I have an Oscar that is about 6-7" long and he is in a 55 gallon tank. I went to purchase a Plecostomus today and the lady at the pet store said I should only be feeding the Oscar once a day. I have been feeding him two times a day like it says on the directions on the food. The only complaint I have is that there is a lot of algae on the tank that is the reason I went for the little sucker fish. So, how much does this guy need to eat and how often??
2007-07-24 13:35:33 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Fish
I would lean more on magic for this one. If your main diet is flakes, spiralina coated is even better, I think twice should be just fine. If you are leaning towards more live foods like feeders, krill and brine shrimp, and insects, probably once a day is better supplimenting what ben is saying, about the liver problems. I think you could probably avoid that comming into play by mixing up the diet really well too.
Algea could be lighting in combination with excess nitrates, and possibly phosphates in your water source too. These are all fuel sources for algea to thrive in. By depriving the fuel, the algea should begin to dissapate. I'd do just like magic said on the lights, check your tap water for phosphates and nitrates, and like Ben said, increase your water changes to 2 times a week, and I bet you could tackle the algea problem better then adding a pleco.
JV
2007-07-24 13:59:12 · answer #1 · answered by I am Legend 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I had lots of oscars including two breeding pairs in the past....my rule is to feed them once a day with cichlid pellets or fresh/frozen prawns. Oscars don't know when to stop eating, so feeding him once a day is good. This goes for all my fishes.
2007-07-24 17:57:51 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have kept many different types of large cichlids, and I can say that once a day is fine. The high amounts of algae tells me that your nitrates are probably high, which means that you are not doing enough siphoning. Also keep in mind that when your oscar is an adult, it can get fatty liver disease from overfeeding, so just once a day is fine.
2007-07-24 13:46:08 · answer #3 · answered by fivespeed302 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ok well a plecostumus might get eaten my oscar kills everything that I put in his tank including placostumuses he already did that one.And yes you feed then 2 times a day but only 4 to 5 pellets at a time or whatever they can eat in 3 minutes or less.anything left over should be removed from the tank.If you look at a fishes eyes that is the size of thier stomache so it gives you a general idea.And oscars are wounderful I own one myself.I got him 6 months ago and cant believe how quick they grow I think its neat.
2007-07-24 13:44:34 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
You're doing fine feeding him twice a day. Turn the lights off a hour or two earlier and do a little larger weekly water changes and it will help control that algae within a few weeks.
MM
2007-07-24 13:43:35 · answer #5 · answered by magicman116 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
trusting the company that makes food is a bad idea, they usually want to you buy as much as possible.
a fish like an oscar can get by on one large meal a week. try feeding him once every other day.
the algea sounds like it's comming from excess nutrients in the water (ie overfeeding) cutting back should help alot
2007-07-24 15:43:35 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
he needs lots to eat give him 2 big meals a day Oscars are really hearty fish and like to eat but I'm guessing you just have a power filter for it you'll need to get a canister filter to keep the water good and do a gravel vac every week
2007-07-24 14:34:59 · answer #7 · answered by tkerbag 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
oscars can eat and eat, but once aday is my general rule for sucess. that way the fish doesnt get fat or have bowel problems.
once aday is fine.
2007-07-24 13:42:52 · answer #8 · answered by Coral Reef Forum 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
once or twice a day is fine
2007-07-24 16:04:27 · answer #9 · answered by fish_for_brains 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋