We have tremendous anxiety this evening ...

[Bob Vento]

OK ...

OK ...

I am a Tilapia parent NOW with tremendous anxiety this evening.  

We brought back 20 small tilapia fingerlings this afternoon and the are swimming around like crazy in their new home.

Problem is I have not seen them eating. I've tried a number of items but have not witnessed any of them eating. They approach the food and then swim away.

I am concerned they will perish from malnutrition !
Next thing you know HRS will be knocking on my door accusing me of Tilapia neglect !

Help me anyone ... tell me this is the way it is supposed to be?

Reassure me that my little ones are eating and will not perish?

Tell me I'm a good tilapia parent and this is just a phase they are going through?

Seriously, any suggestions?

Regards,
Bob

[Japan Aquaponics - アクアポニックス 日本]

Hey Bob, please don't worry... this is totally normal... I would be more surprised if they were wolfing food down!  It could be a few days before they get their appetites back.. right now, everything looks threatening to them, the water smells different, the temperature is different, everything is different, so give them some time to settle in.  As Randall mentioned... if they don't eat the food, then get it out of there so it doesn't rot.   Secondly, just let them be for a bit - don't keep poking your head in there every 5 minutes... they have no idea if you are a threat or not... you will just stress them.  Let them settle in on their own and they should be fine.   Now if only human babies were so simple!

[Bob Vento]

So if the pellets I fed them are sitting on the bottom and have disintegrated into mush, how am I supposed to remove it?

How messed up am I making my water by leaving it in there? The water for ammonia and Nitrites tested 0 this morning.

When they do show signs of hunger how much is a normal feeding of 20 small 1 1/2 - 2 1/2 inch fingerlings?

I have read different advise on this subject but no one give an exact amount in like ounces? I plan on using an automatic feeder starting at the end of the month and wonder about the amount setting and how often to feed them?

Any information on these topics?  

Thanks in advance,
Bob

Japan Aquaponics - アクアポニックス 日本 said:

Hey Bob, please don't worry... this is totally normal... I would be more surprised if they were wolfing food down!  It could be a few days before they get their appetites back.. right now, everything looks threatening to them, the water smells different, the temperature is different, everything is different, so give them some time to settle in.  As Randall mentioned... if they don't eat the food, then get it out of there so it doesn't rot.   Secondly, just let them be for a bit - don't keep poking your head in there every 5 minutes... they have no idea if you are a threat or not... you will just stress them.  Let them settle in on their own and they should be fine.   Now if only human babies were so simple!

[Keith Rowan]

a good rule of thumb is that fish will eat about 2-4% body weight a day.. juvenille fish will eat 5-7% body weight by day..

but a safe way to approach it is to feed what they will eat in 15 minutes or so and remove uneaten food

you can siphon the sunken food from the bottom of your tank

if you have duckweed, you might consider putting some in your tank, it can be used a supplement to pellets, and it won't decompose while you're waiting for the fish to start eating (+ duckweed takes up and processes ammonia directly)

[Bob Vento]

Thanks for the tip about siphoning the bottom I'll have to get something to use.

Also I have no duckweed and would love to get some. Any suggestions where to buy some? I am in the Miami area.

Any aquapons in my neighborhood with duckweed to spare?

Regards,
Bob

Keith Rowan said:

a good rule of thumb is that fish will eat about 2-4% body weight a day.. juvenille fish will eat 5-7% body weight by day..

but a safe way to approach it is to feed what they will eat in 15 minutes or so and remove uneaten food

you can siphon the sunken food from the bottom of your tank

if you have duckweed, you might consider putting some in your tank, it can be used a supplement to pellets, and it won't decompose while you're waiting for the fish to start eating (+ duckweed takes up and processes ammonia directly)

[Bob Vento]

Randall,

This is primarily for use when we go out of town since there is no one to mind the fish in our absence.

I have a little over a month to figure it out when it arrives.

Bob

Randall Wimbish said:

Bob. I bought an automatic feeder and have never used it. I like to watch my fish feed and I don't want to over feed them and some days I don't feed them.

[Annika Wallace]

Bob

I can send you some duckweed if you send me your addy,  I would like $6.00 for shipping and you should get it the next day.  Please let me know if you are interested. 

Annika

[Bob Vento]

Sent you a separate private message and YES I am interested

[Bob Vento]

Go to this thread for update ...

http://aquaponicscommunity.com/forum/topics/finally-happy-to-report

Ending this thread here. Thanks for all of the encouragement and suggestions ya'll.