What Do You Feed Small Fish?

[mjreefs]

Hello,

I recently acquired a small (~2") juvenile French angelfish. Its mouth is quite small and can't consume the 1mm pellets of Aquaforest (Protein Power). I'm not sure with the PE pellets (I've mixed it with the AF pellets), but I didn't notice any leftovers, so either the powerhead blew it to the side of the Chrysurus and it ate them or the French ate them. So I resorted to feeding it with Reef Massticks and is eating/grazing the food like a champ. I also tried some homemade frozen fare, but the bigger chunks were quite difficult for it to chow down. I wanted it to eat pellets (since that's what I offer in my DT), should I crush pellets for it to be able to eat? What other food would you suggest for it to eat?

 

[James M]

try frozen or flakes
You should feed a variety of food....flakes, frozen and pellets.

 

[Hemmdog]

Hakari mysis & LRS Nano reef frenzy

 

[CoralNerd]

Hikari Mysis +1 love feeding it as it fits in a pipette perfectly. Fish love it. I defrost it, rinse in ro, then soak it in either Selco or some other fish vitamins.

 

[mjreefs]

try frozen or flakes
You should feed a variety of food....flakes, frozen and pellets.

Yes I've tried frozen. I personally do not like flakes for some reason.

 

[mjreefs]

Hakari mysis & LRS Nano reef frenzy

Wish we had them here, can't find any in my country. We've had the jumbo mysis once.

 

[nden]

Pellets: .5mm NLS, TDO xsmall and small, hikari s-marine
Frozen: LRS fish/reef frenzy
Liquid? Reef Nutrition R.O.E. and Oyster-Feast

 

[vetteguy53081]

New life pet pellets, nori on a clip........ frozen: hikari angel formula and Rods or LRS FROZEN.
They also desire fresh sponge it their diet

 

[Wolla]

I would use brine shrimp... the structure of the creature has no shell and the fish can basicly suck it in through a small mouth

 

[jx fang]

Just crush the pellets.
2" is not a small fish anymore, it should eat fine.
I've fed many 1" tiny fishes.
I feed them frozen pods.

 

[mjreefs]

I was finally able to find a seller with hikari mysis, the french loved em. Thanks for all your input guys!

 

[Eva Rose]

Wish we had them here, can't find any in my country. We've had the jumbo mysis once.

These foods @Hemmdog suggested are great for angels (more nutritious than pellets). Since they aren’t available in your country look for some frozen foods that contain sponge, meaty foods (shrimp etc.) . See if your local sources have a frozen “Dwarf Angel” blend.

PE Calanus is a frozen food that is very tiny - good for finicky eaters & small mouths.

If you are very limited, try taking a good quality local frozen fish food & use a hand held blender (or one of those small mini blenders used to make smoothies).
Like others said they need sponge, meaty food & algae to thrive. If you have other nori eaters in the tank add an extra nori clip. This helps the small angel to have more opportunity to avoid competition.