Do you think its wrong to feed RTC Feeders?

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W

WJC05

Gambusia
MFK Member
Feb 26, 2007
468
2
18
Ashland, KY
I know a lot of people are against it and say why not just feed other prepared foods because they will readily accept anything, but I buy fathead minnows by the pound and quarantine them in a 75 gallon tank before feeding to my Pbass. Its actually cheaper the way I buy them to feed them live... Not to mention they grow MUCH faster on live than any I have grown on anything else...

Just interested in some opinions....

Thanks
 
I would feed a varied diet including shrimp, krill, pellets, feeders, etc.
 
I think feeders are fine. Especially if you QT them. You should gut load that feeders so your RTC gets even more nutrients
 
How much are you getting these minnows for? You get get beef liver, heart or chicken gizzerds for like a buck a pound.... And the only reason why people don't like feeders is because of the price per weight plus the increased possibiliety of introducing decease. So if you quaranteen and medicate you should be just fine.
 
I dont see much of a need in it IMO. My RTC will readily take dry foods, krill, silversides, etc. The only live feeders I use is grass shrimp. My RTC really enjoys chasing them too! Plus im really liking the hand feeding that I get to do with the non living foods... i kinda feel a bond with my lil giant.
 
I ocassionally feed my hybrid 12-14" live white suckers, and flatheaded minnows also. I find that he usually gets sick when i feed him the minnows, but the suckerfish seems to agree with him alot. I only do this about once a month. The rest of the time I hand feed him, shrimp, beefheart, chicken gizzards, hotdogs, tomatoes, and sometimes grapes, but he doesn't always take them. He also loves whole pompano, they are his favorites. They are about 10" x 5" x 2"thick, He scarfs down one every other day, and on the days in between I feed shrimp and the others. I see no problem with feeders so long as they are quarantined, and well fed. I quarantine mine for 2 weeks before I put them in. Also you might not want to feed live foods to your catfish if you are planning on keeping other fish with it. Seems like mine is more aggressive to his tankmates since I started the suckers. I don't know if I will do it anymore. Pompano are cheap! lol.
 
when your rtc gets up to about 24" it will come down to feeding it what you are able to afford. I was feeding mine store bought fish like talapia, salmon, catfish fillets and occasionally silversides and a special treat would be feeders.
 
I look at it this way,he is your pet and you feed it what you want.I just think that after awhile feeders can become a little expensive and there is always the chance for disease.Good luck with your Cat!!
 
No real problem with it nutritionally however one of the main attractions to having a RTC is the close interaction that developes over time. By using feeders you reduce the interaction and enhance the natural hunting tendancys. This could lead to smaller tankmates bieng looked at a LOT harder as dinner.
 
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