Mistyphoenix Posted July 27, 2013 Report Share Posted July 27, 2013 I recently aquired an adorable calico ranchu and I have been trying to feed it on a large flat rock as it's plate. I put the sinking pellets in the water about an inch while Yachiru (the ranchu) is nearby to see it. But they ignore the food for 10 minutes or will swoop in on it and swallow a couple pellets and then spit them out and come back later. Is this normal behaviour? Should I allow Yachiru this mich time to have their meal? It take them about 20 minutes to eat the food (usually 4-5 mini hikari lionhead pellets as they are about 4ish centimetres) I feed them on waking (9am) then I put 2-3 pellets in as I go to work at 1:30pm then I'll give them another 2-3 when I get home at 8:30pm then when the light goes out at midnight gets another 3-4. Is this too much? Should I get something else to feed them and vary it up some more? What are some suggestions other than some peas as I have planned monday to be shelled pea day. I want Yachiru to grow up big and healthy. I only have the one goldfish with 2 white clouds since I only have a 2ft tank right now I don't want to over crowd the tank and stunt my ranchu's growth. Sent from my GT-I9305 using Tapatalk 4 Beta Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
netty_3164 Posted July 28, 2013 Report Share Posted July 28, 2013 There are a few reasons why the fish might spit out the food including parasites irritating the gills, poor water quality or stress. If its a new fish, provide good water quality, give it some time to adjust to its new environment & hopefully it should eat normally. Healthy goldies should definitely always be lively & begging for food. All of my goldies devour the hikari lionhead pellets in one gulp. Your feeding regime sounds good. A 2ft should be okay for a small ranchu but if u want the ranchu to fill out to its full potential, a larger volume tank, regular feedings and water changes are required. I've recently spoken to some Singaporean goldfish breeders and they say they feed 6-8 times a day. Some other food suggestions are steamed broccoli, duckweed, frozen bloodworms, daphnia, mosquito larvae, wheat germ pellets and algae wafers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mistyphoenix Posted July 28, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 28, 2013 Ok, I'll be getting a larger tank in a couple months. The 2 foot was readily available for me. That is why I only have the one goldfish to not over crowd the tank. I'll be doing a water change soon for the fishies (not quite home from work haha) but I'll look into some varied food for them. He is a lively little tyke and loves to catch the flakes and I have noticed him/her knocking food off the plate and rummaging in the pebbles other times. Maybe they don't have manners? I'm sort of worried as it is my first attempt and a tank by "myself" I have set up a few tanks for my mother when she was alive but never for myself. Sent from my GT-I9305 using Tapatalk 4 Beta Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mistyphoenix Posted July 28, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 28, 2013 Thank you so much Sent from my GT-I9305 using Tapatalk 4 Beta Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mistyphoenix Posted July 28, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 28, 2013 I just did a 30% water change he is swimming about all happy I believe. He did roll on his side when I put the lid on amd took it off again and fed him. Then swam around and tried to steal some flakes from the white clouds. I hope he is happy and healthy. :S Sent from my GT-I9305 using Tapatalk 4 Beta Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
