Alternative pellets

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I've had good luck with Zoea's carnivore pellet, it took some time but my young rays have taken to it nicely.
 
when you guys say it took a while or it took some time to get them on something other than Massivor - what are you saying? Starved for a week then they took it? Took Months of trying? I am just wondering - how / how long dose it take them to get of MASScrack?
 
Peckoltia said:
Hi

When talking rays and pellet foods most people feed hikari, and I have done so myself for many years. Mostly massivore and carnivore. The problem with this stuff (I have found) is firstly the price, I am generally paying $100AUD per Kg (2.2lb) in Australia online - it is more in most stores $110-130 a Kg.

The second point for me is its addictive nature, there is something in carnivore is particular that is like crack. I have found Rays that are fed carnivore for the bulk of their diet are very reluctant to eat other pellets and to some extent other foods. The smell can also be quite horrendous at times (even with excellent filtration). I made the mistake once of seeding a cycling tank with a couple spoonfuls of carnivore - made my house smell like a stagnant river. Never again.

I went on the hunt for something cheaper and less addictive. I have been feeding my rays at the moment a mixture of Fishwerx 'gold' and Otohime ep2, with great results. Both have proteins that are not derived from plant proteins (something i think is important. Both are about 1/4 the price of the more popular Hikari. My rays are growing at an equal rate to when I was feeding Hikari, and the waste that is produced comes out in spirals (similar to hiker) but it breaks down and is consumed by the filters much easier.

All in all I think it is a win for my rays and system, much better on the hip pocket.

This is not a Hikari bashing thread, just want to discuss alternatives. I think Hikari make great food, but IMO/IME it comes with some pitfalls.

I also feed my rays a mix of frozen food. I am a fisherman so I always have plenty of locally caught fresh fillets and frames that I feed my rays - I try minimise feeding frozen foods that are known to be high in thiaminase. Fresh locally caught squid is a great alternative.

What alternatives do people feed?

Cheers,
Alex
Click to expand...

I'm giving Mazuri aquatic gel for carnivores a trial run as a dietary supplement right now: http://www.mazuri.com/mazuriaquaticgeldiets-1-2-1.aspx

I've used their turtle, tortoise, and crocodilian products over the last decade. I give most of the credit for the 100+ pounds my Aldabra tortoises have put on since 2007. A lot of zoos also rely on and trust Mazuri. Good enough reasons for me to give it a try.

Chris
 
My opinion only...

I have personally found that when i feed Massivore OR BioGold to my RD's/Midevils/FH/Bleekeri/Trimac/Brassilianis, that it ALWAYS seems to be accompanied by a quick rise in nitrates. I think it's because it goes right through them, if you know what I mean. Colors are awesome, but between the nitrate rise and the smell.... I just dunno if it's worth it any more.

For that reason, once this last large bag is gone, i'm gonna try going back to regular Hikari Staple (green Pellets). One problem there is I then have to make them SINK via the "Syringe Method" as most of my cichlids will no longer eat from the surface, or at least not without splashing like IDIOTS. They act like they're afraid of their own reflection at the surface of the water even!!!
 
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planning to try pellets they use to feed Groupers here.
hope i can get my rays to take them.


Extruded slow-sinking pellets for cage and pond culture • High protein and high fat diet designed to meet the nutrient requirement of marine fishes, i.e. Grouper, Pomano, Seabass, Snapper. • Made of highly digestible ingredients for faster assimilation of nutrient


one thing i noticed is its really messy when rays eat pellets. even if its massivore.
do you guyts also get this experience?
 
IMO a high fat diet would not be suitable for rays kept in a closed system such as an aquarium.
 
Sturgeon pellets, are far too high in crude fat to be used as a staple for rays.
 
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