Overfeeding?

mcarver · 11-12-2006, 02:22 PM

Can you Overfeed a pinapple brain or a plate coral? I shut the pumps off this morning before the lights came on and fed frozen mysis (thawed in tank water in a cup) I started target feeding these guys and they ate, and ate, and.... They must have eaten 10-15 shrimp each!!! I finaly quit feeding them as they showed no indication they would ever stop!
So the question is... Should i limit their feeding? Feed them till they puke? This is the first time I have target fed so I have no idea. Corals have been in tank for 2 weeks now and look healthy.
Sure is cool to watch them eat tho.

The hammer seemed to get full. he ate about 5 pieces and then quit grabbing them.. figgered he got full?

mcarver · 11-12-2006, 06:11 PM

Anyone? I really dont want to kill these guys.. But dang they seemed hungry.
Did I overfeed them?

mcarver · 11-12-2006, 07:53 PM

One more bump then I'll quit asking

dobejazz · 11-12-2006, 08:08 PM

It's a good question I don't have an answer though

mcarver · 11-12-2006, 08:23 PM

Thanks for the bump dobe.. They seem to be happy.. all 3 seem puffed up tonight, have been all day actualy. Never seen them look this happy. Guess Ill feed them twice a week, maby 5 each and see how it goes. The Plate ate as expected. The Hammer did too. But I had never seen a brain eat before.. WOW was an amazing site to see.

jenajet · 11-12-2006, 11:13 PM

Well my plate grabs large chunks of shrimp and silversides so I don't think the mysis will hurt it. Thing is always grabbing food meant for my eel. I probably should go back to direct feeding the eel but its cool to watch him hunt down the food and attack it.

dobejazz · 11-13-2006, 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcarver

Thanks for the bump dobe.. They seem to be happy.. all 3 seem puffed up tonight, have been all day actualy. Never seen them look this happy. Guess Ill feed them twice a week, maby 5 each and see how it goes. The Plate ate as expected. The Hammer did too. But I had never seen a brain eat before.. WOW was an amazing site to see.

I love watching my LPS eat also so i'm also curious how much is to much

mcarver · 11-13-2006, 10:03 AM

Guess as long as they are happy Ill keep feeding them whatever they want.. hate to see anything go hungry..
Its kinda funny, My skunk cleaner sneeks in and grabs one off him every time i drop a few .. little thief lol

wharyat · 11-13-2006, 01:17 PM

Nope, they can't be overfed. Be careful tho; don't add too much food to the point of spurring an algae bloom.

They really do not need to be fed at all, as they will get all thier sustainance from light. I still like to feed my LPS once every two to three weeks, just because.

mcarver · 11-13-2006, 01:31 PM

Cool, I'm glad to know that. But if he eats it all.. will his poo creat an algae bloom? or just what they miss? These guys are pigs.. don't seem to miss much, and they sure puff up happy after a big meal. Even the ricordia jumped in and had a good stuffing. looked like thanksgiving after the meal.. they all looked so fat and happy lol
Thanks Wharyat

Twitterbait · 11-13-2006, 07:32 PM

Vince nailed it. they will eat until they get full but it will increase your nutrients from them and their waste.

I have never fed mine and he looks happy as can be with the light...

110galreef · 11-14-2006, 10:05 PM

I virtually never feed them either....just added nutrients to the system!

mcarver · 11-14-2006, 11:21 PM

Well in that case, I will quit feeding them directly and whatever the get by accident will be their meal then.
Thanks for all the input. Its good to know they will do fine either way. Ill keep the direct feeding for show effect when company comes

Wiskey · 11-15-2006, 12:11 AM

Go by the look of the coral IMHO.

Most LPS don't "need" to be fed directally, but are allot happier when they are, not to mention grow faster. I have only seen a positve reaction from any LPS I have tried to feed, provided you give it the right thing (meety foods).

Because I have only seen an increase in growth, and a positive effect in how the corals look I do feed them, it makes them happy which makes me happy.

But, knowing they don't strictly need to be fed I don't stress over missing a feeding, or doing it too often.

On average I feed once a week or so.

One other little trinket,...
If you have a LPS coral that is doing poorly, like bleached or receding, if it will take food feeding usually helps the coral turn the corner and start doing better. Of course if it's bleached putting it in the shade and feeding is the best course of action.

HTH,
Whiskey

mcarver · 11-15-2006, 09:51 AM

That was the initial reason i started feeding them Whisky. The green plate was on the bottom in the sand, but looked to be turning brown and shrinking.. I was worried so I moved him to a shady spot at a cave entrance and fed him.. He puffed up and greened up right away

He looked happy.. I was extatic!! These are some very strange animals. I have always wanted a salt system, but never imagined how facinating these creatures were till I had them join the family. I just finished my second hatch of brine shrimp and will be letting them free in the tank tonight. The clowns go nuts over them. What a site to see.

I LOVE MY TANK!!!! lol