Tetra feeding habits

[Dick]

I wonder if anyone has Harlequin Raspora Tetras? I have 3 species of
Tetras; Red Serpae Tetras, Bleeding Hearts and the Harlequins. I have
10 of each. Each species has a different eating style. The Bleeding
Hearts live near the bottom and stay under the follage. The
Harlequins and the Serpaes swim mid tank. But, feeding they are all
different. The Bleeding Hearts dash up, grab a flake and return to
the follage. The Serpaes stay mid tank, but make quick motions to
catch all or part of a flake. The Harlequins don't appear to eat
anything, they just swim around at the side of the tank opposite where
I feed. I have had Tetras for over a year. All appear healthy and
colorful. All of them live in my 75 gallon community tank except 5
Harlequins, which are in a 10 gallon community tank. Both groups of
Harlequin feed the same way. Once in awhile I will see a Harlequin
take a bite of flake food, but mostly they ignore the food while the
other fish are in a feeding frenzy. Obviously the Harlequins are
eating something. They are so different from the other two Tetra
species. I was very disturbed when I first noticed. I thought I was
going to lose them, but all 10 are fine.

Just curious what others experience with the Harlequins.

[Sue]

Harlequins are Rasboras which are Cyprinids - not tetras!
They are more closely related to barbs than to neons.
They are lovely & I've had some live over eight years. They join in the
feeding frenzy but are the largest fish in their tank.
;o)

[Dick]

On Mon, 10 May 2004 13:13:29 +0000 (UTC), "Sue"
> wrote:

>Harlequins are Rasboras which are Cyprinids - not tetras!
>They are more closely related to barbs than to neons.
>They are lovely & I've had some live over eight years. They join in the
>feeding frenzy but are the largest fish in their tank.
>;o)
>
>
The fish I am calling Harlequin Rasbora Tetras are the smallest of the
three I mention. I buy via internet, so the name is the one used by
the FS. There is a strong resemblance between the Harlequins and the
Red Serpae body shape and the Harlequins are smaller. My Harlequins
have a red neon body with a black triangle. The base of the triangle
starts at the middle of the body and the apex ends at the tail.

[Sue]

> The fish I am calling Harlequin Rasbora Tetras are the smallest of the
> three I mention. I buy via internet, so the name is the one used by
> the FS.

So you have an ingnorant supplier!
Harlequins get to 2" ( not counting the tail ) but often stop at 1.5"
http://www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/Fishindx/harlquin.htm

>There is a strong resemblance between the Harlequins and the
> Red Serpae body shape and the Harlequins are smaller. My Harlequins
> have a red neon body with a black triangle. The base of the triangle
> starts at the middle of the body and the apex ends at the tail.
>
>

[Dick]

On Mon, 10 May 2004 13:13:29 +0000 (UTC), "Sue"
> wrote:

>Harlequins are Rasboras which are Cyprinids - not tetras!
>They are more closely related to barbs than to neons.
>They are lovely & I've had some live over eight years. They join in the
>feeding frenzy but are the largest fish in their tank.
>;o)
>
>

I found a site with a good picture of the Harlequins. They are at the
left bottom of the tank.

http://www.erdingtonaquatics.com/harlequin.html

I see I have had the wrong family name, the article does say they are
Cyprinids. I will correct my record. Thanks.

I can't imagine my Harlequins in the feeding frenzy. They don't join
in the mass schooling that includes my blue gouramis, clown loaches,
siamese algae eaters, black mollies and platties. There are moments
when over half my fish seem to gather in a corner and swarm top to
bottom. I enjoy this more than the sided to side schooling. The
Harlequins stay aloof. They have good color, their bellies are
rounded, but when they do take a bit of flake food, often they spit it
back out. I know they are eating as they have lived for over a year.

I have a large Black Angelfish that didn't feed for about a month. I
was worried for she normally was first to the front when I approached
to feed. For the whole time I never saw her take in any food, then,
one day, she returned to her old feeding habits. I saw no change in
her body during that long month, I was really worried. That was 4 or
5 months ago and never happened after the one time.

Is there micro organisms in the water that can provide food? Right
now I have one Harlequin in my quarantine tank. It has lost is swim
bladder I guess. Since being put into the Q tank I have never seen it
eat. I don't think it can navigate to a flake. It swims at a 45
degree angle in quick motions. It has been like that for about 6
weeks. It too seems to have some invisible source of food. I can see
the mouth working in all these instances as though swallowing water.

[NetMax]

"Dick" > wrote in message
...
> On Mon, 10 May 2004 13:13:29 +0000 (UTC), "Sue"
> > wrote:
>
> >Harlequins are Rasboras which are Cyprinids - not tetras!
> >They are more closely related to barbs than to neons.
> >They are lovely & I've had some live over eight years. They join in
the
> >feeding frenzy but are the largest fish in their tank.
> >;o)
> >
> >
>
> I found a site with a good picture of the Harlequins. They are at the
> left bottom of the tank.
>
> http://www.erdingtonaquatics.com/harlequin.html
>
> I see I have had the wrong family name, the article does say they are
> Cyprinids. I will correct my record. Thanks.
>
> I can't imagine my Harlequins in the feeding frenzy. They don't join
> in the mass schooling that includes my blue gouramis, clown loaches,
> siamese algae eaters, black mollies and platties. There are moments
> when over half my fish seem to gather in a corner and swarm top to
> bottom. I enjoy this more than the sided to side schooling. The
> Harlequins stay aloof. They have good color, their bellies are
> rounded, but when they do take a bit of flake food, often they spit it
> back out. I know they are eating as they have lived for over a year.

At work there is a 42g hex with only Harlequins. They are enthusiastic
eaters, taking a variety of foods (whatever they can cram in their
mouths), but they are not up to the rough & tumble of fighting for food
like many other fish.

Mouthing food and spitting it out either indicates they are already well
fed, they don't like the food, or they are unwell.

> I have a large Black Angelfish that didn't feed for about a month. I
> was worried for she normally was first to the front when I approached
> to feed. For the whole time I never saw her take in any food, then,
> one day, she returned to her old feeding habits. I saw no change in
> her body during that long month, I was really worried. That was 4 or
> 5 months ago and never happened after the one time.

Probability is that it was ill (ie: internal bacterial disease) and is in
remission or cured itself. I've read about disections revealing internal
scars indicating a battle with some disease on fish which were never
observed to have had any outward symptoms.

> Is there micro organisms in the water that can provide food? Right
> now I have one Harlequin in my quarantine tank. It has lost is swim
> bladder I guess. Since being put into the Q tank I have never seen it
> eat. I don't think it can navigate to a flake. It swims at a 45
> degree angle in quick motions. It has been like that for about 6
> weeks. It too seems to have some invisible source of food. I can see
> the mouth working in all these instances as though swallowing water.

I think that a Harlequin rasbora is too large to make effective use of
any micro-organisms in your tank. Many of the Cyprinidae are algae
eaters though, so they could be snacking on any stringy algaes you have.
You could try dropping in some frozen baby brine shrimp. The size is too
small for many larger fish, but just within the limits of Harlequins.
Thaw it in a bit of water, and then pour it across the top of the tank,
putting drops into different spots so the Harlequins don't have to
wrestle for position. I'd euthanise any small fish which had not eaten
anything in 6 weeks.
--
www.NetMax.tk

[Dick]

On Tue, 11 May 2004 09:15:04 -0400, "NetMax"
> wrote:

>"Dick" > wrote in message
...
>> On Mon, 10 May 2004 13:13:29 +0000 (UTC), "Sue"
>> > wrote:
>>
>> >Harlequins are Rasboras which are Cyprinids - not tetras!
>> >They are more closely related to barbs than to neons.
>> >They are lovely & I've had some live over eight years. They join in
>the
>> >feeding frenzy but are the largest fish in their tank.
>> >;o)
>> >
>> >
>>
>> I found a site with a good picture of the Harlequins. They are at the
>> left bottom of the tank.
>>
>> http://www.erdingtonaquatics.com/harlequin.html
>>
>> I see I have had the wrong family name, the article does say they are
>> Cyprinids. I will correct my record. Thanks.
>>
>> I can't imagine my Harlequins in the feeding frenzy. They don't join
>> in the mass schooling that includes my blue gouramis, clown loaches,
>> siamese algae eaters, black mollies and platties. There are moments
>> when over half my fish seem to gather in a corner and swarm top to
>> bottom. I enjoy this more than the sided to side schooling. The
>> Harlequins stay aloof. They have good color, their bellies are
>> rounded, but when they do take a bit of flake food, often they spit it
>> back out. I know they are eating as they have lived for over a year.
>
>At work there is a 42g hex with only Harlequins. They are enthusiastic
>eaters, taking a variety of foods (whatever they can cram in their
>mouths), but they are not up to the rough & tumble of fighting for food
>like many other fish.
>
>Mouthing food and spitting it out either indicates they are already well
>fed, they don't like the food, or they are unwell.
>
>> I have a large Black Angelfish that didn't feed for about a month. I
>> was worried for she normally was first to the front when I approached
>> to feed. For the whole time I never saw her take in any food, then,
>> one day, she returned to her old feeding habits. I saw no change in
>> her body during that long month, I was really worried. That was 4 or
>> 5 months ago and never happened after the one time.
>
>Probability is that it was ill (ie: internal bacterial disease) and is in
>remission or cured itself. I've read about disections revealing internal
>scars indicating a battle with some disease on fish which were never
>observed to have had any outward symptoms.
>
>> Is there micro organisms in the water that can provide food? Right
>> now I have one Harlequin in my quarantine tank. It has lost is swim
>> bladder I guess. Since being put into the Q tank I have never seen it
>> eat. I don't think it can navigate to a flake. It swims at a 45
>> degree angle in quick motions. It has been like that for about 6
>> weeks. It too seems to have some invisible source of food. I can see
>> the mouth working in all these instances as though swallowing water.
>
>I think that a Harlequin rasbora is too large to make effective use of
>any micro-organisms in your tank. Many of the Cyprinidae are algae
>eaters though, so they could be snacking on any stringy algaes you have.
>You could try dropping in some frozen baby brine shrimp. The size is too
>small for many larger fish, but just within the limits of Harlequins.
>Thaw it in a bit of water, and then pour it across the top of the tank,
>putting drops into different spots so the Harlequins don't have to
>wrestle for position. I'd euthanise any small fish which had not eaten
>anything in 6 weeks.


Netmax, you missed my point, I have Harlequins in two tanks. All are
healthy, colorful and active. In a 10 gallon tank, I have 5
Harlequins, 2 Zebra Danios and 2 SAEs. They have no competition, in
the 75 gallon I have 6 Harlequins among about 80 mixed fish. The
Harlequins are doing well. I am not trying to fix anything, but am
curious how they can do so well and not be visibly eating.

When I look at web site pictures of fish, latest viewing of
Harlequins, my fish look great. Brilliant colors, active swimmers. I
have had one Harlequin I moved to the Q tank due to a swim bladder
problem (it is swimming at a 45 degree angle) and it keeps on living
although its color is off.

I am not looking for cures, just suggestions of how the Harlequins
live and eat in such a manner.

[NetMax]

"Dick" > wrote in message
...
> On Tue, 11 May 2004 09:15:04 -0400, "NetMax"
> > wrote:
>
> >"Dick" > wrote in message
> ...
> >> On Mon, 10 May 2004 13:13:29 +0000 (UTC), "Sue"
> >> > wrote:
> >>
> >> >Harlequins are Rasboras which are Cyprinids - not tetras!
> >> >They are more closely related to barbs than to neons.
> >> >They are lovely & I've had some live over eight years. They join in
> >the
> >> >feeding frenzy but are the largest fish in their tank.
> >> >;o)
> >> >
> >> >
> >>
> >> I found a site with a good picture of the Harlequins. They are at
the
> >> left bottom of the tank.
> >>
> >> http://www.erdingtonaquatics.com/harlequin.html
> >>
> >> I see I have had the wrong family name, the article does say they
are
> >> Cyprinids. I will correct my record. Thanks.
> >>
> >> I can't imagine my Harlequins in the feeding frenzy. They don't
join
> >> in the mass schooling that includes my blue gouramis, clown loaches,
> >> siamese algae eaters, black mollies and platties. There are moments
> >> when over half my fish seem to gather in a corner and swarm top to
> >> bottom. I enjoy this more than the sided to side schooling. The
> >> Harlequins stay aloof. They have good color, their bellies are
> >> rounded, but when they do take a bit of flake food, often they spit
it
> >> back out. I know they are eating as they have lived for over a
year.
> >
> >At work there is a 42g hex with only Harlequins. They are
enthusiastic
> >eaters, taking a variety of foods (whatever they can cram in their
> >mouths), but they are not up to the rough & tumble of fighting for
food
> >like many other fish.
> >
> >Mouthing food and spitting it out either indicates they are already
well
> >fed, they don't like the food, or they are unwell.
> >
> >> I have a large Black Angelfish that didn't feed for about a month.
I
> >> was worried for she normally was first to the front when I
approached
> >> to feed. For the whole time I never saw her take in any food, then,
> >> one day, she returned to her old feeding habits. I saw no change in
> >> her body during that long month, I was really worried. That was 4
or
> >> 5 months ago and never happened after the one time.
> >
> >Probability is that it was ill (ie: internal bacterial disease) and is
in
> >remission or cured itself. I've read about disections revealing
internal
> >scars indicating a battle with some disease on fish which were never
> >observed to have had any outward symptoms.
> >
> >> Is there micro organisms in the water that can provide food? Right
> >> now I have one Harlequin in my quarantine tank. It has lost is swim
> >> bladder I guess. Since being put into the Q tank I have never seen
it
> >> eat. I don't think it can navigate to a flake. It swims at a 45
> >> degree angle in quick motions. It has been like that for about 6
> >> weeks. It too seems to have some invisible source of food. I can
see
> >> the mouth working in all these instances as though swallowing water.
> >
> >I think that a Harlequin rasbora is too large to make effective use of
> >any micro-organisms in your tank. Many of the Cyprinidae are algae
> >eaters though, so they could be snacking on any stringy algaes you
have.
> >You could try dropping in some frozen baby brine shrimp. The size is
too
> >small for many larger fish, but just within the limits of Harlequins.
> >Thaw it in a bit of water, and then pour it across the top of the
tank,
> >putting drops into different spots so the Harlequins don't have to
> >wrestle for position. I'd euthanise any small fish which had not
eaten
> >anything in 6 weeks.
>
>
> Netmax, you missed my point, I have Harlequins in two tanks. All are
> healthy, colorful and active. In a 10 gallon tank, I have 5
> Harlequins, 2 Zebra Danios and 2 SAEs. They have no competition, in
> the 75 gallon I have 6 Harlequins among about 80 mixed fish. The
> Harlequins are doing well. I am not trying to fix anything, but am
> curious how they can do so well and not be visibly eating.

I didn't think I missed the point (they eat algae), but I just added more
info for you, as we can always do things to improve their lives. I
routinely try to keep all my fish on 3 food sources. If your Harlequins
do not appear to be eating flake food, then I think they are eating
algae. That's only 1 food (noutrishely lacking), and if they run out of
algae, that's a concern (such as the one in the quarantine tank).

> When I look at web site pictures of fish, latest viewing of
> Harlequins, my fish look great. Brilliant colors, active swimmers. I
> have had one Harlequin I moved to the Q tank due to a swim bladder
> problem (it is swimming at a 45 degree angle) and it keeps on living
> although its color is off.

Mature Harlequins are much nicer than what you typically see in an LFS.
Regarding the one in the quarantine tank, they don't derive any
nourishment from aquarium water. They can however take a very long time
to starve to death. The colors will fade, their fins turn transparent,
they start losing body functions etc etc.

They can go a long time because fish are much more efficient at energy
usage. They regulate their internal body temperature closely to the
water temperature, so very little energy is used there. They try to
maintain a relative state of buoyancy so muscle usage is minimal. Alone
in a quarantine tank, there are no predators to hide from or friends to
follow. Basically, the energy being used is to operate the gill plates
to move water past the gills, maintain a steady uptake of O2 and dump the
CO2. Six weeks without food is simply a fish slowly starving to death.
In the wild, incapacitated fish are probably dispatched fairly quickly,
so this scenario is less likely to occur, but in your quarantine tank,
you are controlling the scenario.

> I am not looking for cures, just suggestions of how the Harlequins
> live and eat in such a manner.

For the fellow in the Q-tank, the answer to your question is they don't
eat and they live badly, so with this knowledge, you might choose to
'cure' the situation yourself.
--
www.NetMax.tk

[Dick]

On Wed, 12 May 2004 09:50:04 -0400, "NetMax"
> wrote:

>"Dick" > wrote in message
...
>> On Tue, 11 May 2004 09:15:04 -0400, "NetMax"
>> > wrote:
>>
>> >"Dick" > wrote in message
>> ...
>> >> On Mon, 10 May 2004 13:13:29 +0000 (UTC), "Sue"
>> >> > wrote:
>> >>
>> >> >Harlequins are Rasboras which are Cyprinids - not tetras!
>> >> >They are more closely related to barbs than to neons.
>> >> >They are lovely & I've had some live over eight years. They join in
>> >the
>> >> >feeding frenzy but are the largest fish in their tank.
>> >> >;o)
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >>
>> >> I found a site with a good picture of the Harlequins. They are at
>the
>> >> left bottom of the tank.
>> >>
>> >> http://www.erdingtonaquatics.com/harlequin.html
>> >>
>> >> I see I have had the wrong family name, the article does say they
>are
>> >> Cyprinids. I will correct my record. Thanks.
>> >>
>> >> I can't imagine my Harlequins in the feeding frenzy. They don't
>join
>> >> in the mass schooling that includes my blue gouramis, clown loaches,
>> >> siamese algae eaters, black mollies and platties. There are moments
>> >> when over half my fish seem to gather in a corner and swarm top to
>> >> bottom. I enjoy this more than the sided to side schooling. The
>> >> Harlequins stay aloof. They have good color, their bellies are
>> >> rounded, but when they do take a bit of flake food, often they spit
>it
>> >> back out. I know they are eating as they have lived for over a
>year.
>> >
>> >At work there is a 42g hex with only Harlequins. They are
>enthusiastic
>> >eaters, taking a variety of foods (whatever they can cram in their
>> >mouths), but they are not up to the rough & tumble of fighting for
>food
>> >like many other fish.
>> >
>> >Mouthing food and spitting it out either indicates they are already
>well
>> >fed, they don't like the food, or they are unwell.
>> >
>> >> I have a large Black Angelfish that didn't feed for about a month.
>I
>> >> was worried for she normally was first to the front when I
>approached
>> >> to feed. For the whole time I never saw her take in any food, then,
>> >> one day, she returned to her old feeding habits. I saw no change in
>> >> her body during that long month, I was really worried. That was 4
>or
>> >> 5 months ago and never happened after the one time.
>> >
>> >Probability is that it was ill (ie: internal bacterial disease) and is
>in
>> >remission or cured itself. I've read about disections revealing
>internal
>> >scars indicating a battle with some disease on fish which were never
>> >observed to have had any outward symptoms.
>> >
>> >> Is there micro organisms in the water that can provide food? Right
>> >> now I have one Harlequin in my quarantine tank. It has lost is swim
>> >> bladder I guess. Since being put into the Q tank I have never seen
>it
>> >> eat. I don't think it can navigate to a flake. It swims at a 45
>> >> degree angle in quick motions. It has been like that for about 6
>> >> weeks. It too seems to have some invisible source of food. I can
>see
>> >> the mouth working in all these instances as though swallowing water.
>> >
>> >I think that a Harlequin rasbora is too large to make effective use of
>> >any micro-organisms in your tank. Many of the Cyprinidae are algae
>> >eaters though, so they could be snacking on any stringy algaes you
>have.
>> >You could try dropping in some frozen baby brine shrimp. The size is
>too
>> >small for many larger fish, but just within the limits of Harlequins.
>> >Thaw it in a bit of water, and then pour it across the top of the
>tank,
>> >putting drops into different spots so the Harlequins don't have to
>> >wrestle for position. I'd euthanise any small fish which had not
>eaten
>> >anything in 6 weeks.
>>
>>
>> Netmax, you missed my point, I have Harlequins in two tanks. All are
>> healthy, colorful and active. In a 10 gallon tank, I have 5
>> Harlequins, 2 Zebra Danios and 2 SAEs. They have no competition, in
>> the 75 gallon I have 6 Harlequins among about 80 mixed fish. The
>> Harlequins are doing well. I am not trying to fix anything, but am
>> curious how they can do so well and not be visibly eating.
>
>I didn't think I missed the point (they eat algae), but I just added more
>info for you, as we can always do things to improve their lives. I
>routinely try to keep all my fish on 3 food sources. If your Harlequins
>do not appear to be eating flake food, then I think they are eating
>algae. That's only 1 food (noutrishely lacking), and if they run out of
>algae, that's a concern (such as the one in the quarantine tank).
>
>> When I look at web site pictures of fish, latest viewing of
>> Harlequins, my fish look great. Brilliant colors, active swimmers. I
>> have had one Harlequin I moved to the Q tank due to a swim bladder
>> problem (it is swimming at a 45 degree angle) and it keeps on living
>> although its color is off.
>
>Mature Harlequins are much nicer than what you typically see in an LFS.
>Regarding the one in the quarantine tank, they don't derive any
>nourishment from aquarium water. They can however take a very long time
>to starve to death. The colors will fade, their fins turn transparent,
>they start losing body functions etc etc.
>
>They can go a long time because fish are much more efficient at energy
>usage. They regulate their internal body temperature closely to the
>water temperature, so very little energy is used there. They try to
>maintain a relative state of buoyancy so muscle usage is minimal. Alone
>in a quarantine tank, there are no predators to hide from or friends to
>follow. Basically, the energy being used is to operate the gill plates
>to move water past the gills, maintain a steady uptake of O2 and dump the
>CO2. Six weeks without food is simply a fish slowly starving to death.
>In the wild, incapacitated fish are probably dispatched fairly quickly,
>so this scenario is less likely to occur, but in your quarantine tank,
>you are controlling the scenario.
>
>> I am not looking for cures, just suggestions of how the Harlequins
>> live and eat in such a manner.
>
>For the fellow in the Q-tank, the answer to your question is they don't
>eat and they live badly, so with this knowledge, you might choose to
>'cure' the situation yourself.

I know what you mean, it is a hard thing to do. I had a golden lab
that was 13 when he had a stroke. Couldn't get up on his own. I
decided to put him down. It was hard for me and his vet that knew him
well. I held his proud head as the injection went in. I swear he
fought to keep his head up. I just know he didn't want to die. How
can we make such choices? It makes me cry to just relate the story
which happened 8 years ago. The fish I put into the Q tank to live
out their days often surprise me. The platty with the growth behind
her eye has lived way beyond my expectation. Her color is good, she
eats heartedly. It is hard to look at her, but bless her heart she
doesn't seem to care about that big tumor. The Harlequin struggles to
keep doing whatever it thinks it is doing. It even managed to get a
piece of flake the other day. The struggle to overcome the obstacles
seems to be part of all life. Who am I to cut life short? I see my
own life as less valuable than I would choose, but I believe there is
a purpose that I cannot know.

I worked in a boys' home for several years. One day one of the boys
asked if I remembered "such and such." I told him I didn't. He said,
"Well, I sure do, it has meant so much to me." I guess I have just
made that into a philosophy of life, "we just can't know life's
worth."

Sam just couldn't get along on his own, his lack of mobility was more
than I could handle. I can't be sure it was more than he could have
handled. He was a very special dog and he made his own death special
to me.

Thanks for your brave observation. There are those times we must take
the "cure" into our own hands. My Harlequin hasn't gotten there yet.