Diadema Poop

Oct 27, 2010

revhtree

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Feeding Diadema

I have been looking at Diadema poop. (I know fecal pellets is the scientific term, but Diadema poop is more fun.) Anyway, poop from the wild Diadema is composed of sediment particles, mostly small grains of sand and a very fine brown fibrous matrix. No hint of green or red algae. I have also been feeding the captive Diadema a variety of algae and now some turtle grass as well (I pack long strands of turtle grass into pvc rings and hold them down on the bottom this way.) They seem to ignore the attached Sargassum that I collected from the reefs, but really go for the green, heavily sediment packed turf algae that I scraped from the rocks at the jetty near my house, I think this is Bryopsis, but I'm not sure yet. They do consume the Lawrencia from the bay bottom as well. I will be looking at the captive Diadema poop very soon (I hope that new microscope from the Ocean Reef/TNC loan comes in soon.) and will compare it to the wild poop. I don’t know how much that will help, but it will be interesting. Read more...

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HOW MUCH DOES A FISH’S FEEDING REQUIREMENTS AFFECT YOUR STOCKING DECISIONS?

A lot! - I avoid fish that require frequent or specialized feeding
Votes: 19 33.3%
Quite a bit, but an automatic feeder can change my answer
Votes: 8 14.0%
It depends on whether my nutrient export can handle it
Votes: 8 14.0%
It depends on how badly I want the fish
Votes: 12 21.1%
Not much. I’m willing to adjust my routine
Votes: 9 15.8%
Not at all. Feeding demands don’t limit my stocking choices
Votes: 9 15.8%
I usually learn about the demanding feeding schedule after buying the fish!
Votes: 2 3.5%
I haven’t really considered this before
Votes: 4 7.0%
Something else (see my comments in the thread)
Votes: 2 3.5%