pill divider box (the ones that have seven small compartments-one for each day of the week). This will give them an exact amount to feed, even if you are not there to supervise. With the New Life Spectrum pellets, they tend to sink fast so you need to go kind of slow. I feed enough for each fish to get at least a few pellets. (and only feed for about 2 minutes then stop)


Thats what i do when go out of town. My brother doesnt want to measure out pinches of this and that, so i put them in a pill box and he just dumps it in. I forgot about that.

Good suggestion!

[Owen Stubbs]

You guys are literally speaking of 4-5 grains for a medium fish, and less than that for small tetras??????????? Is that really enough? Seems like so little!

[Chrona]

You guys are literally speaking of 4-5 grains for a medium fish, and less than that for small tetras??????????? Is that really enough? Seems like so little!

The 1 mm pellets are the perfect size for a 2 inch gourami imo. Mature fish only need a few mouthfuls a day, and with NLS, there is less filler and more nutritious ingredients, so less goes a longer way. The 0.5 mm pellets I just put a pinch in. It's probably like 30 pellets or so between the 5 tetras

[Drumachine09]

The 1 mm pellets are the perfect size for a 2 inch gourami imo. Mature fish only need a few mouthfuls a day, and with NLS, there is less filler and more nutritious ingredients, so less goes a longer way. The 0.5 mm pellets I just put a pinch in. It's probably like 30 pellets or so between the 5 tetras


All this talk about new life spectrum is making me want to go get some and give it a try....

[Chrona]

All this talk about new life spectrum is making me want to go get some and give it a try....

It tastes like chicken. You'll like it.

[Owen Stubbs]

I have the small fish formula - website says it is 0.35mm. Drummachine09 - PM me your address and I will put some in an envelope and mail it to you. LFS only had the big jar, so I have enough for the next decade! LOL!!

Anyway, I still have the tetra color flakes - they react to that much quicker than the NLS. Some eat it completely, some spit it out, try to eat it again, but sometimes just spit it out completely. Not sure. They definitely go nuts for the freeze dried blood worms.

[Chrona]

I have the small fish formula - website says it is 0.35mm. Drummachine09 - PM me your address and I will put some in an envelope and mail it to you. LFS only had the big jar, so I have enough for the next decade! LOL!!

Anyway, I still have the tetra color flakes - they react to that much quicker than the NLS. Some eat it completely, some spit it out, try to eat it again, but sometimes just spit it out completely. Not sure. They definitely go nuts for the freeze dried blood worms.

Yeah I got confused about that. It did seem a little small, but the label on the bottle says 0.5mm