Fish Health Through Proper Nutrition

[cacunacacuna]

Reading posts like this is the reason I frequent Reef Central. Thanks for the well thought out info Leebca. I'm now considering new feeding options for the health of my fish. Have a great one!

[JownsenJesus]

Awesome info. Deserves to be at the top of the forum!!

[devildij]

hey i know that i am kind outta time for this one but lee how do you make the gel

[fdnyhm1]

Hi
I was having problems with ick with my fish and I was told about a new food out on the market. It is made my a company called Blue Lagoon. They make a regular food loader with vitamins, an anti parasite and an anti bacterial food, plus liquid vitamin supplement. I can't rave enough about the improvement that I have seen in my fish since I have been using their products.

You have to try it to see the difference, you won't regret it.

http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merch...egory_Code=OSI

[FishyPam]

I agree as spirulina does help when it comes to coloration for fish... I got my from a store that I was trying to shill here.

[yrema]

great discussion here. a very good read indeed.

[traveler911]

Thanks for all the added insight.

[StephM33]

Really great thread, I'll definitely bookmark this one, but I do have a question. How can we balance the feeding requirements of a mix of herb/omni and carnivores in one tank?

We have to try and get the Tangs/Foxface to eat more veggies and less meat. But we also have to have meat eaters in there too. Does this mean if we feed veggies for breakfast and lunch, that our meat eaters have to settle for one evening feeding? In the past we've been feeding meat and veggies in every meal, but it does seem that the Tangs and foxface are opting for the meat first.

We always have veggies (broccoli or romaine) available as well, as they won't eat Nori.

How do others handle this?

Steph

[wooden_reefer]

Nutrition is certainly important against most disease. The best examples are the internal bacterial and fungal diseases.

However, I also think that the role of proper nutrition should not be exaggerated. The inexperienced aquarists should not be duped into believing that good nutrition is the answer to all diseases A to Z.

I think ich and Odinium have little to do with nutrition. The relation of these disease with stress in general is also problematic, and even if prsent, should not be emphazised. This would hopefully promote their eradication by proper quarantine. These are pretty much diseases of physical confinement, unnatural concentration of patheogens.

Some external bacterial infections are also opportunistic. Some even very robust fish with great nutrition and little stress can get external bacterial infection without previous exposure and acquired immunity. De-emphasis with good nutrition is actually better, as it encourages the proper use of UV against external bacterial infection, especially during acclimation. These are also diseases of physical confinement, unnatural concetration of patheogens.

[Ace1]

Has anyone tried feeding there fish Dulse and Nori, from my understanding Dulse (red marine alge) stops viruses from replicating in humans and has prooven to stop and prevent many diseases in humans so wouldnt this make a good food supplement for our mairne animals.

Also Irish Moss and Bladderwrack (other red marine agle's) provide every nutrient needed by humans for survival. Wouldnt this be the best choice as i comes from there natural environment.

Im personally not a big fan of vitamins i beleive they are totaly unnecessary and lack nutrition. Fish in the wild dont need vitamins, so if we can provide as close to there natural diet i think we would simplify the regime.

[PhillyD123]

Thank you for simplifying it for everyone and I think You are dead on the money.

[PhillyD123]

as far as vitamins we are doing a miserable attempt at simulating an infininte amount of water (The Oceans) If ever you get the chance get some ocean water and run as many tests on it as possible I think you will find the vitamin/ mineral content a bit overwhelming and eduacational along with hundreds of billions of bacterias compared to what is in our tanks.

[laverda]

StephM
I always feed my tangs their sea veggies first before feeding the other fish. Broccoli or romaine have very little nutrional value. I am surprised they don't like Nori as mine love it, but then they are pigs. Are you using just plain sun dried sea weed? You might try some of the macro algae especially Ogo.
Ace1
Those sound like some good possibilities for feeding our fish. I have never heard of any of the items you mentioned, so I never looked for them. Where do you find them?
I disagree with you on the vitamins, as we do a terrible job of giving the fish the huge variety of food that get in the wild.

[Insane Reefer]

Originally posted by leebca
I've heard enough of this: But my fish likes. . . [or] My fish eats. . .[or] My fish only eats. . . to suit me for a lifetime. Who's in charge? Would you let your child eat ice cream and cake for every meal just because it's what they like? You have to prevent your fish from getting into wrong habits.

I was pointed to this excellent article by another member. Kudos on the write-up

I do have to question this quoted statement though.

Most children can be reasoned with - failing that, negative reinforcement can be a great inducement to comply. Instinct won't allow a normal child to starve itself if any food is in the offing, and they are truly hungry. Fish can not be reasoned with. Can't exactly send them to their room without dinner and make them eat it for their next meal. Many fish will literally starve to death in the first few weeks if not offered what they think they want. You can put all the correct foods in the tank that you want, but if the fish refuses to take them, I'd say he is still the boss - right up to the point that he dies of starvation.

I understand that improper diet is a bad thing, and often leads to a slower starvation, but you need to follow this statement up with how to get this fish to eat what he should when he won't, not just stating that we need to prevent it and leaving it at that...

But if I grate my gel formula to look like worms, they charge it.

Several people have posted, asking how this is made - could you please respond?

Thanks!

[ginger7286]

Excellent article I add a supplement to my tank everyday. I also feed my fish and inverts a variety of foods but I am about to get up to read the ingredients in the cans and bottles. Thanks so much.

[pmjfuture]

wow. thanks for info.

[Questionmarc]

yea whats the best food?

[Aquarist007]

Originally posted by Questionmarc
yea whats the best food?

I think that questioned was answered in the very first post on this thread-----but thanks for re asking it---I had lost track of this thread---so now I can keep track of it again.

[lj1064]

What about adding cod liver oil to the soak mix? Very high in vit D

[Lucky-rc]

Great info...
Let us not forget that our Carnivores not only eat the "whole fish"
But they also comsume what that fish had in its stomach.. ie the veggies are important also.
Lucky

[Patrick12]

To me, the best food is the one your fish will eat...you can then soak it with Vita Chem (my favorite) of Ecosystems Fish formula ( I use both) or some of the others leebca mentioned. I too try to stay with fresh frozen foods because the prepared foods are so much higher in PO4 than I like...cause I really don't like any. Your gonna get some in any food...even frozen...but at least it is not added.

Thanks for the post leebca on something that is so often overlooked.....yet so key to success.

[laverda]

Several people have asked Lee some questions. Sadly Lee has moved to two other BBS. I don't think RC will let me post links to them here. Do a Google or Yahoo search and you should see his threads.

[Patrick12]

Originally posted by lj1064
What about adding cod liver oil to the soak mix? Very high in vit D

I would not add CLO only because in it's preparation it is not soluble and may or may not sbsorb as well into food as Vita Chem or others. Also, it will create an oil slick in your water...that your PS will likely remove. It would not hurt anything, but there are just petter preparations.

[Aquarist007]

Glad people are keeping this thread open I don't know how many times I have linked to it in my posts

[Aquarist007]

what is the scoop on Rod's . People are treating it like the be all and end all of fish food.