Long Release Tablet Food

Hello,

So I'be been battling the following issue for a while now.

My aquarium is inhabitted by: cardinal tetras, forktail rainbows, galaxy danios, 2 GBR and since today 6 kuhlI loaches.

The problem is that whenever I feed, the smaller fish go into a frenzy; out of 50 + particles that sink, maybe 3-4 make it to the ground. The rest are swallowed one after another mostly by the cardinals. Now here's the issue: the GBR are lazy feeders. They look at it, inspect it...they don't really rush. And as such, they go hungry mostly. I have to drop down a bigger shrimp algae pellet down for them; they chase the other fish away and get to nip a bit on it. But I'm not sure an algae minI tab has all the nutrients they require.

Since today, I also have 6 kuhlI loaches. Since only 3-4 particles make it to the ground as it is (and if the GBR are not quick enough to get them, the small one's eat them as well), I'm pretty sure my loaches will starve.

The one solution I can think about is to find some sort of tablet that doesn't decompose very quickly, contains a balanced mix of ingredients/nutrients and do not break very easily (the cardinals will nip on it anyways). I looked around but all I seem to find are Pleco Tablets. Can you please suggest some tablets that would fit my requirements? Prefferably available in Germany (tetra, sera, JBL)

EDIT: I have the exact same issue with feeding shrimp; I try to hide a pellet for them here and there, but I am rarely successful. And they seem to be feeding on...wood? their stomach looks mostly brown. Any big, hard shrimp pellets suggestions? Something that would be impossible for fish to consume...

 

They’re not lazy feeders, it sounds like they just don't like the food. Those time release vacation feeders are bad for water quality. What brand of food and are they pellets?

 

HI there! They actually make food for bottom feeders that are usually sinking pellets. I would check those out!

 

They’re not lazy feeders, it sounds like they just don't like the food. Those time release vacation feeders are bad for water quality. What brand of food and are they pellets?

They do eat it when they catch it. And they eat the algae minI pellet. It's just that the little ones are way faster then them, and they really don't get a chance. I already fed today, but I'm going to try to make a short film when feeding tomorrow.

HI there! They actually make food for bottom feeders that are usually sinking pellets. I would check those out!

I checked around but all the pellets I saw were no larger than 2 mm (except maybe for pond pellets). Problem is at this size, the cardinals will swallow them. This is why I was hoping for a tablet, or something bigger which would give the GBR's and loaches a chance to get their fair share.

At the moment I am feeding ...this mix put into a pepper grinder (proportions not really known):
- Tetra-Min flakes
- Tetra Micro Menu (micro pellets 4 kinds)
- Tetra Crusta Menu (shrimp pellets 4 kinds)
- few capsules of spirulina powder
- 2mm krill pellets (those used for fishing)
- tiny amount of krill powder

I chose to mix these things together so that when I feed, there's both floating and sinking particles, as well as a rich variety. I set the grinder to very fine, so as to make sure my cardinals don't explode from swallowing too big bits....they just swallow more small ones, and still look like they're about to blow.
The algae mini-tablets I was talking about are from the "Tetra Crusta Menu" pack, some 4mm round, green tabs.

Ocasionally they get some frozen bloodworms + artemia or live fruit flies.

 

Have you considered making gel food? Maybe your bottom feeders and slower fish would get their share once they discovered it as food. I've never made it but there are lots of recipes on line for it. You can add just about any kind of nutritious foods to it.

 

H

Have you considered making gel food? Maybe your bottom feeders would get their share once they discovered it as food. I've never made it but there are lots of recipes on line for it. You can add just about any kind of nutritious foods to it.

hmm..never heard of it. I will look it up and see what it is about.

 

You might look into Sera O Nip tablets ... you stick them to the glass and they gradually release particles. Rachel O'leary uses them in some of her videos so you can get a better look at the fish she is spotlighting.

 

H

hmm..never heard of it. I will look it up and see what it is about.

I think it is called snail jello. It has been a while since I checked it out. I got as far as buying the gelatin.

 

I googled a bit and it seems that Repashy is the real deal; apparently the product stays for a couple of days without muddying the water, giving enough time for shrimp to graze on it. I think I'll give it a try and see how it goes?

The home-made idea sounds more appealing (I can put the ingredients I want in), and is probably cheaper, but it would probably take tens of batches to get a good mixture, that keeps well for prolonged periods in water.

 

I googled a bit and it seems that Repashy is the real deal; apparently the product stays for a couple of days without muddying the water, giving enough time for shrimp to graze on it. I think I'll give it a try and see how it goes?

The home-made idea sounds more appealing (I can put the ingredients I want in), and is probably cheaper, but it would probably take tens of batches to get a good mixture, that keeps well for prolonged periods in water.

I've never fed Replashy but have read some good reports on it. It does sound like a good idea for your situation and maybe along the way you can run some trial runs at making it yourself. At least your fish will be well fed while you are learning.

 

Done it - ordered a pack; terribly expensive, so that comes out of my food allowance, but at least my shrimp, loaches and GBR's will be well fed Thanks for suggesting gelatin foods, I really had no idea and was really getting frustrated with the situation.

 

Done it - ordered a pack; terribly expensive, so that comes out of my food allowance, but at least my shrimp, loaches and GBR's will be well fed Thanks for suggesting gelatin foods, I really had no idea and was really getting frustrated with the situation.

You are very welcome. That is just one more of the many good things about this forum. It gets lots of heads together coming up solutions to just about anything that comes along. .

 

You could try API Bottom Feeder. It's basically shrimp pellets and sinks pretty quick. I like HikarI Micro Wafers as they sink slowly so everyone gets some. I also feed TetraColor Tropical Granules and they sink like the Micro Wafers but are bigger. You can crush them between your fingers if they're too big for your fish.

I also use Repashy Bottom Scratcher and Soylient Green. I was making 2 batches but now just mix both together. I cut them in small squares for my plecos and bottom feeders. My RCS and Amanos love it too. You can spread it on a plate or dip bambo skewers in it before it sets. It will last a few days in a tank w/o fouling the water. It doesn't last more than 12 hrs in any tank except my shrimp only tank though because most of the fish love it.

One tip: Do not use your microwave to make Repashy. It stinks and you won't want to use your microwave for human food for weeks. If possible, do it outside or in the garage or at the very least, near an open window. The stuff stinks when making it.

 

Haha, note taken! Will cook it in the balcony!