Tetra Gel Foods

Fishguy2727

You can leave the light off. This is actually one of the best things you can do if fish are stressed out. We always keep the lights off on the saltwater fish their first day in the shop.

Olympia

More Carnivore pellets for Sparky! Unless those aren't the feeder fish pellets.

Try feeding after lights out.

Sakura8

Sparky is Mr. Squishy Bits! He's huge!

I'll try feeding after dark. Will they eventually learn to come out and eat in the light though? Are congo tetras typically midwater feeders or top feeders?

Chesherca

I'm not sure about congo, specifically, but I think most tetra like to feed in the mid levels of the tank - my (wildcaught) tetra WILL NOT TOUCH anything that is on the substrate, so sinking pellets are out! I'd try some wet-frozen Mysis - that's what mine really seem to dig right now, and move onto a flake food once they become acclimated to your tank and comfortable with their new tankmates.

Feeding in the dark is definitely a good idea - not necessarily AFTER dark, like, outside - but just with the tank lights out. I leave the hood lights off for a day or two any time I get new fish, it helps them calm down and acclimate more easily, it seems. . . bumping up their shoal is a great idea, and my guess is that once they get used to things, they'll be begging for food however bright the lights are!

I know that lots of the Congo Tetra are wild-caught. . . have you asked the store were they came from, and what they were being fed while they were there?

Good luck!

Sakura8

Thanks Chesherca. I got them from two different stores. One of them there may be a possibility they were wildcaught but the other one I doubt it. I'll try feeding with the tank lights off for a few days. Last night I tried some Ocean Nutrition Formula One RDF frozen food but the congos ignored it. Guppies and dojos, as usual, slurped it up. Maybe the guppies are too aggressive?

Also bought some Omega One First Flakes to entice their appetite and some ZooMed Earthworm Flakes. Anything to get them out and eating. Then I'll switch over to a more staple flake.

Chesherca

Poor little things! I've read that some tetra can be shy around boisterous tank-mates. . . I guess I would include guppies in that category - they sure do like to zoooooom around the tank at mealtime! Maybe they're making the tetra nervous. Have you tried spot-feeding the Tetra in their little hiding space? Give some food on one side of the tank to distract the others and drop some more right into their little hangout? One of my Bolivan Rams is a bit weird about competing for food, so I sometimes have to do this for her - she'll eat, but she won't fight the others for her fare share. She gets all stressed out at feeding time, and if she's having a bad day, will hang back instead of eating. After a week or two of spot feeding, she'll eat out of my hand, and is much more willing to join the group - cuz' she knows she'll get something yummy, even if she doesn't bully for it.

Good luck!!! Maybe they need to try one of Sparky's big ol' pellets! Wouldn't hurt HIM to share ;) Though. . . it'd prolly knock one on the head and that wouldn't be good for anyone. . .

Did you ask at either of the stores to find what they were being fed? Maybe that would help. . .

Sakura8

I'll ask at both stores and see what they've been feeding. I'd kinda like to bet rid of the guppies but I have nowhere to put them and I feel bad giving them to a pet store, since female guppies don't sell well. But they are aggressive eaters. They have their own feeding ring but they follow food everywhere. They even try to eat the wafers for the dojos.

I did notice last night that the congos didn't seem to care for pellets but they did react to flakes. So I'm guessing they were fed flakes. Which is weird because none of my fish eat flakes even though I've tried.

Feeding community tanks is so complicated. I like Sparky. Just drop the big pellets in and that's that.

Walp, it's about time to go feed the tank. Wish me luck.

Chesherca

Good luck to you! It IS hard to feed in community - especially when said community involves such greedy eaters as the live-bearer crew! I have mollies in my community, and have had similar problems with them. Lucky for me, I was able to find a friend who REALLY REALLY wanted my female guppies, so that problem is solved, and the Mollies are soon to be put into their own tank :)

Hopefully things will go better for everyone tonight! Flake food FTW!

Sakura8

Quick update: I called one of the stores. They said they fed pellets and that it is normal for them to act like this for the first week or two. I hope so. I have been feeding them with the lights off for the most part. NLS pellets and frozen krill with some veggie flakes thrown in because I read that both swordtails and congos need veggies. Still can't really say if the congos are eating or not. I ordered some live plants to put in the tank so hopefully that will make them more confident. At least my regular community eats more or less normally.

Chesherca

Well... I hope that's true, and it's just a settling in! I'm SURE that the extra plants will go a long way in helping them feel at home. I feed my babies veggies, too - actual veggies, lol! But NLS has a nice variety of veggies and fruits in them already (most of the types do, anyway - check the ingredients), so you might not have to feed the extra flakes :) Give 'em some peas - I promise, the live-bearers will go batty for 'em!

You know. . . if you REALLY don't want those guppies anymore. . . *ahem* Sparky is on a diet, and I'm SURE he's getting pretty hungry.

Keep me posted on these little guys - I hope they start behaving themselves soon.