PlanetCatfish.com

Hi, have my first old-guy, rescued Hypancistrus and am not sure about feeding. He's had sinking shrimp pellets and checked out a mushroom but I'd like to try seafood. The fish seller said that all the clams, mussels etc are salty but there's freshwater sea scallops. The tiny "pasta clams" are the least salty.

Should I worry about giving him something from saltwater? Rinse it like crazy first or what? Can you buy shellfish that aren't salty? If so what do I ask for, don't eat it myself. I'd be willing to share the sea scallops though with him though

Any other fresh food ideas?

All hypancistrus like joghurt. Is good for the gutflora and keeps them healthy. Only use bio-joghurt, not probiotics.
And you can share it with your ancistrus-guy.
Also good for them are frozen shell blocks for rays, but fresh salt-shells should be rinsed. It matters, how big is your tank, but a bit salt is like you feed artemia. So dont rinse them like mad. Bon appétit!

I'm sure I have a fairly comprehensive list of "seafood" in my feeding article. I'd say most things will be fine - they can chew too!

--
Mats

I would add that since fresh seafoods spoil quickly in warm aquarium water, I would exercise extra care over the amount fed at one time and how long any food remaining is allowed to stay. If they haven't cleaned it all up within 2 hours, then I would siphon out any leftovers.

MatsP:

I'm sure I have a fairly comprehensive list of "seafood" in my feeding article. I'd say most things will be fine - they can chew too!

I can't believe I forgot your article, I even have it saved on my computer! Thank you, it's just what I needed.

fischkringli :

All hypancistrus like joghurt. Is good for the gutflora and keeps them healthy. Only use bio-joghurt, not probiotics.
And you can share it with your ancistrus-guy.

May sound silly but how would I feed that without making a big mess? Add it into other home made foods, like with egg white?

apistomaster :

I would exercise extra care over the amount fed at one time

Will do, I only have the one little guy so I'll be extra vigilant . He's decided that his 'cave' is between several mossballs so he's very easy to monitor For the first time ever my main tank is finally crystal clear with wonderful readings so I'm not about to mess it up now. All the others like shrimp pellets, wood and veggies.

Thanks as always

fischkringli wrote:All hypancistrus like joghurt. Is good for the gutflora and keeps them healthy. Only use bio-joghurt, not probiotics.

I've heard some crazy things, but feeding a fish yoghurt

How does that work

It isnt crazy. If you put joghurt in the water it doesnt mix with the water. Best is you put it on a stone.

An extract from the "Amazonas Nr.10 March/April 2007 (translated of course)

No, no, not what you think... . This isnt a new crazy joghurt creation. I want to present you new food for fish, especially catfish.

Everybody knows this situation: Youve bought a new fish and after the euphory, to have a new rarity, comes the bad part. The cats, especially from the family Loricariinae, for exampel Lamonichthys-, Pterosturisoma-and some Sturisoma are like in your worst dreams.

Sympthomes are hollowed bellys, apathy and bad looking. Those things happen because of the catching with the net and using antibiotika after catching. The fishermen give them to much medicament, so the bacterias of the gut die. Hunger and stress damage them too.

You have to use bio-joghurt. The idea using joghurt for fish isnt new. 1980 joghurt was used first time. After buying a fish you couldt give them a half tea spoon every 2 days. When you give the joghurt in the water, you should put it on a place, where the fish could eat it. Look, how much they eat and how much you have to give them. If there is still a rest of joghurt after one day it shouldt be put away.

You could feed it every week in your tanks. Especially after giving medicaments its good for rehabilitation. cichlids, tetras and livebearers like joghurt very much. Just test it yourselve!!!

Wow.

I suppose you could turn off the pump for a minute and syringe a small blob of the thick stuff into a spot to see what happens.

Wow, I first thought you must have been drinking the fishwater, fischkringli!

Well you learn something everyday. I would have thought adding yoghurt would just turn your tank into a milkshake!

very interesting, i am going to have to keep that in mind

might also have to start eating yogurt lol

My Hypancistrus likes with water mixed flakes and put on a stone out of the water. After that you should wait, till its dry. Then you could put it in your tank.