New to keeping L numbers - please help me

[dan1984]

Hi,

I have just bought my first lot of L number catfish - I got 5 young L333s. I have tried looking up information about feeding them but I have been reading some conflicting information and would like to clear up a few things.

From what I understand, young L333s like a diet of algae but as they get older their dietry needs change and they require meaty foods high in protein - such as mussels, shrimp meat and good quality sinking carnivore pellets. However, I have also read that there is a risk of choking in young L333s if they are fed meaty foods too early.

I have four fish at ~1 inch and one at just over 2 inches. I have bought some Hikari carnivore sinking pellets to be sure that I am not going to harm them but would like to know when I should start feeding them fresh meat as I assume it is better for them.

Thanks in advance,
Dan

[pleco_breeder]

You made a good choice in the Hikari. I used to use this as a staple with Hypancistrus. Everything, including fry, did rather well on it. As to the "meatier" foods, they aren't absolutely necessary. I still throw the occasional piece of shrimp in tanks, but only because I enjoy watching them chew at it. It's an easy way to get them out of hiding once they get used to you being there.

I think the choking you mentioned goes back to using bloodworms to condition adults. I never witnessed it myself, but it did float around the internet for a while that fry would choke on them because of the larger size. In the case of shrimp, they rasp at them and get small bits. I will advise to be very sparing with mussels or scallops. Not because of any major health risk, but rather they always created an oil slick on the surface of my tanks when I tried feeding them, even after heavy rinsing.

Hope this is what you were asking.

Larry

[dan1984]

Thanks for the info Larry - it is exactly what I was looking for. I just wanted to make sure that I was doing the right thing for the fish. I will stick to shrimp meat and Hikari pellets for them.

I still throw the occasional piece of shrimp in tanks

When you give them shrimp, do you give it to them raw or cooked?

[plecomanpat]

I currently am growing out 7, 31/2 to 4 inch 333's. Have them in a 20 gal long (30x12x12), had them about a year, got them about an inch long. Mine love a good meal of bloodworms and meaty foods, but they also jump at the chance to get on a leaf of Romaine lettuce when I put it in there. In my experience a varied and nutricious diet is the best. Mine don't eat the same thing twice in two weeks. Hikari also has a great frozen variety of meaty foods too,inc. bloodworms, mysis, and plankton which is great for color...enjoy

[Richard B]

I would also suggest to try & keep the diet as varied as possible - you could also try earthworm sticks (which Apistomaster swears by & he is working with L333, L134) algae tabs from different manufacturers as these contain 'meaty' proteins. Tetra prima etc

Tetra pleco wafers contain molluscs and crustaceans.(35% protein)

Tetra prima contains fish & fish derivatives, molluscs and crustaceans. (47.5% protein)

Aquarian algae wafers contain fish & fish derivatives. (28% protein)

THe occasional piece of fruit or vegetable will do no harm either.

[dan1984]

Thanks for the info. It is greatly appreciated!

[Lloydy]

THe occasional piece of fruit or vegetable will do no harm either.

I tend to feed my L333 and L14s sweet potato, cucumber, courgette and an occassional mushroom but what sorts of fruits are good/bad to feed? I assume nothing that will make too much of a mess like a banana, but what about acidic fruits like oranges (with/without peeling) or apples? Anything highly recommended or a big no no!?

[racoll]

but what sorts of fruits are good/bad to feed? I assume nothing that will make too much of a mess like a banana, but what about acidic fruits like oranges (with/without peeling) or apples? Anything highly recommended or a big no no!?

I would avoid fruit entirely. They will go mushy really fast and the sugar has the potential of harming water quality.

I found the ones you mentioned (sweet potato, cucumber, courgette) are very good. I found rinsed, tinned broad (fava) beans good too. They are also quite convenient, and can be frozen in batches.