Author Topic: How long can fish go without eating?  (Read 717 times)

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Offline Bergy

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Re: How long can fish go without eating?
« Reply #15 on: November 26, 2009, 11:13:44 AM »
dragonettes are always hunting and pecking...Im guessing thier success rate is about 10%, i.e. they peck 10 times but only get one bit of food..

NO MORE FISH TANKS FOR BILLY BOY!!!!

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Offline Just_Greg

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Re: How long can fish go without eating?
« Reply #16 on: November 26, 2009, 11:22:36 AM »
when it comes to the frequency feeding fish, one needs to take the type of fish into account.  of course, this is assuming the fish in question are in good shape, and have some weight on them.

as mentioned, most "normal" fish can go a few days without food with NP.

predatory fish, such as scorps, lions, eels, and anglers can go a month easily.  in fact, these fish should NOT be fed daily.

Syngnathids (SH and pipefish) can't really go without food easily, as they lack true stomachs and thus, cannot hold food for digestion.  in fact, i've heard of SH digestive systems irreversibly shutting down after as little as 4 days.  SH will hunt pods in stands of macro, so if you have a suitable setup, you can fudge this a bit every so often.

dragonettes spend their entire day hunting pods in the rockwork, so assuming you have one that takes frozen, they can fend for themselves as long as they're in a mature system of at least 50 gals with LOTS of LR (> 1 lb/gal).  many small wrasses fall into this category as well.

this was not meant to be a dissertation a feeding fish, but i simply wated to illustrate that one needs to take the type of fish they're keeping into account when making travel plans.

a final thought:  if you feed terrestrial veggies to your fish, it helps to blanch them a bit before feeding them out.  it aids in the digestion of these foods.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL (speaking of food)...

Greg

Offline Hajra

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Re: How long can fish go without eating?
« Reply #17 on: November 26, 2009, 11:08:53 PM »
thanks for the better explanation. Happy Turkey day everyone. Just curious. never seen anything about damsels being able to eat andything like what we eat. do you know if there is something that i can feed them as far at real food?? i know nori and i know they eat algae.
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Offline psykokid

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Re: How long can fish go without eating?
« Reply #18 on: November 27, 2009, 01:36:11 AM »
id have no fear of leaving my tank un attended for a couple of days. My mandarin dragonette doesnt eat frozen/prepared foods, only pods so no worries there. I usually feed my tank once a day or every other day. I try to spot feed my tubestras every other day but sometimes stuff happens and i just dont get around to it. I tend to over feed any how so there is plenty available in the water column when i do feed for everyone to get their share and then some.
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Offline pinkorchid

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Re: How long can fish go without eating?
« Reply #19 on: November 30, 2009, 02:57:59 PM »
Well, we're back. I had my FIL come over and feed them once while I was gone. Measured out the amount for him (thanks for the tip Tania  ;)). All is well, they didn't die of starvation....hehe.

And I have cut back...one feeding/day with the occasional treat in the evening.

I did notice that the little guys battle scars have started to heal up so they must have played nice while I was gone.

Don't think I mentioned this anywhere else, sorry if I'm repeating....they sleep side by side now. Huge improvement....haha.

Offline Bergy

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Re: How long can fish go without eating?
« Reply #20 on: November 30, 2009, 03:18:19 PM »
very cool!!!!

LEaving is tough... maybe someday you will get an aquarium controller so you can check up on your system when you are gone..

I actually have a camera, and no, it's not setup now.. my daughter made me take it down.. but now that she is gone, maybe i will set it back up...

but, just knowing the tank stats and not wondering if it is too hot or too cold, and the pH is good, makes me feel at ease...

btw, i got an app for my verizon fone that lets me check out the tank stats and control the lights and fans and stuff...


it's very cool...
NO MORE FISH TANKS FOR BILLY BOY!!!!

SNIFF SNIFF  SNIFF

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Offline Learner

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Re: How long can fish go without eating?
« Reply #21 on: November 30, 2009, 03:21:35 PM »
Welcome back Amy,
Pleased all is well in your tank, and that the clown is healing.  ;D
They look so sweet when asleep, mine sack out completely -both on their sides at the top of the tank ???-
Tania :0)

Offline pinkorchid

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Re: How long can fish go without eating?
« Reply #22 on: November 30, 2009, 05:05:17 PM »
very cool!!!!

LEaving is tough... maybe someday you will get an aquarium controller so you can check up on your system when you are gone..



I would love to have that!!!! Maybe someday...lol.

WOW...and able to check from your cell!?!  8)

Offline Bergy

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Re: How long can fish go without eating?
« Reply #23 on: November 30, 2009, 07:12:01 PM »
check and control... you can turn the lights on or off, change the temperature, whatever..

btw:  have you seen my webpage that shows my tank stats??

http://66.147.240.164/~thelitu5/TLO/graphs.php?period=hour24&from=&to=&Temperature=1&pH=1&CF1=1&HT1=1

you can change the things to graph, or change the time frame to look back...

IF you look back the past week, you can see the day that my heater failed...

and how cold it got in the tank...

NO MORE FISH TANKS FOR BILLY BOY!!!!

SNIFF SNIFF  SNIFF

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Offline cruzincaril

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Re: How long can fish go without eating?
« Reply #24 on: December 18, 2009, 07:14:47 PM »
i know this is an older post but i just happened to see it..i must be a bad mommy..i only feed half a live cube twice a week... :-\

Offline Bergy

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Re: How long can fish go without eating?
« Reply #25 on: December 18, 2009, 07:18:57 PM »
i htink it best to feed as LITTLE as possible...   not to be cruel, but to try to control the output...

NO MORE FISH TANKS FOR BILLY BOY!!!!

SNIFF SNIFF  SNIFF

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Offline cruzincaril

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Re: How long can fish go without eating?
« Reply #26 on: December 18, 2009, 07:34:31 PM »
as in waste u mean?

Offline Bergy

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Re: How long can fish go without eating?
« Reply #27 on: December 18, 2009, 10:24:28 PM »
input / output

waste / poop / ammonia / etc...


less food means less wasted food, and less poop

NO MORE FISH TANKS FOR BILLY BOY!!!!

SNIFF SNIFF  SNIFF

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Offline Hajra

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Re: How long can fish go without eating?
« Reply #28 on: December 19, 2009, 01:42:44 AM »
ok your gonna have to tell me more about that app for your phone. interest peaked.
welcome to the best saltwater forum ever......

Offline cruzincaril

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Re: How long can fish go without eating?
« Reply #29 on: December 19, 2009, 09:39:34 PM »
ohhh does someone have an ifone ? and what app?