Loaches Online Forum

What sinking pellets in the uk have people tried and their clowns liked?

I've got a big tub of JMC but they just don't seem to like them, spend more time eating the algae wafers.

Also tried the Tetra ones in the yellow sealable pack but no luck either. any other suggestions?

I must admit, my loaches didn't like the JMC sinking catfish pellets either, despite recommendations. They do however like the high protein granular food ( I think by JMC again) but I don't seem to be able to buy this at the moment. It is a small tub with an orange top and it says high protein food. There is also another one with a yellow top. This is finer and doesn't always sink unless you drop it from a height. They love this too. Depends where you are of course, but if in the UK you would know it when you see it in the tub. They still love the red mosquito larvae - they really can't get enough of that. They like the white mosquito larvae, but can take it or leave it sometimes.

Strange about the JMC pellets. I used to feed my Clowns those while in England.

The same fish are here in Canada with others and they ripped into the JMC pellets I bought back from England from my trip in August, even after 5 years without them.

Hikari Sinking Carnivour pellets are another fave. Probably their most favourite food actually.

Martin.

I did persevere with them for a while as I thought it may just be the change in what they are used to. They go eventually, but disintegrate a lot which can cloud the water a bit. Is there another type maybe that I am not aware of? They are definitely JMC sinking catfish pellets that I have. My tank is like a boiling cauldron when I put bloodworm and both the loaches and my angel fish will come up and take it from my hand. The clowns are feasting on angel fish eggs I think at the moment - I have just had my second batch layed in 2 weeks by the same fish!!

I end up siphoning most of the food out of the tank after it has been in for 20 mins and they've not touch much of it.

They get bloodworm (mix of red & white,) a couple of times a week but want to find a sinking food for them that doesn't get mobbed by the tiger barbs the second it hits the water!

I'll have to look around for the high protein food and Hikari pellets, they love the Hikari algae wafers

It's odd that they don't go for the JMC pellets, I have never seen a loach not go for them! Our fish, both at home, and in the shop, go mental for these! I could be wrong, but I believe the High Protein JMC pellets (which have a red lid) are the same as the Sinking Catfish pellets (orange lid), just a smaller granular size.
Most fish will go for Tetra Prima, and our loaches also enjoy the Hikari Sinking Carnivore Pellets, and Tetra Treats (an expensive sinking tablet food).
I personally don't use bloodworm as it is a very rich food and if fed too often can cause digestive problems. I'd stick to the white mosquito larvae (cultured in cleaner waters) and shrimp based frozen foods such as artemia, mysis, krill and chopped prawns.

Emma

my loaches didnt go for the JMC pellets. they just ended up disintegrating. they love the hikari pellets though. they also like sera granules, JBL granules and sera bottom feeders pellets - i cant remeber the right name, but it has a picture of a clown on the larger tubs. they dont like the tetra prima so much, as they are fussy, and tetra is too easy to find

Mine go nuts for HBH Super Cichlid sinking pellets (the extra large size). they are 40% crude protein. The largest clown will pick them up, one at a time, and haul them to his corner. Gets 2 or 3, then retires to protect them from the others and eats at his leisure.

they also really like the Tetramin Crisps. They are like flake, but thicker. Got them for the angels, but they have to fight the clowns for them.

A lot of it will probably depend on what the fish were being fed at the stores you bought them from too. Ours get a huge array of different foods.

Emma

midman wrote: They do however like the high protein granular food ( I think by JMC again) but I don't seem to be able to buy this at the moment.

I also feed mine with this granular stuff. They love it. You can buy this form Bridgemere Water Gardens in Staffordshire, they have loads of the stuff. Its just before (next to) the door as you walk into the Tropical room its on your left on the bottom shelf.

I also use some pellets that are in a clear tud with a yellow sticker on it taht says "Sinking Catfish Pellets" on it, it also has a white lid.