![]() In some cases, species of predatory animals, typically large fish such as catfish and cichlids, but sometimes also animals such as freshwater turtles, are provided with feeder fish, because they accept them more readily than alternatives. This makes it easy for fish farmers, retailers, and hobbyists to maintain large populations of these fish that can be sold at a much more affordable price than the more ornamental fish that require better conditions. Typically, these species are tolerant of overcrowding and have a high fecundity and rapid growth rate. The species of fish usually sold as feeder fish are invariably some of the easiest fish for fishkeepers to rear and breed, such as common goldfish, guppies and fathead minnow. oscars, gar, grouper and rays), turtles, crocodilians and other piscivores that naturally hunt in fresh, brackish or salt water ecosystems ( zoo animals such as grizzlies, water snakes, cetaceans, pinnipeds and penguins). aquarium sharks, farmed salmon and tuna) or carnivorous aquarium fish (e.g. For those reasons, I don’t use an automatic fish feeder.Guppies are a common example of feeder fishįeeder fish is the common name for certain types of small, inexpensive fish commonly fed as live food to other captive animals such as predatory fishes (e.g. Also, I have no problem not feeding my fish every day while I’m out town. Due to my picky eaters, I, or my tank sitter, have to feed my fish frozen food by hand. If you’re lucky to have a tank full of fish that will all eat flaked and pelleted food, then the automatic fish feeder can be a saving grace for you. Just make sure you give your sitter the “Don’t kill the fish” worksheet found in my Pre-Travel Planning and Preparation Guide so they are familiar with your system! You’ll still need to rely on a tank sitter which isn’t a bad thing as they can look over the system while they are there feeding. For example, if you know some of your fish will eat flaked/pelleted food, then your sitter could come every two days versus every day. I won’t deny that if some of your fish are getting fed, then that is better than no fish getting any food. An automatic fish feeder can be used to bridge the days when your tank sitter doesn’t feed. These fish will need to be fed another type of food (probably frozen food) which has to be done by hand. ![]() If these fish won’t eat what comes out of the automatic feeder, then these fish aren’t getting fed, rendering the automatic feeder partly useless. I’ve also kept several types of anthias that refuse flaked and pelleted food. ![]() My Banggai cardinal fish ( Pterapogon kauderni) and White Tail Bristletooth Tang ( Ctenochaetus flavicauda) flat out refuse flaked and pelleted food. Third, not every fish will eat flaked or pelleted food. The automatic fish feeders that are on the market only dispense flaked or pelleted food, which brings up drawback #3 Second, at this time there is not a commercially available (i.e., not D.I.Y.) automatic fish feeder that feeds frozen food. If you’re gone for an extended period time and are relying on an automatic fish feeder that fails, then your fish either go hungry or you’ll come home to a nutrient issue and/or algae outbreak. When they fail, they either don’t dispense food, or they dispense way too much food. The drawbacks to an automatic fish feeder are three fold:įirst, automatic fish feeders can fail. This automated feeding is beneficial for when you are away from your tank for several days or if you like to feed your fish several times a day and can’t or don’t want to feed by hand. The automatic fish feeder dispenses food and your fish should get fed (more on the should part in a bit). The biggest benefit to an automatic fish feeder is that you don’t have to be present to feed your fish. While you likely enjoy feeding your fish manually, there are merits and drawbacks to using an automatic fish feeder. Your finned friends simply cannot survive without being fed something. Tagged as: automatic feeder, feeding fishįeeding your fish is something that you have to do. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |