Getting your fish fat?

Reeftanks6 · 12/06/2009, 12:22 PM

Hello,
I have been looking at tanks of people on RC and i see that there fish are fat or very fat. I want to know how you can get your fish fat. I feed Formula A, Nori, Spectrum Pellets, and Rods food. But it seems that my fish arent getting any fatter. Is there anything i could do? PLease tell me how you get your fish fat.
Thanks

pecdo · 12/06/2009, 01:19 PM

feed small amounts often. watch what the fish seem to eat. and diversity in the food offered is good. i feed a wide range of foods. another common food would be frozen mysis. many fish love 'em

am3gross · 12/06/2009, 01:27 PM

^ +1! feed small amounts often!!!

Reeftanks6 · 12/06/2009, 01:40 PM

ok thanks guys. I usually feed once a day is that fine or should i feed twice

RokleM · 12/07/2009, 09:30 AM

The first thing you have to realize is that a fat fish isn't necessarily a healthy or happy fish... Skinny and looking frail isn't good, but fat isn't necessarily the goal you should be shooting for.

Is this a general question about a specific fish you have, or just all your fish as a whole?

Fitchguy · 12/07/2009, 09:38 AM

Feed Nori! All your fish will eat it!!

Frick-n-Frags · 12/07/2009, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RokleM

The first thing you have to realize is that a fat fish isn't necessarily a healthy or happy fish... Skinny and looking frail isn't good, but fat isn't necessarily the goal you should be shooting for.

this.

duecejt · 12/07/2009, 10:40 AM

I feed several small feedings of foods. First Omega 1 marine pellets w/garlic. Then I will defrost in a small amount of salt water mysis and brine. Then use a turkey baster and squirt small amounts in every few hours or so during the light cycle. I have some fatties in my tank. Maybe more pellets if they are still begging.

Reeftanks6 · 12/07/2009, 01:55 PM

Rokle M- I know that a fish that is fat isnt always healthy thing cause there could be something wrong with. And when there stomach is to big thats not th best either cause something also might be wrong. But mainly my sailfin. He use to be a fatter fish but is started to go a little less feeding and know i can see his back bone i guess it would be going through its body. I dont think anything is wrong i just want to get this fish a little fatter cause it will make me feel better for the fish. He is about 3 to 4 years old as well.

usefulidiot213 · 12/07/2009, 02:16 PM

Burger king & Jack in the Box. It worked like a dream on my big a$$...

No but really it's just about feeding them a few times a day with different foods. I use Marine One flakes, Nori strips, frozen foods and pellets. Just mix it up so that they don't get board of any of it..

d3rryc · 12/07/2009, 03:38 PM

When I got my tank, the yellow tang the original owner had in it was pretty skinny, bordering on emaciated. Especially with tangs, you need to provide enough vegetable matter. Once I started hanging nori sheets, my tang fattened up in no time.

Reeftanks6 · 12/07/2009, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by usefulidiot213

Burger king & Jack in the Box. It worked like a dream on my big a$$...

No but really it's just about feeding them a few times a day with different foods. I use Marine One flakes, Nori strips, frozen foods and pellets. Just mix it up so that they don't get board of any of it..

Thanks i think this is what i might have to do depending on if the fish gets fatter for what i do first. My plan is to feed once a day as i usually do but maybe one more cube then i usually feed for formula b. But also feed nori 2-3 times a week depending on how the fish are eatting throughout the week.

Reeftanks6 · 12/07/2009, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by d3rryc

When I got my tank, the yellow tang the original owner had in it was pretty skinny, bordering on emaciated. Especially with tangs, you need to provide enough vegetable matter. Once I started hanging nori sheets, my tang fattened up in no time.

Thats probably what i am going to start doing as well as the cubed food i feed them. Like i said before in my last post.

RokleM · 12/07/2009, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reeftanks6

Rokle M- I know that a fish that is fat isnt always healthy thing cause there could be something wrong with. And when there stomach is to big thats not th best either cause something also might be wrong. But mainly my sailfin. He use to be a fatter fish but is started to go a little less feeding and know i can see his back bone i guess it would be going through its body. I dont think anything is wrong i just want to get this fish a little fatter cause it will make me feel better for the fish. He is about 3 to 4 years old as well.

Any other signs of issues (fins in bad shape, dots, anything) that might make you think of anything other than just being skinny? I assume it goes for greens on a clip? In that case, I'd go the nori aspect. You can load nori up with goodies also, assuming the get to eating it quickly. A little garlic to get it interested, selcon/vitachem fatty acids, zoa marine, etc.

Reeftanks6 · 12/07/2009, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RokleM

Any other signs of issues (fins in bad shape, dots, anything) that might make you think of anything other than just being skinny? I assume it goes for greens on a clip? In that case, I'd go the nori aspect. You can load nori up with goodies also, assuming the get to eating it quickly. A little garlic to get it interested, selcon/vitachem fatty acids, zoa marine, etc.

Thanks Roklem none of my fish have any of those signs i think the only one i am worried about right know is my Sailfin. He is the skinnest one but eats the most it seems. But yes he does eat a lot of nori when i put it into the tank. Maybe he got skinner when i started to feed a little less then i use to when he was fat. But like i said in earlier post i am going to feed some more nori during the week.

vwmike · 12/07/2009, 06:37 PM

My sailfin was the skinniest and pickiest eater, perhaps it's a trait of them? He never did eat after getting him and only lasted a week.

Peter Eichler · 12/07/2009, 06:49 PM

It's quite simple really, if your fish are skinny side you're not feeding enough. Whether you feed once or 10 times a day, the total amount of food needs to be increased. A good quality flake or pellet food is an excellent way to fatten up a skinny/malnourished fish.

Reeftanks6 · 12/07/2009, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vwmike

My sailfin was the skinniest and pickiest eater, perhaps it's a trait of them? He never did eat after getting him and only lasted a week.

My sailfin is not the same. He is always eatting and for the most part is a pig. But i have had my sailfin for 3 or 4 years.

Reeftanks6 · 12/07/2009, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter Eichler

It's quite simple really, if your fish are skinny side you're not feeding enough. Whether you feed once or 10 times a day, the total amount of food needs to be increased. A good quality flake or pellet food is an excellent way to fatten up a skinny/malnourished fish.

Thanks i will try that as well. I do feed Spectrum pellets sometimes as well.

12/06/2009, 12:22 PM	#1
Reeftanks6 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: PA Posts: 3,857	Getting your fish fat? Hello, I have been looking at tanks of people on RC and i see that there fish are fat or very fat. I want to know how you can get your fish fat. I feed Formula A, Nori, Spectrum Pellets, and Rods food. But it seems that my fish arent getting any fatter. Is there anything i could do? PLease tell me how you get your fish fat. Thanks

12/07/2009, 09:30 AM	#5
RokleM Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 9,687	The first thing you have to realize is that a fat fish isn't necessarily a healthy or happy fish... Skinny and looking frail isn't good, but fat isn't necessarily the goal you should be shooting for. Is this a general question about a specific fish you have, or just all your fish as a whole? __________________ -Eric-

12/07/2009, 09:38 AM	#6
Fitchguy Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Huntington Beach, California Posts: 689	Feed Nori! All your fish will eat it!! __________________ Go Big or Go Home!! "Hard Work Pays Off Later, Procrastination Pays off Right Now!"--Thomas Jefferson Current Tank Info: After a big loss in the Hobby, Trying to slowly get back into it!

12/07/2009, 02:16 PM	#10
usefulidiot213 Bryan H. Join Date: May 2007 Location: 40th St. & Thunderbird Posts: 1,348	Burger king & Jack in the Box. It worked like a dream on my big a$$... No but really it's just about feeding them a few times a day with different foods. I use Marine One flakes, Nori strips, frozen foods and pellets. Just mix it up so that they don't get board of any of it.. __________________ "I would rather be lucky then good." Bryan H. Current Tank Info: 120 AGA- 4x2x2 Mixed Reef. 2 MP40s, Vertex IN-180 Skimmer, RKL Controller for temp control and light timing. 8x 54 Watt T5 lighting.

12/06/2009, 01:19 PM	#2
pecdo Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 51	feed small amounts often. watch what the fish seem to eat. and diversity in the food offered is good. i feed a wide range of foods. another common food would be frozen mysis. many fish love 'em

12/06/2009, 01:27 PM	#3
am3gross Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: va Posts: 1,243	^ +1! feed small amounts often!!!

12/06/2009, 01:40 PM	#4
Reeftanks6 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: PA Posts: 3,857	ok thanks guys. I usually feed once a day is that fine or should i feed twice

12/07/2009, 10:40 AM	#8
duecejt Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: San Diego, Ca Posts: 66	I feed several small feedings of foods. First Omega 1 marine pellets w/garlic. Then I will defrost in a small amount of salt water mysis and brine. Then use a turkey baster and squirt small amounts in every few hours or so during the light cycle. I have some fatties in my tank. Maybe more pellets if they are still begging.

12/07/2009, 01:55 PM	#9
Reeftanks6 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: PA Posts: 3,857	Rokle M- I know that a fish that is fat isnt always healthy thing cause there could be something wrong with. And when there stomach is to big thats not th best either cause something also might be wrong. But mainly my sailfin. He use to be a fatter fish but is started to go a little less feeding and know i can see his back bone i guess it would be going through its body. I dont think anything is wrong i just want to get this fish a little fatter cause it will make me feel better for the fish. He is about 3 to 4 years old as well.

12/07/2009, 03:38 PM	#11
d3rryc Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Cedar Park, TX Posts: 213	When I got my tank, the yellow tang the original owner had in it was pretty skinny, bordering on emaciated. Especially with tangs, you need to provide enough vegetable matter. Once I started hanging nori sheets, my tang fattened up in no time.

12/07/2009, 06:37 PM	#16
vwmike Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: South Austin Posts: 53	My sailfin was the skinniest and pickiest eater, perhaps it's a trait of them? He never did eat after getting him and only lasted a week.

12/07/2009, 06:49 PM	#17
Peter Eichler Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Milwaukee Posts: 6,081	It's quite simple really, if your fish are skinny side you're not feeding enough. Whether you feed once or 10 times a day, the total amount of food needs to be increased. A good quality flake or pellet food is an excellent way to fatten up a skinny/malnourished fish.