Baitfish as food?

[fishnatics]

While fishing for salmon over the weekend. I notice that there are lots of alewife swimming around Lake Michigan. Question is, has anyone ever used them to feed your aquarium fish? I was thinking about catching a bunch and freeze them to use later as needed.

 

[Drstrangelove]

It's been generally tested and demonstrated that a high proportion of wild fish carry undesirable organisms (bacteria & parasites.) I've seen results of over 50%. So one should assume that in any selection of even a few wild fish, there will be undesirable organisms.

There's no guarantee that freezing will kill these. Although freezing would likely be effective against many parasites, I haven't read up on it's effectiveness against all harmful ones. Freezing fails to kill many types of bacteria however, so it's likely that even if all parasites are killed, there will be some bacteria around when the dead fish is tossed into the tank.

I'd pass if it was up to me unless I intended to house the captured fish while alive for a few weeks to subject them to a routine of antibiotics before freezing. Naturally, that's somewhat self defeating, unless one has a large hospital tank.

 

[fishnatics]

Thanks just a thought but guess I'll have to pass then

 

[duanes]

I also live next to Lake Michigan, and in the past (maybe 30+ years ago) used "bait" fish from the lake as feeders.
That is until a parasite hitched a ride in, and wiped out 3 tanks of fish.
All it takes is 1, and I agree with Drstrangelove, freezing is not sufficient to kill many pathogens, because many simply go dormant, only to emerge when thawed.
Where I live L Michigan can freeze out for miles, so any organisms from the lake have easily evolved to exist in a yearly freeze thaw cycle.
Cooking feeders is really the only way to kill pathogens, so why bother when vitamin infused pellet foods are readily available.