Not supposed to crush food?

Food, feeding and diet.
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Suse
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I've just been to Abyss Aquatics and got some little juvenile tetras (more on that later!) I was buying some extra food (I use granules) and asked if I should crush them, as their mouths looked so small. The guy told me you should never crush fish food, even flake, as it will all just get sucked into the filter. He said just put it in as it is, and fish will find a way to eat it, no matter the size of their mouths.

Well, I did, and they do seem to be able to grapple with the larger chunks OK.

But this is the first I heard of it. Is it true? Abyss staff sometimes talk nonsense but this was one of the more knowledgeable guys, who actually has a degree in marine biology!
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Vale!
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I suppose he has a point if the filtration is particularly aggressive?
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Martinspuddle
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Well yes, @Vale! has a point but on the other hand with care particularly with new very small arrivals, it doesn't harm to crush the food smaller. Give very small amounts at a time, soaked in the aquarium water and administered with a plastic pipette. It also wouldn't harm to have the filter switched off while you feed them.

Just please don't forget to switch back on the filter after you've finished feeding. :]
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plankton
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Possibly.
I've always crushed flake in the past for the guppy fry with no problems.
I've never crushed granules though - you can get Tetra baby stuff for fry which is good, but I've run out and can't remember its exact name.....
I don't turn the filter off either and I'm overfiltered on all the tanks......
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Stephen
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plankton wrote: Sun Oct 11, 2020 9:14 am Possibly.
I've always crushed flake in the past for the guppy fry with no problems.
I've never crushed granules though - you can get Tetra baby stuff for fry which is good, but I've run out and can't remember its exact name.....
I don't turn the filter off either and I'm overfiltered on all the tanks......
TetraMin Baby is the fine stuff.

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PaulVerrall
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As Martin the Jester said, turn filters off. I turn mine off for 10mins whilst feeding happens, that way they all come to the front and I can see everyone eats
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Ric
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Bit of both - I've seen fish ignore bite-sized bits and instead nibble at larger flakes. It just means you don't have to worry - the fish will get their food one way or another.
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Thanks all. They are a bit big for the baby stuff but I've ordered some Tetra Prima Mini Granules which look to be the right size.
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