Feeding Siamese algae eaters

[Siamese Ninja Fish]

Hi, my four Siamese algae eaters were up until a week ago eating only
carnivore pellets and the odd pea. Last week I tried to get them eating
algae wafers again and I also brought some tetra plecomin tabs, but they
wont eat them. They will eat flake food, but I find it hard to not put to
much in when I am trying to get it to sink and they also eat peas.

The reason that I want to get them eating vegetarian again is because the
carnivore pellets are making the largest one fat and they probably
don't contain everything that they need. I also have to put a lot in so they
aren't all eaten by my clown loaches, which is also the only thing that they
will eat. So what I want to try is just feeding them peas, but I'm not sure
if that will be a good enough diet for them.

Does anyone know if that will be OK?

cheers
Scott

[Elaine T]

Siamese Ninja Fish wrote:
> Hi, my four Siamese algae eaters were up until a week ago eating only
> carnivore pellets and the odd pea. Last week I tried to get them eating
> algae wafers again and I also brought some tetra plecomin tabs, but they
> wont eat them. They will eat flake food, but I find it hard to not put to
> much in when I am trying to get it to sink and they also eat peas.
>
> The reason that I want to get them eating vegetarian again is because the
> carnivore pellets are making the largest one fat and they probably
> don't contain everything that they need. I also have to put a lot in so they
> aren't all eaten by my clown loaches, which is also the only thing that they
> will eat. So what I want to try is just feeding them peas, but I'm not sure
> if that will be a good enough diet for them.
>
> Does anyone know if that will be OK?
>
> cheers
> Scott
>

I agree that only carnivore food or only peas is not a varied enough
diet for SAE, although your fish are probably also grazing some algae.
Your clown loaches would probably appreciate more variety as well. Most
clowns adore frozen bloodworms, and I've also fed clowns live brine
shrimp, frozen glassworms, dried or frozen krill, and shrimp pellets.
Some will eat slices of cucumber too.

Despite their barbels and downturned mouths, my SAE have always learned
how to eat flakes from the surface. They also hover and catch flakes in
midwater as the food starts to sink or is pushed down by the filter
outflow. Try offering an appropriate amount of flakes for a week or so
and see if your SAE figure something out. Most fish are very
resourceful at finding food when they start to get hungry.

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com