Ferocious Eater

Earl Karl · May 26, 2018

Is there a fish that is a very voracious eater? I do tend to overfeed since I have delicate fish that I need to make sure they eat and my cuc takes a while to clean up after them. I have somewhat dainty fish, with only a cleaner wrasse that loves to eat everything. Everyone else just takes their time. One more fish should solve the problem of uneaten food. Nutrient problem is not a big deal due to big refugium, so don't say anything about fish contributing to nutrient problems and such. I just want fish that has a role in the tank (like cleaner wrasse to clean my eel, or sixline wrasse for pests, etc), I just don't like the looks of uneaten food laying on substrate. This is a 75 gallon.

Maggie321 · May 26, 2018

Just feed less...problem solved

Earl Karl · May 26, 2018

Lol, if I do that, all of my picky eaters like my CBB won't eat. A storm of food gives them confidence. It's not a big deal, I just don't like having food on my substrate.
Although, that would be a good solution if I am willing to flush down dead, scrawny fish (don't take offense, just a joke).

Carterfish · May 27, 2018

Triggers are about as ferocious a eater one can get. However they demand a lot of food and may actually threaten your sensitive fish. I️ would go with a sand dwelling wrasse such as melanurus or yellow corris. They may not be hugely ferocious eaters but mine dig around in the sand and look all over for uneaten food.

Your cleaner wrasse eats a ton?? How’d you get him to do this? I’m looking into maybe getting one. Also afraid of I️t annoying my triggers to the point of stressing them out.

tdileo · May 27, 2018

Carterfish said:
Triggers are about as ferocious a eater one can get. However they demand a lot of food and may actually threaten your sensitive fish. I️ would go with a sand dwelling wrasse such as melanurus or yellow corris. They may not be hugely ferocious eaters but mine dig around in the sand and look all over for uneaten food.

Your cleaner wrasse eats a ton?? How’d you get him to do this? I’m looking into maybe getting one. Also afraid of I️t annoying my triggers to the point of stressing them out.

I work at my LFS and most of our cleaner wrasses are quite aggressive eaters. However I believe the problem is they NEED the stuff they eat in the wild when they clean other fish and they just don’t get it enough in captivity so they eventually die from some nutrition related issues. I may be wrong though.

Earl Karl · May 27, 2018

Truth is cleaner wrasse don't need to clean fish in order to survive. Mine has been in QT for two months without a big fish to clean, still living. That is just a myth. Like CBB, you just need to find one that eats in the store. Then they eat everything. I give mine nori for them to eat all day, then I feed them twice a day with frozen food. Half portion of blood worms for my CBB, as they go nuts for it. Half portion of Rods herbivore blend, more greens for my pretty black combtooth blenny. My cleaner even eats banana, broccoli, carrots, you name it, all of the odd foods I like to give as treats.

Anyways, I wish I can get a trigger for my 75, but it's a 75, can't put one in there. I've got a lot in my other tanks, but that's because they are big enough to support them. I can't get another wrasse because my sixline beats the crap outta them. I miss my Carpenter's. My sixline only beats up wrasses though, he didn't beat my flame angel when I introduced him. I need something that's as voracious as my cleaner. Although he eats everything, he doesn't eat a lot due to his small stomach. Is there any other fish that can live in a 75, and eats well? How are springeri dottybacks?

Tphill · May 27, 2018

My clowns eat till I quit feeding.

Earl Karl · May 27, 2018

I might consider a clownfish. However, the ones that I have in my magnificent anemone, don't really leave the anemone unless food falls on top of them. I'll consider it.