Feeding Question

jpc763

Active Member
So my feeding schedule is to feed 4x per week (M, W, F & Sa). I feed 1/4 cube of Frozin Mysis; Emerald Entree or Marine Cuisine (I rotate). When I had 4 fish (2 False Percs, 1 Firefish & 1 Sixline) everybody seemed to get their fill. In about 1 minute all of the food would be gone.
Enter the Royal Gramma. Since I added a 5th fish, I increased the food from 1/4 cube to 1/3 cube, but the schedule is the same. The Royal Gramma is by far the most agressive eater in the tank. Most of the rest can hold their own, but the poor Firefish is not getting enough to eat. The food is gond in about 30 seconds.
Tonight I put in 1/3 cube of Mysis. The Firefish got 1 single Mysis while the RG probably got her share AND the Firefish's!

I am worried that the Firefish will starve!

Note that I do not have a problem with Algae or Nitrates. No Algae and Nitrates are always zero. I have a Remora Urchin skimmer and I fill the cup half way each week so I do not think I have a lot of extra food.
So should I feed daily or more food each time on the same schedule?
 

rcoultas

Member
if the food is gone in less than 1 minute you could very well try a bit more at each feeding - increasing times per week will not make any more available to the firefish.
as long as the food is consumed within several minutes and not left to settle on the bottom then you should be ok
 

sepulatian

Moderator
Originally Posted by rcoultas
if the food is gone in less than 1 minute you could very well try a bit more at each feeding - increasing times per week will not make any more available to the firefish.
as long as the food is consumed within several minutes and not left to settle on the bottom then you should be ok
I agree. Add more each feeding. Do you have a cleanup crew? If the gramma is eating most of the food then add more each time so the firefish can get some. I would not be concerned about a little falling to the bottom. If you have crabs and snails then they will get it if the fish don't.
 

jpc763

Active Member
Yes, I have a pretty good cleanup crew. A dozen or so hermits, a few Emeralds, a Sally Lightfoot, Cleaner Shrimp and a Brittle Star. That along with snails.
I will up the feeding to 1/2 cube and see how long it takes them to eat it all. If it is less than 2 minutes, I will increase more until I feel like they are all getting enough. I will also keep the schedule of 4 days per week.
Thanks!
 
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