Chaca Feeding

[Psy]

I'm moving cross country soon, and as i have to tear my tanks down, it gives me the opportunity to move onto some new fish.

How much does a Chaca eat? I've seen it posted to feed every 2-3 days, but what does that mean in terms of prey size compared to Chaca size? I'd imagine a full size Chaca would require fairly large feeders?

I can breed Convicts by the truckload, but I've never been able to grow them to a large size quickly, and thats in my 75 gallon tank! Has anyone tried to feed them cut tilapia or similar via tong like many eel keepers do?

Lastly, do they deal with current ok, being that they stick to the bottom? The best way to filter out their presumably high bioload seems to be an AC500 on say, a 20 long (30x12x12 inches)as that would also allow room for buffering media.

[Richard B]

Mine did not appreciate too much water movement at all. it does well in a tank with dead beeech or oak leaves on a sand substrate - that said mine also spent considerable time resting really near the top of the water in uprooted plants.

I never tried mine on fish pieces but clearly it is worth a try. It did however eat quite a few tankmates that i had not removed (kuhli loach are impossible to catch in a tank with lots of large fixed decor). A meal does not need to be large for these fish at all. It did particularly like its food to move so what you suggest sounds realistic. Mine did eat earthworms readily & occasionally fed on frozen bloodworm that was not eaten by other fish in the tank. Fish in the wild are always on the look out for food as it is not "on tap" like in an aquarium so the 2-3 day feeding regime is fine