Are fat fish, happy fish?

[rmorris_14]

Swimming footballs, big enough to filet (solorensis wrasse below for scale).

Stunning!!!!!

 

[atoll]

I've always tried to under-feed my fishie friends. Not up to the point of concave belly, but I tried to feed minimally. I've never had a skimmer so I was also wary of nutrient import. I let them graze along the liverock for their food more than I fed them. The only times I did heavy feedings was when I brought home a new fish.

Willie the copperband always found stuff to eat in the rocks and kept my aiptasia in check, Wilbert the yellow tang always grazed on rocks for algae. Even Marty the clownfish (May he rest in reef heaven) used to suck up pods from the glass. The only one that actually needed feeding was Shakazulu the Bangaii Cardinal. I never actually saw him eat from the rocks.

I only fed them for fun, but I figure stuff they find on the liverock is good for exhibiting natural bahaviour as well as pruning algae or aitpasia. My fish never had round bellies. Marty lived for 17 years! Willie and Wilbert are still with me for about 10 years now. Shaka died after 5 years. But I've heard that bangaii cardinals have shortlife spans.

I've never fed them flakes or processed food. (I tried as an experiment to see if i can condition Willie the Copperband to eat flakes. FAIL) They had frozen mysis, frozen bloodworms, live tubifex worms and live blackworms. My fish eat healthier than I do LoL

Does anyone know where I can source live bloodworms? I have never seen a bloodworm vendor.

In the UK live bloodworms are common in LFSs in fact you can buy them in 2 different sizes large and small live bloodworm

 

[rmorris_14]

In the UK live bloodworms are common in LFSs in fact you can buy them in 2 different sizes large and small live bloodworm

I spent about 30 minutes of time searching online. All I could find was info on culturing your own, or purchasing freeze dried etc. I think due to their short life cycle, they may only be sold live by individuals that culture them or collect them. Once collected, you have about 2 to 3 days for them to remain alive. It’s also probably more common to find supply in mild weathered locations. I could be completely wrong though encourage anyone to correct me if so.

 

[Spicoli]

My PT is a fat one. I think as long as you minimize wasted food with smaller frequent feedings, and feed them quality food with variety, it is a good thing.

 

[atoll]

Only if fat in nature. Ss an example I see fat algae blennies that shouldn't be so fat due to eating too much of the wrong types of foods. They are called algae blennies for a reason .

 

[the weird one]

I've always tried to under-feed my fishie friends. Not up to the point of concave belly, but I tried to feed minimally. I've never had a skimmer so I was also wary of nutrient import. I let them graze along the liverock for their food more than I fed them. The only times I did heavy feedings was when I brought home a new fish.

Willie the copperband always found stuff to eat in the rocks and kept my aiptasia in check, Wilbert the yellow tang always grazed on rocks for algae. Even Marty the clownfish (May he rest in reef heaven) used to suck up pods from the glass. The only one that actually needed feeding was Shakazulu the Bangaii Cardinal. I never actually saw him eat from the rocks.

I only fed them for fun, but I figure stuff they find on the liverock is good for exhibiting natural bahaviour as well as pruning algae or aitpasia. My fish never had round bellies. Marty lived for 17 years! Willie and Wilbert are still with me for about 10 years now. Shaka died after 5 years. But I've heard that bangaii cardinals have shortlife spans.

I've never fed them flakes or processed food. (I tried as an experiment to see if i can condition Willie the Copperband to eat flakes. FAIL) They had frozen mysis, frozen bloodworms, live tubifex worms and live blackworms. My fish eat healthier than I do LoL

Does anyone know where I can source live bloodworms? I have never seen a bloodworm vendor.

how do you prepare live tubifex worm before feeding them or just simple rinse and feed? do you culture them or buying.

 

[afboundguy]

I believe "fat" fish are healthy fish. I feed heavy (1-2 cubes frozen food plus dry pellet and some white worms when I remember to feed my cultures) but I also dose phyto and have good nutrients export. I don't often test phosphates and nitrates but the tank looks good and there's not much nuisance algae and I can go 4-5 days without scraping the glass.

I also believe feeding fish more than once a day, which is why I have been trying to automate pellet feeder and do a DIY frozen fish feeder. I believe several smaller meals spread out over the day are far better than 1 or even 2 big meals a day especially for some of the higher energy fish like anthias that need to eat constantly all day.