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How do I train my fish to hand feed? Look at my Profile for pics and info. Also The previous owner hand fed his Severum. Thanks.

P.S. Does my tank still sound crowded?

Chris

The parrot cichlid will reach 10 inches...it definitely needs a bigger tank. The Severum will reach about 9 inches...so it needs a bigger tank.

Yep, you are still overcrowded...and have an inappropriate tanksize for the fishies.

The fish will probably have to get used to you before they take food from you. Try just putting your hand in the tank every now and then to get them used to it. Then eventually put food in with you hand in the tank.

In the meantime...start saving for a 75g tank.

The severum should be kept in at least a 75 gallon tank

From the profile here at FP.

*Kristin*

even by getting rid of 2 catfish, that does almost nothing to ur stocking level. a concept that you dont seem to be getting is yes, fish are small now, you do have to consider there potiental size.

in your other post u stated you were a beginner, but u have to understand that these cichlids both parrots and seruvms need around 60-70 gallons by themselves. and a african knife is not a small customer.

back on task: servums will hand feed. frozen foods are probably the best food to use, as i dont beileve that u can hand feed flakes to anything bigger than a tetra.

Okay, Well I am not just going to get rid of my fish I want to keep them. I love them. Also i know they will get bigger but getting rid of two fish does do a lot to stocking size dosent it? Also I dont even have room for a 75g I can barely fit in my 30g. Thanks.

Chris

u might want to rethink the stocking than, a couple smaller schooling fishes would do better longer in a 30 than fishes that can easliy reach over 11 inches.

it kinda does, but again a raphael cat, and another catfish dont really change the overstocked factor, when none of the 3 fish(knife,parrot,servum) belong in a 30.

So really you are not willing to give the fish an appropriate home. Thats mean. You will have to do something because they will be stunted. That will mean an early death, so if you really care about them you should want to give them an appropriate home.

You knew the fish in the 30g didn't belong there. We told you this before you bought the tank.

Also i know they will get bigger but getting rid of two fish does do a lot to stocking size dosent it?

No it doesn't, because none of those fish should live in a 30g. To keep them all, with their potential sizes in mind, you should get atleast a 75g...a 100g would be better. You should have thought about that before you bought the tank...we tried to warn you...

*Kristin*

Your right but i dont have acess to a bigger tank and I dont know what to do with them.

Chris

Would you consider taking them to the LFS. I think that is the best thing for you to do if you cant accommodate them comfortably in the future.

I know what you mean about loving your fish, but if you love them enough you should have their wellbeing first in mind.

As for hand feeding. I started with frozen bloodworm and just held it in the tank. Whilst it melted the fish would swim up and take it, eventually they took it from my hand and now they swim through my fingers and nibble me ... its so cool .

Hope you can solve your stocking problem soon.

Good Luck - Crusha

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Those who say they cant, Never will !!!

Haha!!! I Did it. I tried it last night, As I was putting my hand in with flakes my Parrot fish nudged my hand open and had a feast. My Severum was a little less aggressive towards the food but he still ate some. I am so happy.

Chris

Hello,
Can you feed rams, Kribs, and anything from my 6g on my profile? Thanks.

Chris

Do you mean hand feed?

I hve both rams and kribs and whilst they come up to the surface and will nibble (very quickly), they dont tend to hang around as long as the loaches and BGK's do.

They may take a little long to come to the party!

Glad to hear that you've had success in the meantime.

Cheers - Crusha

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Those who say they cant, Never will !!!

Well, could i put my hand in all the way with food waterlogged in my palm, rest it on something and have them eat out of it? I Guess i could call it palm feeding.

P.S. What do you mean nibble how do you feed them this way?

Chris

I hand feed mine frozen bloodworm. I haven't actually tried any other method. Flakes would disintergrate pretty quickly wouldn't they?

As the bloodworm melts the Kribs and Rams will quickly come up and grab the bits that are dangling, whereas the clown loaches and BGK will actually bite at it from all directions, it creats a real "feeding frenzy". You have to make sure they dont get to boisterous or you could lose one from jumping!

If you can get hold of some frozen food give that a go.

Cheers- Crusha

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Those who say they cant, Never will !!!

Yeah, the flakes do dissentigrate. It's annoying when they swim by it flys everywhere. I have some Hikari Bloodworms is that what you use? Also could my cichlids eat Bloodworms (Severum, Parrotfish, e.g.)?

Chris

Yep thats what I use. Just hold the cube at the surface of the water and swirl it around a bit and they should come right up and start eating it.

As far as your cichlids go, I think you could probably feed them bloodworms as well, they'd probably love it.

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Those who say they cant, Never will !!!

It isnt a block, it's like individual worms, Dead though.

Chris

mmm, never seen individually frozen bloodworms, they must be very tiny. I've always bought Hikari in blocks. Maybe you should try and get some like that, it will be sooooo much easier for you.

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Those who say they cant, Never will !!!