Feeding synodontis multipunctatus

[Steve]

I've noticed two of my synodontis multipunctatus cats are looking a bit skinny the past few days. I believe the little pigs of Mbuna in the tank with them are simply not letting any pellets get down to the cats so the cats are not getting the food, and I don't want to chance bloat again by overfeeding. Any tips on making sure the cats get food? Feeding when the lights are off maybe? Is there anything the cats will eat that Mbuna won't eat?

[GrizzlysDad]

Either throw some pellets in at lights out or you can feed some thawed blood worms using a turkey baster. Stick the baster down towards the bottom of the tank and squirt the worms where the cats have equal chance at the food.

[Steve]

I like the turkey baster idea Tony, that never even crossed my mind. I'll have to give that a try for sure.

[runawaypencil]

I use New Life Spectrum so it slowly sinks, If I want to feed the bottom feeders more I take some and put my hand to the middle of the tank then release the food in the down ward motion.  Alot more food will get to the bottom. 

[four_by_ken]

I use New Life Spectrum so it slowly sinks, If I want to feed the bottom feeders more I take some and put my hand to the middle of the tank then release the food in the down ward motion.  Alot more food will get to the bottom.

In my mixed tank, I do the same for the fish hat don't come up top to feed.

[linuxrulesusa]

You may want to do more targeted feeding (turkey baster method or putting your hand partway in) anyway so that you're not overfeeding the mbuna on protein.  The catfish will need a good bit more vs. the mbuna, I believe. NLS is probably a good balance, but if you were doing a more veggie based flake or pellet for the mbuna the catfish might not be getting what they need.

[Michael Zebrowski]

Feed the synos at night with small sinking pellets.  Normally synos compete quite well for food.

[Ron]

Feed the synos at night with small sinking pellets.  Normally synos compete quite well for food.

x2.

[linuxrulesusa]

My s. nigriventris are like little speckled vacuum cleaners.  They come out more too as they've gotten bigger.

My only question was whether the mbuna diet and the syno diet overlap enough to feed the same thing.

[hezekiah]

my pair see me get the food they swim up to the top of the tank upside down waiting on the food to hit the water. eat more than anyone else it seems

[Steve]

I've got two food types I use, NLS 1mm sinking pellets and Omega super veggie flakes. I tried somewhat like Tony mentioned but rather than a turkey baster (I didn't have a new clean one) I used the long tube from my battery powered gravel vac and stuck the tube into the corner rock area and put some pellets into it. That actually worked really well untill my big 6" zebra got wise to what was going on

Now I'm still doing the same thing but I'm doing it now after I turn the lights out. Seems to be working already because I have noticed the cats look like they have been eating well the past couple days (little round bellies lol). Thanks for the suggestions.

[Michael Zebrowski]

I've got two food types I use, NLS 1mm sinking pellets and Omega super veggie flakes. I tried somewhat like Tony mentioned but rather than a turkey baster (I didn't have a new clean one) I used the long tube from my battery powered gravel vac and stuck the tube into the corner rock area and put some pellets into it. That actually worked really well untill my big 6" zebra got wise to what was going on

Now I'm still doing the same thing but I'm doing it now after I turn the lights out. Seems to be working already because I have noticed the cats look like they have been eating well the past couple days (little round bellies lol). Thanks for the suggestions.

Your synos will be fine.  You're doing all the right things.

[Steve]

Tony the tube trick is working like a charm now The cats have actually gotten to know to run to the corner and wait for food when they see the tube go into the tank now. Funny how fish can learn things like that.

[auratus]

I`m suprised my S. Eruptus  are fat as hell  ( keep with Africans)

[LoveTheFishies]

My Synodontis Zebra hybrids are funny little things.  They will also swim upside down at feeding time and suck up the food in a hurry.