Feeding a Juvenile Clownfish

[Sinkers]

Hi all.

So the cycle I'm doing suggests putting one fish into the tank on day three. It's Aqua Systems Start Your Tank by Dr Tim.

I have a juvenile clownfish and am wondering how often I should feed him. A lot of advice says to feed clowns just a couple pellets 1-2 times a day.

I have seen some information suggest that it's better to feed a growing clown a bit more often? I just want to be careful of over feeding in my tank at the moment as it is still in cycle.

After some opinions on how much and how often I should be feeding him? I am thinking to get some frozen food as well to mix up from pellets alone.

 

[vaguelyreeflike]

Twice a day is just fine for growing clowns, small amounts though to avoid too much nutrients. A mix or alternation between pellets and frozen is a good idea, and variety is best for any fish.

I would test your ammonia and make sure that’s no higher than 0.1ppm before adding a fish, you can also achieve the same effect by adding some frozen (not pellets/flakes due to phosphate) food to the tank, just a small amount.

 

[vaguelyreeflike]

Nitrites are not harmful to marine fish unless in extremely high levels, so it’s safe to add fish once the ammonia is gone. Ammonia is extremely toxic in saltwater though, while clownfish are hardy the ammonia damage can still cause long term problems

 

[JayM]

Nitrites are not harmful to marine fish unless in extremely high levels, so it’s safe to add fish once the ammonia is gone. Ammonia is extremely toxic in saltwater though, while clownfish are hardy the ammonia damage can still cause long term problems

Ammonia toxicity is not quite that cut and dry.

 

[Sinkers]

Nitrites are not harmful to marine fish unless in extremely high levels, so it’s safe to add fish once the ammonia is gone. Ammonia is extremely toxic in saltwater though, while clownfish are hardy the ammonia damage can still cause long term problems

What is your opinion on the Aquarium Systems Start Your Tank additives? It says to add a fish or coral on day 3. Could this still be inhumane or those additives make it safe enough for the fish? I will test the water to see what it's doing.

 

[vaguelyreeflike]

Ammonia toxicity is not quite that cut and dry.

It definitely isn’t, that’s why I used “can” vs “will”

 

[vaguelyreeflike]

What is your opinion on the Aquarium Systems Start Your Tank additives? It says to add a fish or coral on day 3. Could this still be inhumane or those additives make it safe enough for the fish? I will test the water to see what it's doing.

I would say it depends on the levels of everything. If ammonia is really high I personally wouldn’t add any fish quite yet. Invertebrates like hermits and true crabs are quite hardy towards it though so I personally prefer to add clean up crew first and begin building that up

 

[Sinkers]

I would say it depends on the levels of everything. If ammonia is really high I personally wouldn’t add any fish quite yet. Invertebrates like hermits and true crabs are quite hardy towards it though so I personally prefer to add clean up crew first and begin building that up

Yeh ok. Being a new tank there's nothing really for them to eat. So I guess you just feed them pellets or something?

 

[vaguelyreeflike]

Yeh ok. Being a new tank there's nothing really for them to eat. So I guess you just feed them pellets or something?

Yeah crab specific pellets are great but any sinking pellets works, just small amounts

 

[D-Nak]

Who big is your tank? If large, one clownfish won’t make a dent. A few feedings a day should be fine, so long as it’s eating what you feed it.

 

[Sinkers]

Who big is your tank? If large, one clownfish won’t make a dent. A few feedings a day should be fine, so long as it’s eating what you feed it.

Only 25g