clowns arent growing.

[swingsett]

so ive had two oscellarious for about 4 months now, and they are still the same size as when i bought them. about an inch and a half long, inch tall.
i feed the formula 2 mostly, but i give them as much brine shrimp as they can handle 3 times a week. they look pretty fat after a sitting of that, but they seriously arent growing. whats going on here?
normal water perams, 55 gallon with only a starfish to live with. roughly 30lbs lr.

 

[rod buehle]

Its been forever since i have used Formula 2( I HATE the gel binders) but I am pretty sure that its mostly herbs and brine shrimp is like a snickers bar.. Taste damn good but not much nutrition there. So your fish arent getting much in the way of protein. They are omnivorous so youll need a food that also has some good meat in it.If you like the gel binders, you could try the formula 1 (Im not sure how much is food and how much is gel) or try some other foods.

 

[perfectdark]

Originally Posted by Rod Buehle
http:///forum/post/2736556
Its been forever since i have used Formula 2( I HATE the gel binders) but I am pretty sure that its mostly herbs and brine shrimp is like a snickers bar.. Taste damn good but not much nutrition there. So your fish arent getting much in the way of protein. They are omnivorous so youll need a food that also has some good meat in it.If you like the gel binders, you could try the formula 1 (Im not sure how much is food and how much is gel) or try some other foods.
I agree... stop with the brine and formula 2. I use formula 1 occasionally, it has much better ingredients in it for omnivorous fish like clowns. I am not a fan of gel binders either and because of that this is not their staple. Although based on nutrition alone it could be. IMO I would look for a good frozen food with out gel binders. Like Rods Food, (you can thank me later Rod) lol. Seriously, there are others out there but his is a great example of a frozen food with no gel binders and a phenomenal array of ingredients for the health of your fish. You could always make your own too, if your into it. Its pretty fun, you can add a variety of things, and make as much or as little of it as you want.

 

[dse]

hi i've had mine for just over 6months myself. at first i fed just flake but then changed to how they would would/should eat. i now use these: frozen mysis, flake,sea weed,alive daphnia,frozen daphnia,frozen cockle meat, i try to keep this all random, i've been doing this for 2 months and noticed big changes.

 

[swingsett]

what do you guys think about that oraglo hatchery food?

 

[t316]

You could feed more often than 3 times a week, just mix up the menu from feeding to feeding. 3 times/wk will definately not starve them, but if you want to fatten them up, feed them. Agree with the others that your brine is not doing much, nutritionaly, so change it up with some mysis, raw shrimp, squid, flake food, cyclopeez, and blood worms (clowns love those).

 

[swingsett]

yea i feed twice a day. i just give brine 3 times a week, thats all. i have some bloodworms, but arent these a freshwater food? anyways, ill try that tonight and see if they kill it. bloodworms are healthy right?

 

[t316]

Originally Posted by swingsett
http:///forum/post/2737663
yea i feed twice a day. i just give brine 3 times a week, thats all. i have some bloodworms, but arent these a freshwater food? anyways, ill try that tonight and see if they kill it. bloodworms are healthy right?
Sorry, just gathered from your op that you only feed 3x/wk.
Take a look into Brine. It's not all that good.
Yes, bloodworms are mainly a fresh water food, but try it. They are loaded with nutrients and my fish fight over it.

 

[dse]

Originally Posted by T316
http:///forum/post/2737702
Sorry, just gathered from your op that you only feed 3x/wk.
Take a look into Brine. It's not all that good.
Yes, bloodworms are mainly a fresh water food, but try it. They are loaded with nutrients and my fish fight over it.
These are high risk food for parasites. so becarefull

 

[aquaguy24]

i've had my 2 clowns (true perc)almost 2 years..but i feed them formula 1 flake..frozen formula 1 and 2..seweed. cyclopeeze, and mysis..the've only grown about an inch..is that normal. One of them is about 3inches and the other is 2 1/2 inches...but they are nice a fat..

 

[t316]

Originally Posted by dse
http:///forum/post/2737807
These are high risk food for parasites. so becarefull
No more than the food you & I eat. I guess it depends on the chef....

 

[dse]

i think everyone's forgetting one thing. clowns live a long age approx 25 years. so theres plenty of time for them to grow. remember it din't take 1 day to build rome

 

[t316]

Originally Posted by dse
http:///forum/post/2737942
i think everyone's forgetting one thing. clowns live a long age approx 25 years. so theres plenty of time for them to grow. remember it din't take 1 day to build rome
Good point dse....
I hear that a lot with tangs too. People get them and wonder why they don't get the same size as the one's in the lfs's showtank in 2 months.

 

[paintballer768]

True. Mine loved mysis and even went after the cyclopeeze in the tank, but thats far too small to sustain them (the cyclo I mean). Ive never heard anything about ORAglow. Anyone tried it?