Synodontis and plants

[Ladybugzcrunch]

My two S. eruptus like to eat plants. So far they have wiped out 12 Anubis nana, 5 water onions, and 9 Amazon swords. I am trying to find something they will not eat, what should I try next? I was thinking Vals or moss. Any other suggestions?

[Birger]

You could try Cryptocoryne willisii, my syno's do not nibble on that.

You could also try adding vegi's to their diet to supplement the need, that is if you are not already.

Birger

[andywoolloo]

none of mine have ever eaten a plant. I am curious, what is their normal diet that you feed?

[Birger]

Also would like to know the age of your fish?

(For andywooloo) that may be the difference.

Birger

[andywoolloo]

yes, probably, I had thought mine liked fruit and veg at one point but they were just playing with it after all. Mine are less then three yrs old. They were babies in Nov 07 i think.

[Birger]

Hmm yes that old already...not juvi's anymore.

[sidguppy]

this is a dietary problem

eupterus rarely feeds on plants; it can be kept in a fully planted tank with ease

also: anubias isn't high on the list of favorite food.

this means that whatever you feed your fish; it's lacking and the fishes themselves are improvising

another possibility is that there's another fish in the tank that eats the plants and you suspect the wrong culprit
unless you've seen em eating ofcourse


there's a fly in the ointment: fishes that have developed a certain appetite are quite stubborn to reverse that habit, even if you do add a more variety of foods.

[Ladybugzcrunch]

There are two of them, a male and a female each about 6.5inches maybe a bit bigger. They eat, a lot. I feed three types of sinking pellets; Hikari massivore pellets, NLS pellets, and Dainichi veggie FX sinking pellets. I actually overfeed this tank because I have a very slow severum in there and between the tetras and the synos she does not get much. I saw them eating the anubias and couldn't believe it.