Thoughts on how to fatten up sargassum triggerfish.

Costareefer · Mar 12, 2023

Seems to be eating well. Doesn’t want flake so I made a mixture of formula 2 and PE flakes with mysis and some gelatin. The fish seems to eat it up. He only wanted mysis then I mixed in the mysis with the flake foods gelatin and selcon. My lights are out and I don’t have a good pic but I found this one and it’s exactly how he looks. What would you feed to fatten him up?

mfollen · Mar 12, 2023

I have one and it eats any and everything.
Perhaps look into freeze dried shrimp in some sort of automated feeding if feeding frozen manually is the issue.

Paul B · Mar 12, 2023

That fish shouldn't eat flakes, actually no fish should. Clams would be the best food for him and if you can get them, small saltwater fish.

In the sea they eat small fish, shrimp and crabs.

I never finish anythi · Mar 12, 2023

Paul B said:
That fish shouldn't eat flakes, actually no fish should. Clams would be the best food for him and if you can get them, small saltwater fish.

In the sea they eat small fish, shrimp and crabs.

Why shouldn't any fish eat flakes ??

Paul B · Mar 12, 2023

They are very processed and full of preservatives and contain no fish oil or living bacteria. Not a good food for anything.

slythy · Mar 12, 2023

I auto feed flake 3x (xtreme krill flake) a day, a sheet or nori a day for my foxface and white tail, as well as frozen a couple times a week.

i would think pieces of whole shrimp, clams etc would do quick work of fattening him up. I have a 12” + black piranha that i feed massivour delight exclusively and hes plump and healthy.

threebuoys · Mar 12, 2023

There is no harm feeding him flakes or pellets, but as a carnivore, I believe he will benefit from more natural meat. Some may frown on it, but years ago when I had several triggers, I would periodically buy small shiners at a local bait shop. Certainly, fresh clams, and other salt water life would probably be cleaner in the tank and easier to prepare and administer if you can get it.

FishSkedee · Mar 12, 2023

I feed my trigger small pieces of fresh salmon, along with any other meat with gut bacteria, he goes absolutely nuts over it. Soaking food in selcon can help fatten him up too..

Costareefer · Mar 14, 2023

threebuoys said:
There is no harm feeding him flakes or pellets, but as a carnivore, I believe he will benefit from more natural meat. Some may frown on it, but years ago when I had several triggers, I would periodically buy small shiners at a local bait shop. Certainly, fresh clams, and other salt water life would probably be cleaner in the tank and easier to prepare and administer if you can get it.

I guess I should have specified PE mysis flakes.

so far so good btw. He eats from my hand and is devouring shrimp. I’ll get something different tomorrow.