What else have you tried in your auto feeder?

[cdw79]

I've got a few fish that simply refuse to consistently take pellets. I've tried large, medium, and small sizes, speaking them first, letting them float first, soaking them in garlic, mixing them with the frozen food, everything I can think of. Yet still I have a few fish that will either not take a pellet at all, or if they do, they "chew" it for a second or two and/or spit it back out. It's driving me nuts.

I want t potentially try something new in my Eheim. Has anyone had any success with something besides pellets in there that won't blow up phosphates/nitrates or clog the feeder? Curious to hear if there's a non-pellet option I could try (though I've been advised off flakes in an auto feeder). Thanks!

 

[mehaffydr]

Have you tried different brands of pellets? I use the Neptune pellets in my autofeeder and the fish seam to love them.

 

[cdw79]

I've tried the Apex pellets and now wo kinds of spectrum pellets. While I'm sure there's a possibility that yet another brand might help, admittedly I'm a little sick of burning money on full packages of pellets. I wish they came in little 2-3 portion sample sizes at least.

I thought I read something about people feeding freeze dried brine? Not sure if that would be an option?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Pellets , flakes and wafers

 

[mehaffydr]

The problem with Freeze dried Brine it will just float to the skimmer unless you have some type of feeding ring or the Plank feeder to get it moist.

 

[cdw79]

Huh, seems like there isn't much else being used. What's the secret to get those pickier fish to take to them? I feel like I've done everything I can think of and burned far more money than feels necessary to have not made much difference.. But open to try and ideas!

 

[Kodski]

Huh, seems like there isn't much else being used. What's the secret to get those pickier fish to take to them? I feel like I've done everything I can think of and burned far more money than feels necessary to have not made much difference.. But open to try and ideas!

In my experience some fish are always more reluctant to accept pellet food. I've gotten all my fish to eat pellets with two methods. One way is to mix frozen and pellet food together during feeding. The fish tend to get caught up with the feeding rush and gobble them down. Then realize that pellets=food. Second way I've had success is to just feed pellets for a week. The first couple of days they may go hungry but eventually their stomach will win out.

 

[cdw79]

In my experience some fish are always more reluctant to accept pellet food. I've gotten all my fish to eat pellets with two methods. One way is to mix frozen and pellet food together during feeding. The fish tend to get caught up with the feeding rush and gobble them down. Then realize that pellets=food. Second way I've had success is to just feed pellets for a week. The first couple of days they may go hungry but eventually their stomach will win out.

I was thinking this second method might be the silver bullet for me given nothing else has worked. But my concern is my captive bred lyretail, which "kind of" eats pellets (loves the spit out routine, maybe eats 1 out of every 5 that passes by) won't get enough for and die given their significant feeding needs. Is it too much of a risk to have it potentially go several days without a full meal? Not sure how others may have navigated a similar situation

 

[cdw79]

And also, what should I make of the eating and spitting out behavior? Is that a good sign? Anything particular to try and do in that situation?

 

[davidcalgary29]

And also, what should I make of the eating and spitting out behavior? Is that a good sign? Anything particular to try and do in that situation?

They do need to soften before they can be swallowed. My smallish chalk bass still tries to swallow the big pellets, every time, but its appetite still can't beat the basic facts of physiology.

Have you tried masstick in your autofeeder?

 

[cdw79]

I haven't @davidcalgary29 , honestly I've never heard of it! What's its claim to fame?

 

[Chrisv.]

I really really like the TDO Chroma boost pellets. Give them a try. I bet your fish will go for them. Mine got nuts for them.

 

[Tcook]

All of my fish eat the TDO small. Try this brand and feed nothing else for a week as mentioned above.

 

[cdw79]

All of my fish eat the TDO small. Try this brand and feed nothing else for a week as mentioned above.

Thoughts on whether I'm risking my anthias putting them on straight pellets for a week? That's my only hesitation

 

[Tcook]

Thoughts on whether I'm risking my anthias putting them on straight pellets for a week? That's my only hesitation

My lyretails and bimac devour the TDO.

 

[ZoWhat]

COFFEE

.... i'm a multitasker

 

[davidcalgary29]

I haven't @davidcalgary29 , honestly I've never heard of it! What's its claim to fame?

Many people have reported great success using it with picky eaters such as butterflies and orange-spotted filefish. My fish do like it, but no more so than other foods.

It should be easy enough to mince the pre-prepared formula and put it in an auto feeder.

 

[cdw79]

Many people have reported great success using it with picky eaters such as butterflies and orange-spotted filefish. My fish do like it, but no more so than other foods.

It should be easy enough to mince the pre-prepared formula and put it in an auto feeder.

That stuff looks awesome! From the videos I've seen it seems a little moist and clumpy, albeit I've never seen it in person. Before I go spend money on it though, does it seem crumble-y enough in person where it wouldn't clump up in the auto feeder? Otherwise I'll probably try the TDO pellets given the several positive experiences above

 

[Tcook]

That stuff looks awesome! From the videos I've seen it seems a little moist and clumpy, albeit I've never seen it in person. Before I go spend money on it though, does it seem crumble-y enough in person where it wouldn't clump up in the auto feeder? Otherwise I'll probably try the TDO pellets given the several positive experiences above

I have it. I think it would jam up a screw drive feeder like the Plank. Not sure about the Eheim and others. Why not try TDO in the feeder and press mastik on the glass?

 

[cdw79]

That's exactly what I'm thinking. Even if they take to the pellets Masstick just seems like a cool product.

The problem fish I have are:
Lyretail anthias (on the smaller side, maybe 2-2.5 inches)
Adult Bangaii (wild caught I think)
Yellow Assessor
New lawnmower blenny (not worried about him, there's plenty of film algae that he grazes on all day)

What size would be best? I'm seeing C1, B2, etc and I'm not really sure what to make of the different options