Feeder fish question

[Joshuakahan]

I would like to give my fish feeders on occasion but I don’t want to breed my own and I don’t want to introduce any diseases. I was thinking about using a saltwater bath for feeders. I used to do freshwater baths to treat flukes when I kept salt. Think this is a good idea?

 

[Fat Homer]

I would like to give my fish feeders on occasion but I don’t want to breed my own and I don’t want to introduce any diseases. I was thinking about using a saltwater bath for feeders. I used to do freshwater baths to treat flukes when I kept salt. Think this is a good idea?

That might help with ridding yourself of some problems but salt baths wont kill internal parasites which can and would be a bigger concern imo...

in fact if your fish already accept prepared foods i probably would avoid the live route all together unless you have a reason to feed live...

 

[piranhaman00]

There is no reason to feed live food to fish besides fish that will not accept prepared.

 

[duanes]

That might help with ridding yourself of some problems but salt baths wont kill internal parasites which can and would be a bigger concern imo...

in fact if your fish already accept prepared foods i probably would avoid the live route all together unless you have a reason to feed live...

I agree with this. There are internal and external parasites that will not be effected by a salt bath, and sometimes take months to even become visible as an infectious agents.
With some, like the Lernea on the caudal final the tetra below, only the young are effected by salt, but adults aren't.
I had to remove each adult parasite by hand, and ....treated the tank for about 6 to 8 weeks with a 3.5ppt salt regime to stop the young Lernae from hatching out and reinfecting.

 

[FESHMAN]

Frozen shrimp and other seafoods is a greatly better alternative imo. Cheaper, no parasites, sits in your freezer the list goes on and on

 

[Joshuakahan]

That might help with ridding yourself of some problems but salt baths wont kill internal parasites which can and would be a bigger concern imo...

in fact if your fish already accept prepared foods i probably would avoid the live route all together unless you have a reason to feed live...

Thanks, I’ll skip the feeders then. I just like to give the fish a varied diet and I think feeders are good on occasion since the eat the entire fish, especially when gut loaded. I’m not going to risk it though

 

[islandguy11]

Thanks, I’ll skip the feeders then. I just like to give the fish a varied diet and I think feeders are good on occasion since the eat the entire fish, especially when gut loaded. I’m not going to risk it though

Good decision, it's simply not worth taking the chance, only takes 1 bad feeder to potentially mess up your whole tank.