African Butterfly Fish - feeding

Question
Hi Nicole

Although I have had freshwater aquariums over the years, I have only recently decided to go for more exotic and different fish. Of course the African Butterfly Fish is truly unique and fairly easy to maintain and just had to have it! Now the 4 inch fish has settled in well and I started feeding it flake food which it readily accepts. I then tried small floating cichlid pellets which it seemed to love the first time feeding, but now it barely takes notice of them or spits them out! As this fish is a predator and loves live food, I got some small crickets from the pet shop and this seems the most preferred food. I just wanted to know how often I should be feeding the fish as I don't want to overfeed it. Please could you advise.

Answer
Hi Scott,

Since you are starting to keep exotic fish, many of whom are particular about foods, perhaps it is time for you to invest in a live food culture. I don't know much about this aspect of fishkeeping (all my fish are unfussy eaters) but grindal worms, white worms, and wingless fruit flies (Dropsophilia) are all recommended and should not be difficult to acquire or sustain.

Try this website:
http://www.lfscultures.com/cultures.html
And here's a "cleaner" approach to grindal worm culturing:
http://www.ehow.com/how_4560263_grindal-worm-culture-poly-pads.html

Crickets are not very nutritious, but fine as a treat sometimes. Mealworms would be better and your ABF might accept the Zoo Med "Can O' Mini Mealworms" which is in the reptile section. You might also have luck with Seachem's new NutriDiet line:
http://www.seachem.com/Products/Appetite.html

Click on the "Food" drop down menu and take a look at what they have to offer! You might have to buy some of these foods online, but I know my local Petsmart carries some of their line.

Have you tried frozen bloodworms? These are usually a big hit with any fish. You can also set up a little bowl of pest snails, aka brown pond snails or ramshorn snails, which if you crush with your fingers are usually interesting to fish, provided their shells are not too big and tough yet. All the pet stores I've been to are happy to give you as many of these snails as you want for free!

As far as how often to feed, probably twice a day is plenty but you can feed three very small meals instead. I probably wouldn't feed crickets more than twice a week, maybe 3-4 at a time.

Take care!
Nicole