questions and learning from mistakes

**fishmommie** · 11-18-2012, 01:29 PM

Hi all
When I thought about fish compatibility as I was stocking my 90, I thought in terms of social behavior. What I hadn't given thought to was different feeding needs and requirements. And it's made for a dilemma I need a little help figuring out.

I lost my emperor pleco the other day. No one has come up with a reason why but the end result was, I decided no more plecos.

So - thinking in terms of adding peaceful non threatening fish, I bought 3 nice big silver dollars and added them to the 90 (they had been in a tank by themselves for about 4 months at my indy LFS, on separate filtration, so as good as QT - this is the same guy I've bought all my fish from)
Anyway, I added them to the 90 on Friday.
They are fine - picky eaters so far, but fine. Not at all skittish as I anticipated they might be. The BP's, however, have been in hiding ever since - except when it comes time to eat and then they chow down like there's no tomorrow. I'm hoping they will get over their shyness around the SD's who are larger then the largest BP.

End result since the BP's seem to want to eat ALL the food in the tank and the SD's only want blood worms or veggies - I have one BP who looks like its belly is going to pop and I'm just hoping it doesn't end up with a swim bladder issue.

Okay - with all that said ... I'm wondering if I should wait this out and see if we can come up with a healthy balance or if I should try to avert any problems down the road for the BP's by simply returning the SD's now, add a couple more BP's to the tank and call it good.

Trying to come up with a mix of food that makes everyone happy - doesn't skimp for some and doesn't over feed others - is not a problem I had anticipated.

Thoughts? Suggestions? I'd really appreciate some advice.
Thanks!

**steeler1** · 11-18-2012, 10:05 PM

Heres a video you might like:

Silver's are still small but you might get a look at the future.

**fishmommie** · 11-18-2012, 11:09 PM

thanks for that Steeler. adds perspective. something I need, apparently LOL

**Rocksor** · 11-19-2012, 01:44 AM

Stop feeding bloodworms and only put enough food for all the fish. Do not try to compensate for the fish who are not eating by feeding 2-3 times as much. The silver's will learn to eat what the BPs are eating. Once they do, they will react faster than the BP. It took my 4 out of 5 silvers about 3-4 weeks before they figured out that they needed to eat faster. Now I get wet each time they eat.

Are you using floating food or sinking food for the parrots?

**fishmommie** · 11-19-2012, 03:59 AM

Originally Posted by Rocksor

Stop feeding bloodworms and only put enough food for all the fish. Do not try to compensate for the fish who are not eating by feeding 2-3 times as much. The silver's will learn to eat what the BPs are eating. Once they do, they will react faster than the BP. It took my 4 out of 5 silvers about 3-4 weeks before they figured out that they needed to eat faster. Now I get wet each time they eat.

Are you using floating food or sinking food for the parrots?

Hi and thanks for the input.
I'm feeding sinking pellets as I don't want the BP's ingesting air with their food at the top of the water. I have one that's prone to bloat and ends up tipping if it gets too much air with its food so I'm always concerned about swim bladder issues with him.

I also feed flakes but I release them beneath the water line so they slowly sink and don't float. The congos and the BP's snap everything up and will not stop until it's all gone.

And I'm curious. Why not blood worms? all their profiles say to feed it and it has been the one thing the SD's have gone after with any enthusiasm. I only feed blood worms 1 time a week.

Not questioning YOU ... just trying to figure this all out.
thanks so much

**Rocksor** · 11-19-2012, 01:11 PM

Once a week of feeding them blood worms is enough for them to be picky about the other food. Bring it back about 2 months later once they start eating things you want them to eat.

**fishmommie** · 11-19-2012, 01:26 PM

Originally Posted by Rocksor

Once a week of feeding them blood worms is enough for them to be picky about the other food. Bring it back about 2 months later once they start eating things you want them to eat.

got it. thanks. And yes - I've found that once fish get a taste for frozen blood worms and frozen brine shrimp, they get to be picky little eaters - well, all but the BP's who have never met a food they didn't like :o)

Someone said to feed SD's romaine lettuce. I've got a big fresh leave clipped to the driftwood right now. this is my second attempt. so far, the SD's are ignoring it. is there a trick to get them to eat it? should it be set on the bottom, middle or top level of the tank? or am I getting waaaayyyy to specific?

I'm got to be able to get to a Petco today. thought I'd pick up some veggie chips or flakes. any suggestions on which way is best to go?