Feeder Fish - What should I use.

[Mystix212]

This process takes a few months to establish but takes many many months to destroy.

1. Setup a <55G tank and stock with 3 male and 8 female guppies.
2. Add lots of bottom and top cover for the fry as well as love moss and hornwort for protection.
3. Feed them good quality foods.
4. Expect babies every week.
5. After a few months, the population should skyrocket and you should be able to take out large enough guppies as feeders without making a single indent to the breeding population.

 

[jaguar man]

when i got my pacus they were to small to chase the feeder guppies i gave them but i soled that problem by squishing the heads of my feeders befor tossing them in so their easier to catch. but i also live in florida and there is a water mass full of guppies ever where you go here. but i feed my jaguar cichlid live lizzards from the back yard and its coming out beautifuly and never have any problems , ill feed a pinky mouse too when ever i get the chance for protien.

 

[ShadowStryder]

I could not grow enough guppies or mollies for my large pikes.
So this is what I do, I have two quarantine tanks (2 10gal w/whisper 3's) setup. I purchase shiners from a bait shop. New arrivals go in first quarantine tank treated with
Malachite green. After 2-3 weeks moved to the second tank, which is where I feed from. Then I purchase new batch to quarantine in first tank.
During this whole process I feed them just as I would any of my fish. Keep this rotation going and you will always have healthy feeders to feed.
I have done it this way for a long time and I have never had a fish die of disease from a feeder. Or a case of HITH as some like to insinuate is from feeders.
Remember this is not to be their main diet. (with the lone exception of a stubborn biaaatch Pike).
Also shiners are longer and narrower thus making them easier to swallow and less likely to get lodged in their throat.

 

[Finmore]

when i got my pacus they were to small to chase the feeder guppies i gave them but i soled that problem by squishing the heads of my feeders befor tossing them in

 

[nwmountaintroll]

One of the most humane ways to dispatch of an animal, if that's what you're getting at...

 

[TrikkyMakk]

Instead of fish you could gutload crickets as well and feed those.

 

[benzjamin13]

I only use feeders as teh occassional treat. And I go with Minnows.

 

[TrikkyMakk]

When I do feed feeders however it is as a treat and not too many. The selection is either goldfish or preferably the tuffys (tuffhead minnows). The minnows are also known as rosy minnows (or something with rose in it), I believe.

 

[BrtnBoy449]

Don't use feeder fish. Fish food is much better for them.

Z

 

[killerfish]

goldfish will be to big if you really wan't feeder use minnows or a cheap tetra


or i would highyl suggest crayfish/crawdads if you can find them all my cichlids LOVE them and there good for them plus they don't carrie as many parasties if taken from clean water or if you keep and raise them your self