My Barra

[Tuna are fish]

So I have a pet Barra, he’s about 1 year old and and 15 cm.  He’s a bit small for his age I know, but just had a few questions about him, is it normal for him to gulp up a heap of rocks then spit them out.  Also he cut himself on the head the other day and was just wondering if there is anything to do to help heal it quicker (the tank also has a ton of salt in for him)

cheers 

[ellicat]

Salt is good, but get some Stress Coat and put it in as per instructions.

Perfectly normal to scoop and spit.

What are you feeding it on ?

[ellicat]

PS Nice looking setup.

[Tuna are fish]

9 minutes ago, ellicat said:

What are you feeding it on ?

He gets feeder fish (live), and some shrimp every now and again (also the yabby food that I chuck in for the yabby)

10 minutes ago, ellicat said:

PS Nice looking setup

Thanks I worked hard on it. And thanks for the advice with the stress cloat

cheers

[ellicat]

With the food, I'd be trying to supplement his diet with some dry food for natives (should be able to track some down at the local aquarium shop). Just eating feeder fish and shrimp might not cut it at his size. May be why he's a bit of a slow grower.

Do you have a red claw in there too ?

[Tuna are fish]

11 hours ago, ellicat said:

Do you have a red claw in there too ?

I had two in there but he ate one very early on.

 

[ellicat]

Be careful if it gets too big.  I had a 30cm Murray cod choke to death on one that was too big for it. Barra are probably smarter though. Haha

[Junky]

Awesome fish. 

Awesome set up. 

 

I have nothing to add other than the barra that I have had were fed on dry food and believe it or not, fresh cooked prawns. 

 

I found that live food cause them to do silly things in small places trying to catch them

Probably how he cut his head, not only that, they get real aggressive. 

Mine were like dogs. 

They knew that it was dinner time when the prawns came out. 

Yabbies can pick on fish too, so be careful there. 

I'd catch shrimp for the micro cleaning. 

 

Don't over think it. 

Just keep him warm in winter. 

[Tuna are fish]

5 hours ago, Junky said:

I have nothing to add other than the barra that I have had were fed on dry food and believe it or not, fresh cooked prawns. 

 

I found that live food cause them to do silly things in small places trying to catch them

Probably how he cut his head, not only that, they get real aggressive. 

Mine were like dogs. 

They knew that it was dinner time when the prawns came out. 

Yabbies can pick on fish too, so be careful there. 

I'd catch shrimp for the micro cleaning. 

 

Don't over think it. 

Just keep him warm in winter. 

He is kind of like a dog, he eats out of my hand, knows that when I pick up the net that I’m getting him food and gets all excited head out of water waiting, and best of all he stares at my sister and judges her.  Really a site to see.