I am finding it hard to feed my loaches

[Illsavemyself]

I have a very active community with most of the fish being pretty greedy. I always find it funny when we are told to feed only as much food as our fish would eat in 5 minutes. I am sure my community would get through half a tub of flake food if I let them in that time!

My Rosy Barbs, Leopard Danios and Neon Tetras are the main greedy fish who want to eat everything in the tank and any amount is never enough.

This has made it difficult for me to feed my new loaches. They really are reduced to just going for leftover scraps. Even when I lower the food in a net next to their favorite cave the rest of the tank decend on mass and will even squirm into the low cave themself rather than miss out on extra food. My loaches are new (only had them for 4 days) but so far have not competed for any of this food and the few attempts at getting a share has resulted in being out manouvered by their speedier tank mates.

Flake food is the only thing that seems to get down to their level as I can crumble the flakes small enough, and release them below the water, so that they hit the bottom before they are all eaten. The Brine Shrimp gets devoured too quickly and the sinking food ends up as a game of chase as each piece gets picked up, usually by a barb, who then gets chased around the tank by those who didn't catch their own. 1 of my loaches actually caught on of these yesterday but got mugged by a tetra before he could escape with it. He literally stole it from his mouth.

Feeding after lights out has not proved a deterant in stopping the feeding frenzy.

Weighted down vegetables can help to a degree but should I resort to overfeeding the tank just so that the loaches get their meal? At the moment I feed smallish amounts twice a day.

[andre]

Hi Ism

Dunno if I can mention brands but I would suggest Tetra Prima granules.

About 80% of the granules sink and the 20% that float are quite large and smaller fish take some time to swallow them.

I had a similar problems and it was solved with these. Alternatively bottom feeder sinking pellets may also help you in this regards.

Good luck!

[mickthefish]

ism
have you tried whole defrosted prawns, not the big ones the cocktail ones once defrosted they should sink straight to the bottom where your loaches can rip it apart, and as andre said try prima granules.

best of luck

mick

[Diana]

I would have thought that feeding at night (after lights out) would solve this problem. But your diurnal fish are alert enough (even in the dark) to get the food! Are all the room lights out, too? If it is light enough for you to see what fish are eating the food, it seems light enough for the fish to see to eat the food.

Maybe...
Feed some food that floats for a longer time to tempt the greedy fish into staying at the top, and then add food into the Loaches' cave for them.

I agree with you that the "Feed them all they will eat in 5 minutes" is ridiculous. Some food is designed to fall apart slowly (Omega One Shrimp pellets, algae wafers, real vegetables) and to be eaten slowly, over a few hours. Other food is intended to be eaten right away, and for my fish 'Right away' means being there as it falls into the tank. There is little or no food that hits the bottom, and the bottom feeders are right there to get their share.

Funny you should mention fish chasing each other around with wafers. I fed a friend's tanks while he was away, and saw the same thing with Amano shrimp. The biggest shrimp actually ran off with a whole algae wafer. Several other shrimp tried to run off with another wafer, but they were each pulling in a different direction, and none was strong enough to get away with it. At one time there were 5 shrimp trying to get hold of and steal the one wafer!

I feed many different foods and figure that some days the upper level fish are getting more than their share, and other days the bottom feeders are getting the bulk of the food. At least once a week I feed sinking wafers (both carnivore wafers and algae wafers) in the dark. I have other sinking foods that I rotate through, too. I also feed lightly cooked vegetables that usually sink, and all the fish will pick away at the vegetables, including the bottom feeders. I will place frozen foods (still frozen) inside the caves and rock formations for shy fish and feed more of the same food where the upper level fish can feast on it. This did not work well yesterday, the frozen cube kept floating out from under the driftwood in one tank.

[Illsavemyself]

Diana I do admit that lights out still meant enough light for me to try and see if the loaches were getting any of the sinking wafers. I saw enough to see the normal mid dwellers ctaching them on the way down with others in hot pursuit. I did turn all the "room" lights out (tank is in the hall) at that point to try and get the few still floating out of visual site.

Andre, thanks for the idea of the sinking pellets, I will look out for those next chance I get to go to town.

[Tinman]

The little prawns Mick stated will solve your problem and are a superior feed. They can not be eaten so fast so the loaches will get to them and they can lay in the tank for a long time with no water fouling issues. Besides they are much cheaper than prepared "fish" food.

[mickthefish]

ism, another good food that will stand the other fish having a go at it is JMC catfish pellets, but don't overfeed with these as they can make the water cloudy.
i feed my loaches three times a week on them.

mick

[starsplitter7]

I have a few piggies, and I distract them with food in one part of the tank, while I drop stuff for my bottom feeders in another part of the tank. I know some people have mentioned using a turkey baster or other tube to deliver food to the bottom of the tank. The piggies can't get it in the tube, and it gives the bottom dwellers a chance.

You said you've only had your loaches four days, and I know they can be shy at first. I bet when they get more comfortable they will have no problem being more assertive.

Good luck.

[bslindgren]

Did you state what kind of loaches and how big they are? It seems strange if neon tetras are stealing food from a loach unless they areally tiny. Mine are quite assertive but then they are bigger than anything else in the tank, pretty much. My guess is that you just have to be patient, and they'll be right up at the surface when you feed, assuming they are Botia's or similar.

[Illsavemyself]

They are junvenial Botia Kubotai and the largest is around 8cm.

[mickthefish]

ism,
i have 8 kubs ranging in sizes from 5 cm to 10 plus cms, the middle size is around your fishes size and it's not often i see them.
maybe it's the size they become more secretive?, the other sizes are out all the time looking for titbits.
if your tank space allows could you put a few striata in with them they are great for bringing other botias into the open?.

mick

[Illsavemyself]

Thanks Mick

4 of the 5 are out in the open a fair bit with just one of them, the largest as it happens, being more wary. He/she just likes to fit themself into the tightest hole possible and stay there, I rarely see that one out and about.

I expect it is just natural on my part to worry over them so much. My first loaches and I want them to thrive.

[mickthefish]

have you tried them on prawns yet?.

mick

[Illsavemyself]

have you tried them on prawns yet?.

mick

No chance to get anywhere near a shop yet as am at work. I suppose frozen prawns are best from somewhere like Iceland. As long as I remember to defrost them before I put them in the tank!

[mickthefish]

ism, you got it iceland, and if the sales are on you get buy one get one free.
ive always got at least 3 bags in the freezer.

mick