Ah, the ancistrus! Those adorable cleaning fish that transform our aquariums into veritable little underwater paradises. As someone who has been passionate about aquariums since I was very young, I can tell you that feeding these little marvels is a real pleasure. But be careful, you can't go wrong with their menu! Here's a complete guide to feeding your ancistrus properly and keeping them in tip-top shape.
The specific nutritional requirements of ancistrus
Ancistrus are herbivorous fish with an ogre's appetite for food. algae. But make no mistake, these little gluttons need a varied diet to stay healthy. Here are the essential elements of their diet:
An essential plant base
La food for ancistrus must be composed mainly of plant matter. In the wild, they spend their time scraping algae off rocks and wood. In the aquarium, you can offer them :
- Dehydrated seaweed tablets
- Fresh vegetables (courgette, cucumber, spinach)
- Catappa or oak leaves
I remember the first time I gave a slice of courgette to my ancistrus. It was like throwing a steak into a pack of hungry wolves!
Protein for growth
Although they are mainly herbivores, ancistrus need a little protein to grow well. From time to time, you can give them :
- Granules for groundfish
- Frozen mosquito larvae
- Pieces of dried prawns
Supplements for iron health
To keep your ancistrus healthy, don't hesitate to vary the pleasures with :
- Spirulina powder
- Vitamin-enriched granules
- Mopani root wood (for transit)
Frequency and quantity: finding the right balance
Now that we know what to give our little moustachioed friends, let's talk about frequency and quantity. It's a bit like us: you have to find the right balance between craving and indigestion!
A suitable eating plan
Ancistrus are nocturnal feeders. I therefore advise you to feed them in the evening, just before turning off the lights in the aquarium. Here's an example of a week's feeding schedule:
| Day | Morning | Evening |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | – | Seaweed tablets |
| Tuesday | – | Fresh vegetables |
| Wednesday | – | Granules for groundfish |
| Thursday | – | Seaweed tablets |
| Friday | – | Fresh vegetables |
| Saturday | – | Fasting day |
| Sunday | – | Seaweed tablets + supplement |
The right dose to avoid excess
Be careful not to spoil your ancistrus too much! These greedy little creatures can quickly turn into fat balls on legs (or rather fins). A good rule of thumb is to give them a quantity they can eat in 2-3 hours. For fresh vegetables, a slice of courgette the size of a 2 euro coin per ancistrus is more than enough.
One day, I made the mistake of leaving a huge spinach leaf in the aquarium overnight. The next day, my ancistrus had bellies so swollen they looked like footballs!
The importance of fasting
Don't forget that in the wild, fish don't eat their fill every day. One day of fasting a week allows their digestive system to rest and keeps their appetite up. It's also an opportunity for them to clean your aquarium more effectively by looking for natural algae.
Tips for an optimal diet
Here are a few more tips to make your ancistrus the kings of the aquarium:
Vary the textures
Ancistrus love to explore different textures with their suction-cup mouths. Alternate between soft foods (boiled vegetables), crunchy foods (pastilles) and fibrous foods (dried leaves). It's good for their teeth and stimulates them mentally.
Create feeding areas
Place food in different parts of the aquarium to encourage exploration. You can even use special supports such as vegetable clips or rock-shaped food dispensers.
Think about your other guests
If you have other species in your aquarium, make sure that the food for ancistrus does not disrupt their diet. For example, aquarium shrimp have different nutritional requirements and could be tempted by the remains of your ancistrus.
By following this advice, your ancistrus will be the stars of your aquarium, with their full bellies and bubbly personalities. Don't forget that each fish is unique, so don't hesitate to adjust their diet according to their preferences and behaviour. After all, the pleasure of aquaristics is also about getting to know each of your little protégés!
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