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Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 99
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OP
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 99 |
I have a 4-5 inch RES in a 10 gallon tank that I've been feeding for a few months. A neighboring retention pond has all but dried up and I have pounds of gambusia at my disposal. I used to feed the RES a few Gam's every other day or so. I'm hoping it will put on a bunch of weight now that it has an unlimited supply of food. I've been doing 50% water changes every few days to stay on top of the excrement buildup. There's duckweed and a lily pad to help absorb some of the nutrients too.  I don't really have a purpose for this project. Anyone think I'm dancing on the edge with all of that bio mass in such a small area? The tank has a water recirculation pump. I removed the filter a long time ago.
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 20,043 Likes: 1
Hall of Fame  Lunker
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Hall of Fame Lunker
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 20,043 Likes: 1 |
What are your ammonia and nitrite readings?
If pigs could fly bacon would be harder to come by and there would be a lot of damaged trees.
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Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 99
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OP
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 99 |
I'll check this afternoon.
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Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 6,088 Likes: 96
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Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 6,088 Likes: 96 |
How many of the gams do you think the RES are eating a day?
John
I subscribe to Pond Boss Magazine
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Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 99
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OP
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 99 |
Just a guess, 3-5. Still haven't checked the nutrient load...
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 21,490 Likes: 265
Moderator Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
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Moderator Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 21,490 Likes: 265 |
What is the water temp? Warm it up to 75 and watch for increased metabolism and feeding. Keep changing the water.
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Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 99
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OP
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 99 |
The coldest it gets is 79. During the day it gets pretty warm. Just put a thermometer in there last night so I should have a good sense of the max when I check later on today.
I'm still changing the water. I haven't been feeding the gambusia to minimize their impact on the nutrient load. That said, I'm sure they can make food out of whatever's floating around.
I netted the RES out yesterday to pull a little parasite off of its lateral fin. It's a solid fish but not a fat slob like I expected. Surely it isn't burning too many calories trying to catch them. Is it hard to grow a fat 5" fish?
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,182 Likes: 29
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,182 Likes: 29 |
It is probably limiting itself due to the small space. I don't know why, but many fish do that in aquariums.
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 4,596 Likes: 36
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 4,596 Likes: 36 |
Jim, the RES I had in my aquarium over the winter didn't like eating FHMs that they couldn't completely fit in their mouth. They would only eat the longer/larger ones only if nothing else was available, even then they weren't very enthusiastic about it. Also, the male RES in my tank this spring would go through a periods of not eating much once a month as the days got longer and the urge to spawn came around.
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