Am I doing this right?

[fishfanatic2]

Ok, I fed some previously frozen clams yestersday, and none of my fish even touched it. I thought clams was the universal favorite food for fish. What do they want, clams on the half shell? I have a pair of pink skunks, a yellow watchman, and a baby puffer.Thanks!

 

[ChrisRD]

Sometimes fish are relunctant to take a new food, especially if it's a different particle size or consistency from what they are accustomed to seeing.

 

[Len]

I've never tried frozen clams, but I know most of my fish love live clams cracked open. I think the smell is irresistible to most carnivorous fish.

 

[danmhippo]

Many frozen clams or canned clam on the market are actually cooked. It's hard to package uncooked clam meat. I don't know how much nutritional value is left on the cooked clam meat.

Yes, I fed my fish fresh clam meat, freshly shucked out of the shells.......

Oh, however, frozen oyster is uncooked. It's also excellent.

Did you chop up the clam meat into small bite size that will fit into their mouth? If the fish are new to the tank, it's not uncommon that they won't feed for a couple of days.

 

[fishfanatic2]

No, I didn't chop it up, and it ca't be cooked cuz it's like fish-bait clams-the same ones they uise as bait. Next time, I'll cut it smaller!

 

[fishfanatic2]

I tried again last night, and it worked a lot better. I cut the pieces a lot smaller, and within like 5 seconds the puffer was hackin' away! One question- hiow can I make sure that the puffer is actually ingesting the food, not just tearing it apart? Thanks!

 

[grav]

If he is "tearing it apart" you may still need to cut smaller. Think bite size. At that point you would see the food disapear into the fish... good bet that he is eating, but you still will not be 100% sure.

However, if you NEED to know, I can think of only one way to tell 100% FOR SURE that a fish is actually taking in food. Do a visual, internal stomach cavity inventory, then go out and get another fish.

Don't worry, he is eating, but do consider even smaller bits. Also increases the % eaten v. wasted.

 

[Memnoch]

For the Puffer try frozen krill (small shrimp). Your skunks and goby try Mysis shrimp (fresh water shrimp). I have never had much luck with clam.