[Diver Down]

I recently added some Red Phantom Tetras to a tank with Zebra Danios. As expected, the Danios keep close to the surface while the Tetras have colonized the middle and lower ranges of the water column. I'm feeding them flakes at the moment, and have discovered how voracious the Danios can be. Not many of the crumbled flakes sink before the Danios can snatch them, nor have I seen the Tetras come to the surface to feed. I am fearful of overfeeding... for obvious reasons... so I'm looking for suggestions for (a) getting food down to the Tetras or (b) enticing the Tetras to the surface.

Thanks.

 

[Flear]

tetra floating pellets, ... i use those (strictly because i like the pellet idea more than flakes, you'll have to find someone else to consider what's healthier for fish)

the floating pellets (these really small ones for tetras) tend to sink as soon as they break surface tension. which is rather quick

if your curious and want to speed things up, add them to the surface, and get them wet (hit them into the water with your finger)

 

[Diver Down]

Like this?

tetramin-tropical-fish-food-granules

 

[jaysee]

Put the food in the outflow of the filter to distribute it throughout the tank, in addition to some on the surface for the danios.

 

[Flear]

as for pellets/granuals, ... ya, i use a different brand, but the same stuff essentially

Jaysee's idea works too.

and a bit of trial and error to help you out will work as well

 

[jaysee]

Some degree of overfeeding is necessary IMO and E when keeping community tanks to ensure that all the fish are getting their fill. I keep trumpet snails in my tanks for many reasons, among them acting as a feeding barometer. The snail population is indicative of your feeding practices. If you can't maintain a population then there's no food for them and you are possibly underfeeding. Too many and there is an over abundance of food. With the right amount of food for them, they will maintain a manageable population and not overrun the tank.

 

[Diver Down]

I keep trumpet snails in my tanks for many reasons, among them acting as a feeding barometer. The snail population is indicative of your feeding practices.

Very intriguing idea. I have been thinking about adding a snail as an algae eater, but the tank is new and there's not much if any algae present yet. Are the trumpets consuming algae as well as uneaten fish food?

 

[jaysee]

No if you want an algae eating snail I would go with a nerite.

 

[Agent13]

When i had a community with zebra danios i just took my NLS pellets and tossed half of what I had grabbed on top of the water then dipped the rest into the water in my fingers then let go. Also i'll say that the danios will go to where the food is if its not on top.

I'm not a fan of overfeeding small tanks. Not sure the tank size here but I'm assuming it's not 55g+... So yea I wouldn't over feed.

 

[jaysee]

"Over feeding" is relative . Voracious eaters like danios are going to eat more than they need to - that's just the way they are.

 

[Diver Down]

Not sure the tank size here but I'm assuming it's not 55g+

Small tank... 20-gal

 

[Diver Down]

I'm going to try: (1) getting the Danios started with some floating food and then (2) tossing some more in the filter outflow to push it down to the Tetras.

Now I just need a flashing neon sign altering the Tetras that food is coming!

 

[Agent13]

Now I just need a flashing neon sign altering the Tetras that food is coming!

Haha.. Start showing the food container everytime you feed. Nearly all the fish in my house respond to that.. Come front and center for that cue

 

[jaysee]

A lot of my fish take cues from other fish when it's feeding time. The tetras will be alerted by the danios maniacal behavior - I assume they know when it's feeding time

 

[Diver Down]

The Tetras are new to the tank. They'll get it eventually, I hope. Thanks everyone for the tips.

 

[Misomie]

I crumble the flakes I feed the danios a lot so they are itsy specks of food. However the danios still get their full bellies because how crazy they are. The small specks do buy time for the slower fish to eat though as they often are given flakes too big for the danios.

Maybe you could try really small flakes to distract the danios and keep them busy longer while you feed the others.