My tiger barbs and my red tail shark all eat off the gravel. The barbs will eat it off the top of the water and in mid-water and on the gravel. The red tail only seems to eat off the bottom from the food that's on the gravel. Is that normal? Is that ok? Will it hurt them if they are eating old food that has been in there for a couple of days?
2007-10-16 15:46:57 · 8 answers · asked by Debt Free! 3 in Pets ➔ Fish
There are a variety of feeders in a fish tank - and also variety in the place where they like to swim. Tetras like to swim mid to bottom, yet feed from the surface and middle of the tank. Cory catfish like to swim at the bottom and eat from the gravel, yet they also like to swim to the surface to take in air (one of mine has worked out that if she swims upside down she can also feed from the surface!)
It just add to the beauty of a community tank, after all, we as humans are all different and feed at different times and places too :-)
Just one key thing - you should NEVER have any left over food on the bottom - this is just rotten and of no nutritional value to your fish. Feed them less and don't let them convince you they are still hungry. Maybe a small pinch at night and again in the morning if you feel the need, but only a small pinch ok?!
2007-10-20 12:19:14 · answer #1 · answered by Lisa C 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That is so perfectly normal....don't worry at all about it. You should try to feel the fish an amount that they will consume failry quickly so that you don't have a lot of "old food" in the tank, but old food happens no matter what.
Don't worry. Some fish eat from the top and others the bottom. That's life in fish and people!
2007-10-16 15:51:00 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is normal and most fish will feed at any level. I would be concerned more with the old food at the bottom of the tank which could start degrading the water quality.
2007-10-16 21:51:29 · answer #3 · answered by stargrazer 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is perfectly normal. (Unless the tank is really dirty from excessive feeding.) Some types only eat from the bottom. I would suggest to research the fish in question, and chances are (even if it is not listed as a scavenger) it is fine. Most descriptions refer to "in the wild" behavior rather than a controlled environment where they don't have to search until they find it.
2007-10-16 15:58:43 · answer #4 · answered by cactus_man777 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It won't hurt them as long as you keep your tank relatively clean. Some fish are lazy (my platies) and won't even come the surface of the water to eat they just wait till it gets to the middle or bottom of the tank on the ground and then feast upon the bounty of the tetra flakes.
2007-10-16 15:51:17 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes very extremely NORMAL!!!!! They eat the plankton resting on the gravel. But if your fish EATS it, better call a vet.
2007-10-20 14:38:03 · answer #6 · answered by Chad, M.D. 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They must have rocks in their head.
2007-10-16 16:34:42 · answer #7 · answered by johN p. aka-Hey you. 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
This is normal. Don't worry :)
2007-10-16 18:02:00 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋