Hungry Neon Tetras

[youronlysin]

These little guys are sure cute, but they eat like pigs! I'm not sure how much to feed them. I read that I should only feed them as much as they can consume in 6 minutes or something. I'm telling you they clear the tank of food in just a few minutes and if I give them more they clean that up too. If I just keep putting in a tiny bit so that its gone in 5 or 6 minutes, I'll have to sit here all night long feeding them. I stopped adding food a half hour ago, there is no food in sight or on the water surface and they are still zipping around the tank like its dinner time.
Anyone have a set amount that they feed these guys? I have ten of them.

 

[Maillis]

Feed them twice a day for about 5 minutes. Don't worry you won't starve them. A healthy fish is a hungry fish.

 

[Aquafriend]

All my food containers say to feed enough that it gets eaten in two minutes. I have always followed that, feeding twice a day, and none of my neons have died of starvation. They are in a community tank, too, so they have to share to a degree. If they snooze they lose. They're as healthy as can be, and twice the size as when I got them over a month ago.

 

[flipz]

Fish will always act like they are starving, and will continue to eat to the point that they are literally pooping, and still eating. hah

-brent

 

[lmw80]

I have always used the 5 minute mark when feeding my fish. I feed them once a day, around the same time, if possible, and I usually fast them once a week, usually on a friday or saturday.

 

[Hypostomus]

I use five minutes as well. My neons now rise to the surface when they see me and start attacking the surface of the water like a group of piranha- it's very amusing.

 

[mikemou]

...my neons 're as healthy as can be, and twice the size as when I got them over a month ago....

just wanted to tip my hat to you on keeping them neons. i think that's a great accomplishment. i love neons and i know one day i'll keep a big school of them but i'm just not ready yet. any secrets to share?

 

[vega]

I alway use to have problem keeping (6-8) neon last time. But since i purchase 20 to top up the previous 5 last Dec, they been very healthy and not casualty since then.

Probabily the large number (>20) factor play some role in neon's health.

HTH

 

[vega]

Just brought 13 cardinal for my tank today
Buy 10 free 3 hehehe. Now they school with the 25 neon. color n identity crisis