questions and learning from mistakes

**Rocksor** · 11-19-2012, 08:32 PM

If no other fish will touch the leaf, the SD's won't know that it is food. It might as well be a plastic ornament to them.

My SD's won't touch any lettuce leaves, but they will eat shelled peas. They will also eat the frozen San Francisco Bay Emerald Entree. I defrost it in a container and put parts of the cube in. It literally explodes as the SD's and other fish start to eat it.

Contains water, brine shrimp, mysis, krill, plankton, spinach, romaine lettuce, red leaf lettuce, spirulina algae, menhaden oil...

**C-Dub** · 11-19-2012, 08:38 PM

BP's can be pretty timid especially with newly added tank mates. I think they might just need a little time to acclimate to their new tank mates and once they get a little bigger they should be back to their normal selves. I also think taking away the blood worms is good food for thought (pun intended

). It makes sense to get them on your "staple" food, before giving treats. The SD's will make good tank mates for the BP's and they will come around to what you're feeding them... It's like what my wife says about the kids all the time "They'll eat it if their hungry enough", LOL. And I must add she's always right!

I'm starting to think I need a BP/SD tank, hmmmmm

**fishmommie** · 11-19-2012, 10:20 PM

Originally Posted by Rocksor

If no other fish will touch the leaf, the SD's won't know that it is food. It might as well be a plastic ornament to them.
Apparently, so far, that's exactly what the lettuce looks like to them. totally ignoring it.

My SD's won't touch any lettuce leaves, but they will eat shelled peas.
Yes - I got them to eat some shelled peas the first night I had them ... but I hate to feed peas more than once a week because they act as a laxative, right?They will also eat the frozen San Francisco Bay Emerald Entree. I defrost it in a container and put parts of the cube in. It literally explodes as the SD's and other fish start to eat it.

Thanks for the tip. I'll have to check with my local indy fish store to see if he carries it.
Had an opportunity to stop at a petco today (before I saw this note). got some veggie pellets that specifically say for SD (among others) and some seaweed sheets that again, say they are for Reef and FW fish - specifically listing SD's. Have some hanging on veggie clips and so far NONE of the other fish are interested in them. Curious but leaving them alone. I'm hoping maybe the SD's will find them and give them a go ... or maybe they'll ignore them too.

thanks so much for all your insights. I'm hoping I can hit on something soon. Know they won't starve in just a few days but am very eager to get them into a routine so they don't get weak and possibly sick.

fingers crossed.

**fishmommie** · 11-19-2012, 10:25 PM

Originally Posted by C-Dub

BP's can be pretty timid especially with newly added tank mates. I think they might just need a little time to acclimate to their new tank mates and once they get a little bigger they should be back to their normal selves.
I'm seeing a little more movement from the BP's today. I think it's been a territorial thing as well as a shy thing LOL. Everybody's staking their claims to their own little pieces of real estater
I also think taking away the blood worms is good food for thought (pun intended

). It makes sense to get them on your "staple" food, before giving treats.
Wish I had thought of that. They won't be getting any more until we hit on a staple diet for them. thanks
The SD's will make good tank mates for the BP's and they will come around to what you're feeding them... It's like what my wife says about the kids all the time "They'll eat it if their hungry enough", LOL. And I must add she's always right!
Well, she's a woman, isn't she? of course we're alway right

I'm starting to think I need a BP/SD tank, hmmmmm

Give me a little time with this one to see how it goes. I think part of the problem I'm having is that the SD's have quite a bit of size to them. If I had started with some smaller ones, the transition might have been easier. They are very docile fish, I will say that. Just hope they make their presence a little better known. They hide more than the BP's now. Sometimes I'll look across my office and the darn tank looks empty because they are all hiding in the plants or behind the rocks or at the base of the driftwood. Do they not know they are there to look pretty???

thanks again guys

**fishmommie** · 11-20-2012, 01:07 PM

Well, SOMEbody ate most of the lettuce leave last night. Since it seems to be the ONLY thing the BP's won't touch, I have to believe it was the SD's.

I hung a new leafe for them today + fresh cucs and zuchinni and some seaweed sheets. It looks like a produce market in there

Fingers crossed they are starting to feel more comfortable...

thanks again, every one, for your help and suggestions.

**Taurus** · 11-20-2012, 01:46 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.

I have to agree with Rocksor on a couple of points. Cindy, I agree that you should find a staple flake or pellet that everyone will eat and stick to that for a month. I feed ALL of my fish a combination of NLS Marine fish Formula 1mm pellets and NLS small fish formula. That is all I feed for staple. I'm NOT trying to promote NLS, point is find a staple food that everyone will eat whether it be flakes or pellets. It's not necessary to turn this into an A Vs. B tropical fish staple food thread.

The staple food is all your should feed for around a month.

**Taurus** · 11-20-2012, 02:19 PM

Tropical flakes:

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...2&pcatid=19662

Pellets:

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...m?pcatid=24130

**fishmommie** · 11-20-2012, 02:53 PM

Originally Posted by Taurus

I have to agree with Rocksor on a couple of points. Cindy, I agree that you should find a staple flake or pellet that everyone will eat and stick to that for a month. I feed ALL of my fish a combination of NLS Marine fish Formula 1mm pellets and NLS small fish formula. That is all I feed for staple. I'm NOT trying to promote NLS, point is find a staple food that everyone will eat whether it be flakes or pellets. It's not necessary to turn this into an A Vs. B tropical fish staple food thread.

The staple food is all your should feed for around a month.

Yes - I'm starting to see that. I've gone overboard trying to make everybody happy and have too much variety of food. I've been soaking up info like a sponge but sometimes, I need to step back and back off a little on all the varieties just because someone said my fish would like it.

My staple food in the 90 is Omega 1 small sinking cichlid pellets and spirulina flakes. Neither have much veggie matter and the SD's ignore them.

If I stayed with those two and added the fresh veggies and the Veggie rounds (which are sinking pellets just for SD) that should work???

**Taurus** · 11-20-2012, 03:15 PM

Originally Posted by fishmommie

If I stayed with those two and added the fresh veggies and the Veggie rounds (which are sinking pellets just for SD) that should work???

Short answer is yes because because Omega One, no matter the formula, has lots of kelp in it. The only thing I don't like about Omega One is that they use ethoxyquin as a preservative. Aqueon or NLS do not use ethoxyquin.

My Vet told me not to use dog food or fish food with ethoxyquin in it. He should know as he did his residency at various fish farms in Florida and he is a consultant to the National Fish Hatchery system. Other opinions vary. I don't think it would be a problem to use up the Omega One that you have on hand and then switch to Aqueon, NLS, or other brands that do not use ethoxyquin.

Again, it's my personal opinion that ethoxyquin is not a good thing to be in pet foods. Your opinions may very and I accept that.