Newbie Question on Killie Com Tank...

[Bybloz]

My job requires me to travel often on short trips of 4-5 days away. Is it still possible for me to start a tank comprising of 10-12 N.Rachovii and train them to eat pellets/flakes from my auto-feeder? Or are there more suitable Killie species that will take better to dry food, species community tank, and our warm tropical weather here in Singapore?

Would really appreciate your advice...

Thanks,
Kai

[SQUEAK]

Hi Kai,

I have no experience with Rachovii, however both my Fundulopanchax (I really cannot spell that) Sjoestedi, and A. Striatum groups readily accept any dried food or flakes.

Actually, they eat anything that gets into their tanks (or try to eat it). String, my hands, plants, snails... but I digress. In my very, very limited experience (I still haven't convinced my fish that spawning is a good idea) though, they can be trained to eat dried food. I don't know how long the training takes though - I don't imagine they would want to switch from live food to dried food.

[delTORO]

Hi Kai,

... my Fundulopanchax ... Sjoestedi, and A. Striatum groups readily accept any dried food or flakes.

...

Accept but not happy. When i feed my f.sjoestedti and gardneri dried food then they have lost on spawning (sorry for my english)
delTORO

[stoker]

Most killies will eat dry food eventually , just slowly cut down on the live food that you feed them and as they become more hungry dry food looks more eatable.
Try and use some type of high protein floating pellet so that you use very little at a time.
I use high protein trout rearing pellets and have no problems in feeding all my fish , and they still breed but I must admit that live food is the correct way to go.
Comments on Sjos are very good as they will eat anything in fact if possible live food is important to keep them in breeding condition . Earth worms Waxworms Daphnia Bloodworms stay clear of TUBIFEX as you may have problems with parasites ,
try and not overfeed with Whiteworms as they are more fatty.


MIKE

[SQUEAK]

Hi Kai,

... my Fundulopanchax ... Sjoestedi, and A. Striatum groups readily accept any dried food or flakes.

...

Accept but not happy. When i feed my f.sjoestedti and gardneri dried food then they have lost on spawning (sorry for my english)
delTORO

Happy is relative. They will happily eat the food offered to them, however you are correct, spawning is not so good. It is difficult for me to be rearing live foods for them constantly, regrettably - there are not enough hours in the day.

However, they live together very well, and do not seem unhappy in the least. But they will not spawn very well.