My baby blue hippo, how much is too much?

[nina&noah]

I've had my free baby blue hippo for over a week now and I am happy to report that he is doing great!

He eats like a pig, which brings me to my question...
How much food is too much? He always seems to be ravenous. I leave a small sheet of algae in the tank everyday and I feed him something additional every other evening. Right now he is picking at the empty clip where the algae used to be. How do I know that he is getting enough to eat?

 

[fats71]

I wonder the same thing about my foxface. I clip algage to the clip and I have seen him nip at it alittle but it is mostly still there. I feed the other fish and see him eat that but im not sure if he is into my algage. I have red and green but your question is thhe same of mine.

 

[anonome]

Is he eating the algae sheet, or do you have other fish with him that may be eating it? Depending on what you see him eat will determine on if you should feed him more. Can you give a list of other fish?
I have many herbivores in my tank that will eat a piece of algae sheet 2"x3" in no time flat, don't even bother with the clip, they take it right out of my hand.........pigs!!! LOL
But, with this being said, I do have one that is a slow eater, so I have to watch him more.

 

[mgatdog]

Mine was 2" long when I got her/him and now he/she about 4 to 5" long .I feed 2x3" piece of algae once a day and some brine & mysis shrimp in the evening. It's always hungry.

 

[tizzo]

Grazing fish "pick" all day. Most fish in the wild will generally, over the span of a whole day, consume food equivalent in size to it's own eyeball.
Those recommended "feed 3 times a day" ads are if you really know how to feed small portions. But since we, as americans, eat like pigs and like it, we assume our fish need to also.
The algae sheet is good for him to pick, but I don't think I would leave it there all day. If you feed him the strip, supplemental feedings are not necessary.
To much feeding will compromise your water quality. Even if the fish is eating it all. It will still hit the floor of the tank one way or another.

 

[nina&noah]

Originally Posted by Tizzo
http:///forum/post/2533853
Grazing fish "pick" all day. Most fish in the wild will generally, over the span of a whole day, consume food equivalent in size to it's own eyeball.
Those recommended "feed 3 times a day" ads are if you really know how to feed small portions. But since we, as americans, eat like pigs and like it, we assume our fish need to also.
The algae sheet is good for him to pick, but I don't think I would leave it there all day. If you feed him the strip, supplemental feedings are not necessary.
To much feeding will compromise your water quality. Even if the fish is eating it all. It will still hit the floor of the tank one way or another.

This is so true! I just tested my water and my nitrates are at 40!

So now I have a bigger problem than a hungry fish!

 

[mgatdog]

Originally Posted by Tizzo
http:///forum/post/2533853
Grazing fish "pick" all day. Most fish in the wild will generally, over the span of a whole day, consume food equivalent in size to it's own eyeball.
Those recommended "feed 3 times a day" ads are if you really know how to feed small portions. But since we, as americans, eat like pigs and like it, we assume our fish need to also.
The algae sheet is good for him to pick, but I don't think I would leave it there all day. If you feed him the strip, supplemental feedings are not necessary.
To much feeding will compromise your water quality. Even if the fish is eating it all. It will still hit the floor of the tank one way or another.
I agree also. Forgot too say he is not the only fish in the tank thats eating.Nothing hits the bottom with my pigs .