How to Fatten My Fish Up

[Tft12]

For each of your feedings, when do you decide to stop adding food to the tank? I stop feeding when the fish look at the food and decide to pass - but I think this is excessive compared to most.

Many people mentioned parasites. This was my first impression also.

Something to keep in mind, frozen foods are my preferred items to feed, but as far and caloric density is concerned they're mostly water (as with all living or recently dead things) so they'll be pretty calorically sparse when compared to more processed foods like pellets. My fish mostly eat a variety of frozen foods (I think this is best for health) and they're extremely fat - I'm just pointing out the caloric density while your trying to fatten them up, though fat fish can still be unhealthy and malnourished. I have no idea how the absorption of pellets compares to the absorption of more natural foods like PE Mysis, so maybe the fish could actually derive more usable calories from frozen than pellets, but I would doubt it. Anyway, just something to consider while you're looking for weight gain options.

 

[tcampbell23]

Thanks guys for all of the suggestions. I realized today that it's primarily my Orange Shoulder Tang (he's the biggest fish I have ~7.5" ) thats on the skinny side. He seems to burn through the calories of nori and frozen food extremely quickly. All of my other fish actually seem to be thicker especially my sailfin Tang and foxface. My yellow Tang seems to have gained weight as well. I have started to feed pellets more heavily and I will keep an eye out to see if that makes a difference. However, I haven't ruled out the possibility of parasites. I have had this fish for over 7 months now. If it were truly parasites would the fish still be alive? It just seems like he burns through the "empty" calories extremely quickly.

 

[Tft12]

I have an extremely active Achilles Tang that eats a lot but stays thinner than my other tangs. With him, I've always expected that he's thinner because he's so much more active. Sounds like you could have the same situation with your Orange Shoulder.

To your point about dying as a result of parasitic infection, I don't think that chronic internal parasite infections are uncommon in nature. I have limited experience with fishing in the ocean but of the few caught fish whose bellies I've seen, a couple were full of parasitic round worms. So no, I wouldn't say that prolonged parasite infection means imminent death, or that prolonged life means an absence of parasites.

Last thing, I just want to clarify that I didn't mean to say frozen foods are empty calories. I think they are the fullest and best calories, just that those foods have fewer of them.

 

[azreeftank]

My Achilles is about 3/4" thick and 5" long, very dark colors and beautiful. Super active and eats anything that goes in the tank. I feed my 6 tangs and Moorish Idol 2 large sheets of purple and green Nori every day. Then LRS twice a day. That is the best frozen food I have ever used. Then Spirulina flakes that all my fish LOVE as a lazy treat once a day when I am looking at the tank.

 

[eatbreakfast]

Fresh and frozen foods have more digestible oils, which pellets and flakes are severely lacking, and help put on weight for the fish.

 

[tcampbell23]

I was reading through one of @Paul B articles and he mentioned the use of live black worms as a "whole" food that provides a high nutrient content to his fish. I think I am going to start culturing black worms or ordering them on a consistent basis.

So far from this discussion I have gathered:
1. frozen foods are good but, it takes a lot of it for the fish to get the bulk of necessary nutrients especially for a large and active fish like an orange shoulder.
2. A varied diet is key and that should consist of live foods, frozen foods, algae (for tangs and other herbivores), and pelletized food that has a more dense nutritional profile.
3. Multiple feedings throughout the day is much better than one large feeding as it mimics a more natural eating schedule.

Any other thoughts and opinions? Seems like a lot of information is being shared here and I would love for other members who may have similar questions or concerns to chime in.