feeder guppies/non conventional feeders

I'm looking for some good, solid info here guys! I know a ton of people on this site will know.

I know that minnows, and gold fish both contain thiaminase, so those are never an option for feeders for me.

I was wondering, do guppies (fancy tail mainly) contain thiaminase? I am trying to teach my pickerels to take prepped food, but in the meantime I want to continue them on live feeders, and I don't know what fish that I can use as feeders contain that compound. any advice on which fish do NOT contain thiaminase that I can get at a LFS would be appreciated!

dogofwar said:

I culture red wiggler worms - super easy to do in a rubbermaid.

Matt

Click to expand...

That was my other option, worms. They weren't real keen on anything besides guppies when they came, so theyve been fed live pretty obviously. They did chase a cricket around for a little bit, never took it though.

Dieselhybrid said:

Try tying fishing line to little pieces and bounce it around in the water. When they're hungry, they'll take it.

Sent from my SM-N900T using MonsterAquariaNetwork App

Click to expand...

thanks! I want to try jigging some prepped food and see if they will take it, its still early from their 2 day hike from florida to PA though haha so a few feeders to get them used to the new tank is still alright

MN_Rebel said:

Minnows made up of 90% of pickerels diet in the wild. Thiamainse shouldn't be problem for most cold water fish species, especially esox species. In fact all forage fish that esox species feeding on contains thiamainse. Except perch and sunfish which do not have thiamainse.

Click to expand...

I've had that debate in my head for the longest time....I mean they live in the wild off the same fish, why do I get crucified for feeding them live feeders haha. Thanks man I'm glad someone else sees it that way.