I just moved my Chinese algea eater in with two tetras. I feed my tetras goldfish flakes and I feed my algea eater algea disks. If I feed my tetras goldfish flakes, will it hurt my algea eater? And if I feed my algea eater algea disks, will it give my tetras too much protien and kill them? I don't want to hurt my algea eater because I've had him for almost 3 years, and I don't want to hurt my tetras because all the rest died. PLEASE HELP!!!
2006-11-14 14:24:04 · 8 answers · asked by Black Rose 2 in Pets ➔ Fish
My tetras LOVE the goldfish food and seem to enjoy it after six months.
2006-11-15 11:29:25 · update #1
To reiterate what others have said:
You algae eater will eat everything. Chinese algae eaters are notorious for not eating algae and preferring fish food instead. So the behavior you're seeing is quite normal/natural.
Algae discs will not hurt the tetras - in fact, they'd appreciate (and need) some plant matter in their diets. I wouldn't be surprised if they started pecking at them. It's quite difficult to give fish too much protein - in fact, I don't think algae wafers even have much protein. Hang on, I'll go check. Ok, they do. But the amount of protein in the wafers (about 32% for both of the kinds that I have) is nothing compared to the 44-48% protein in the flake foods I have for my fish. So your tetras are actually getting more protein from the flakes than they would from the wafers.
And please - switch to a tropical flake food. Goldfish food lacks many of the vitamins and nutrients that tropical fish require. I guarantee your tetras will like the tropical flakes as much as the goldfish flakes. The goldfish food just isn't good for them long-term.
2006-11-15 16:50:07 · answer #1 · answered by birdistasty 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well your tetra's wont fair very well with gold fish food. You need a better tropical fish food that is better balanced for them with color inhancers. I have several pleco's and chinese alegea eaters in my tank with several other species of fish and they have been together for several years now. When I feed the alegea disk's at night I'll sit and watch the other fish go and eat the disk with the alegea eaters and the pleco's. The varied diet will not harm the fish in any way just make sure you keep up on your tank maintance and you'll be fine. The chinese alegea eater is known for swimming up to other fish and eating the slime coat off other fish. It wont hurt the fish because the slime coat is a natural substance that fish makes on a regular basis. As long as your fish don't have a desiese's that can get even worse when the slime coat is removed then your fish will be fine.
2006-11-14 22:11:45 · answer #2 · answered by xxmack675hpxx 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Algae eaters eat almost anything. The main reason i keep them is to make sure there will be ZERO uneaten food. Besides eating food which is meant for them, they eat algae (of course) and other edible residues they can find on the ground as well. By the way, I don't think too much protein will kill a tetra, they're quite hardy.
2006-11-14 14:50:19 · answer #3 · answered by Mafia Agent 4207 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Brine Fish is good for tetras, I would also take some zuchinni and place it in the bottom of the tank (weigh it down) the Tetras will eat it and so will the algae eater. - they love it.
PS. Don't feed Tetras gold fish food
2006-11-15 07:28:30 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Why are you feeding tetras goldfish food?? Get them a good balanced flake, they also love brine shrimp, and very small feeder fish
You algea eater is fine on the disks, he will also start skimming the tetras for their protective coating..no it will not hurt them!
My golden DOJO does this all the time, he loves to eat small shrimp pieces, suck the coats off the red hook and tries to get the angels..they won't let him!
2006-11-14 15:09:38 · answer #5 · answered by kat k 5 · 3⤊ 1⤋
i have three of these in with about 15 neon tetras 7 angels a couple of gauramis briselnoses silver sharks and discus and have no problems at all but they do seem to like chasing my silver sharks around
2006-11-14 19:14:42 · answer #6 · answered by Tyrone L 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no dont worry about it, they will only eat what they want to and a varied diet is good for them.
algae eaters will eat meat too occasionally, if a fish dies they will chew on it all day
2006-11-14 14:42:22 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
when chinese algae eaters grow up, they will stop eating algae and start grazing on the slime caot of other fish.
2006-11-14 14:49:39 · answer #8 · answered by diburning 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋