Feed your fish

[Paul B]

OK I got a theory. Not a very good theory, but a theory none the less. I had an epiphany, that's an idea. I was looking at my tank last night and something hit me. I mean, after my wife hit me. I read all the time of the problems, diseases, fish dying (or going off to college) water problems, ich, things that don't eat etc. I know the solution to all these fish problems. Yes, I said it numerous times but here it is again because I just thought of it again.
I think we should forget (temporarily) the water purity problem. Parameters and all that, For a minute. Just a minute. Feed the fish, then feed them again, Feed them what they are supposed to eat. No, they are not supposed to eat pellets or flakes and if that is all you want to feed them, go and watch Oprah give away a Cadillac to a bunch of homeless catfish. Overfeed the fish or feed them a couple of times a day. Fish are not like us. We worry about losing weight and not having cellulite or those bags under our eyes. Some of us belong to the Hair Club. Well, I don't but some people do. After we feed our fish (the correct foods) so that they are spawning (or at least looking at Girly magazines) then change the water. After that, change it again. But the main thing is the fishes health through food, not water. Our fish are crying out for good food, that's why disease threads predominate these forums. If your water parameters are screwed up, change the water, but feed the fish. I personally feed clams every day (along with live blackworms) I also use whiteworms because I am not prejudice to anything. But the clams are great for the fish and corals because when you shave pieces off clams (or put them in a blender like some people do, but I don't) they exude clam juice. Clam juice is composed of tiny pieces of clams along with whatever is in clam juice. I just made a big pot of clam chowder so I know clam juice is great stuff. Corals love clam juice even corals that you didn't think were eating. If they have a mouth, they eat (or at least sing)and some of them are so tiny that clam juice is the only thing they can eat. I have been feeding my fish clams for probably fifty years so that is a lot of juice going in my tank and yes, the clam juice clouds the water a little. But to corals that is an all you can eat smorgasbord. The cloudiness dissipates in a few minutes and if you look close, you can see those little polyps grinning from ear to ear, or whatever polyp's grin to.
I think we worry to much about nitrates, phosphates and anthrax and we are starving our fish and corals. Virtually all my paired fish are spawning, even the 24 year olds and it is because of the food. I do not have to quarantine
(I don't want to argue about that so if you want to debate me about it send a self addressed envelope to my house where I will ignore it) If you need to or want to quarantine, that is up to you and none of my business what you do.
But if you want to keep your fish disease free and never want to post on a disease forum, feed your fish correctly. Lettuce is also not a fish food.
So feed the fish, and change the water. Don't skimp on food because you are worrying about parameters. (or global warming) Your fish can't read the test kits anyway. If you are more into SPS corals, don't have to many fish, but feed the ones you have correctly.
I keep pipefish, shrimpfish, mandarins, ruby red dragonettes and all sorts of things that people feel are difficult with no problems. They are all even spawning. So all of this is Just my opinion of course. If you disagree start your own thread called Paul B doesn't know a fish from an Emu.

 

[Mom2jayden]

Hehe. I'm gonna go feed my fishes

 

[samksy]

I'm feeding my fish pellets and flakes . But i'll give the clam a try this weekend...freeze it like you mentioned on one of your thread and shave it off. thanks Paul! I hope my fish live for a long long time.

 

[vincent]

I feed my fish once a day and do water change every Sunday, fish and corals are happy and growing....

 

[BKLYNREEF123]

Paul,

I feed clams scallops and shrimp. I get these from local fish stores. I recently tried LRS Reef Frenzy and really like it. It has all sorts of fishy goodness including scallop, shrimp, perch, whitefish, mysis, krill, squid, tuna, oyster, clam, rotifers, phytoplankton, garlic, oyster eggs, oyster ovarian tissue, and even some probiotics (i don't think there is yogurt in there I was wondering if you have ever tried a product like this, or made your own. I find that for all the ingredients included the price is not that bad. I was just curious if you ever made or used products like this.

 

[Koyfam16]

Great advice.

 

[b-ridge]

So besides clams and clam juice what else would you suggest feeding? I am really looking into the lrs reef frenzy and fish frenzy. Hear great things about it

 

[ReefDiver]

After reading this, I have an urge to go get some fried clams. Maybe clam chowder.

 

[albano]

I am really looking into the lrs reef frenzy and fish frenzy. Hear great things about it

And some NOT so great from another forum...

I have gotten many emails about Larry's Reef Frenzy foods and fish getting bloat again...

Here is my experience...

I stopped feeding it to the Gp and centropyge angels , BOTH qt, because it was causing bloat...others have reported quite severe cases..

I decided to try it again to see what happens, so, I fed Larry's Reef Frenzy this past wed to the Gp. This was the first time in many months I fed it to them. It was only a tiny amount mixed in with their other food...
yesterday the largest Gp had long, white stringy poop, and I saw bubbles upon release...ugh...
Done...NEVER going in the Gp tank again....may try the same thing with the 125 tomorrow and will let you know what happens...but, be careful...!

So, I stopped feeding Larry's Reef Frenzy to the GP tank and the 125 qt tank permanently or until it is centropyge free...
The Cocos Lemon and Jocs in the dt have stringy white poop and I absolutely believe that it is also caused by Larry's Reef Frenzy...

After much speculation and lab testing, the reason LRF gives the Gp bloat is unknown...but I suspect the underlying cause will be the same with all the fish that are affected by it...

Careful...

 

[evoIX_Reefer]

I have had better luck with happy fish on Rods food. Every time I feed rods food, they go nuts and see my full reef having their meal.

I am moving strictly back to rods food.

I have a like new lrs reef frenzy of anyone wants to trade for rods food.

This is my experience and does not reflect every tank!!

 

[Paul B]

Quote:
I feed clams scallops and shrimp. I get these from local fish stores. I recently tried LRS Reef Frenzy and really like it. It has all sorts of fishy goodness including scallop, shrimp, perch, whitefish, mysis, krill, squid, tuna, oyster, clam, rotifers, phytoplankton, garlic, oyster eggs, oyster ovarian tissue, and even some probiotics.


Scallops, shrimp, perch, whitefish, squid, and tuna are not the best foods.
Clam, Mysis, oyster eggs and oyster ovarian tissue (whatever that is) are better foods. The problem with tuna, squid, whitefish, perch, shrimp and scallop is that when you feed those, you are only feeding the muscle of the animal and not the guts, where the nutrition is. Squid, is only the tentacles, shrimp are only the tails (without the head) perch is a freshwater fish and not particularly good for salt water fish, and it would probably only include the muscle, forget garlic, and scallop in the US is just the aductor muscle and not the guts. Clams are the best along with oysters and mussels. Live foods such as blackworms are the best. If your paired fish are not spawning and living out their life to their full lifespan, they are not very healthy as all healthy fish spawn and spawn continousely. If your fish ever get sick or spots, they are also not healthy as healthy fish in spawning condition do not get sick.
I sometimes use Reef Frenzy along with my worms and I find it a good food. I discussed this with them and not they are adding blackworms.

 

[Chefjpaul]

Great theory!

I make my own blends. Being a chef, the fishes... And cat, get all sorts of goodness from the sea.

I save or order extra of whatever is on menu at work and bring it home to feed.
Sometimes its squid, clams, fish, roe, shrimp, oysters, (nice ones to),

I know exactly where my product comes from and its top quality, when I tried a store bought frozen food and my pickiest eater, purple fat gramma, wont eat it. He just sits at waterline looking at me like wtf? None will touch dry, I've tried several times.

Our spoiled cat and fishes eat better than most Countries. I think the cat signals the fish when I walk in with fresh diver scallops. All I hear is meow and everything in tank is in front... Patiently waiting.

I love feeding them more than my clients most times.

 

[BKLYNREEF123]

And some NOT so great from another forum...

Albano,

Thanks for posting this I had not heard about this.

 

[BKLYNREEF123]

Great theory!

I make my own blends. Being a chef, the fishes... And cat, get all sorts of goodness from the sea.

I save or order extra of whatever is on menu at work and bring it home to feed.
Sometimes its squid, clams, fish, roe, shrimp, oysters, (nice ones to),

I know exactly where my product comes from and its top quality, when I tried a store bought frozen food and my pickiest eater, purple fat gramma, wont eat it. He just sits at waterline looking at me like wtf? None will touch dry, I've tried several times.

Our spoiled cat and fishes eat better than most Countries. I think the cat signals the fish when I walk in with fresh diver scallops. All I hear is meow and everything in tank is in front... Patiently waiting.

I love feeding them more than my clients most times.

#PaulsFood

 

[Paul B]

I normally do not buy commercially made food. But I have some because sometimes it is donated to me. I generally use clams, Mysis and live worms, that's about it.

 

[b-ridge]

Thanks for the information albano. I didn't hear about that. Curious to know what you feed

 

[Chefjpaul]

Paul,
Great point on the mussel tissue not being beneficial.

I use the whole animals of whatever I order in for work.
Pulse in an industrial blender if needed. Mainly puree the organs and offals and add to the "chop meat" if you will.

 

[oh207]

Simple concept. I like it. I've never fed clams, but will pick up a few the next time I go to the Fish market.
So all I need to do is freeze the clams, and then shave off pieces into the tank? Or do I just put the whole clam on the shell into the tank.

Lastly, I've been feeding LRS reef frenzy and had no issues. And I just got a few packs of the new LRS fish frenzy and all is going well, so far. I will keep an eye out for any wired stuff.

 

[BKLYNREEF123]

I had to pick some live blackworms up on the way home. Paul the fish said thanks. I got a rouge one in the bag there. Onto find Paul's thread about how to keep them alive.

 

[Paul B]

Buy the biggest clams you can find. If you can get them the size of a bowling ball that's great. Freeze them and shave off paper thin slices. Bigger slices for bigger fish. That's it, a clam is about fifty cents and a chowder clam lasts me a month. If you get live oysters, send them to me and I will take good care of them