So I understand that feeder fishes can transfer disease over to your predator fishes. And I have read one of the forums here talking about feeder fishes. But what is the difference, besides from disease transferring, feeders and fish flesh? Although some fish in the wild would just eat fish all there life so what's wrong with feeding pet store feeders and is store or caught fish fillets a healthier choice for your fishes?
Feeder vs fish fillets.
- Thread starter Fishowner
- Start date
There is potential risk involved with both food types.Feeders can transfer diseases and parasites to your fish and the same goes for any fish that are caught and used for filet.Frozen,store bought filet could be safer but could also be lacking in total nutrition.
It is best to eventually get your fish onto good quality pellets.
It is best to eventually get your fish onto good quality pellets.
Hello; The filet for feeding was discussed in a thread a while back. What I recall is that their are two sorts of filet.
One sort is frozen with commercial freezers which get much colder than home freezers. This is supposed to be cold enough quick enough to kill parasites. My take is that these filets can be found in many stores.
The other is not frozen that way. I must confess having used such salmon and catfish filets for a number of years. I can not think of any distinct problems ever having occurred. I have stopped using them as fish food since reading about the potential for problems.
One sort is frozen with commercial freezers which get much colder than home freezers. This is supposed to be cold enough quick enough to kill parasites. My take is that these filets can be found in many stores.
The other is not frozen that way. I must confess having used such salmon and catfish filets for a number of years. I can not think of any distinct problems ever having occurred. I have stopped using them as fish food since reading about the potential for problems.
When a predator eats a fish in nature, it does not just eat a fillet, it eats everything, the organs, the stomach contents of the prey etc, so it is get nutrition from many sources, not just the fillet.
When eating prey in nature, it many get a parasite, and may be killed from it, or ....because it is in a large area, the progeny of the parasite fall off and probably don't reinfect.
In the small space of an aquarium those parasitic progeny are easily able to reinfect the predator and overcome its immune system, and any other fish in the tank.
Its like being in a small room with someone who has the flu, as opposed to being down the block. The one in the room, is almost assured to get sick, not so much the one down the block.
When eating prey in nature, it many get a parasite, and may be killed from it, or ....because it is in a large area, the progeny of the parasite fall off and probably don't reinfect.
In the small space of an aquarium those parasitic progeny are easily able to reinfect the predator and overcome its immune system, and any other fish in the tank.
Its like being in a small room with someone who has the flu, as opposed to being down the block. The one in the room, is almost assured to get sick, not so much the one down the block.
I see, good point. Never putted it in that perspective. Thanks for the advice. Well thank you all for the advice so far.
Freezing ,the host being dead a while,being on dry land for a while etc can all kill parasites and such,however if u feed only fillets etc u run the risk of malnutrition.
Quarantined live feeders can be good if:they aren't goldfish or other junk foods,and aren't contaminated with anything.
Many non fish feeders are beneficial to many fishes diets,and are less likely to spread disease to fish,such foods as :crickets,Phoenix worms,roaches,ghost shrimp,many freshwater shrimp,crayfish and snails can make great foods for many fish.
Quarantined live feeders can be good if:they aren't goldfish or other junk foods,and aren't contaminated with anything.
Many non fish feeders are beneficial to many fishes diets,and are less likely to spread disease to fish,such foods as :crickets,Phoenix worms,roaches,ghost shrimp,many freshwater shrimp,crayfish and snails can make great foods for many fish.
What's the general opinion on whole small fish? Which are good to feed?
I'm not sure which varieties are good for Cichlids and other large predators, I know Smelt contains thiaminase which is a shame, because it's readily available here and it's cheap.
I love the idea of feeding whole small fish, as it gives them the complete nutrition from everything, not just the fillet. In the UK, it's illegal to sell feeder fish, so we don't even have that option here, not that they are much good anyway. I do love to give mine frozen and fresh though, but you made a very good point about only getting the fillet rather than all the goodness.
I'm not sure which varieties are good for Cichlids and other large predators, I know Smelt contains thiaminase which is a shame, because it's readily available here and it's cheap.
I love the idea of feeding whole small fish, as it gives them the complete nutrition from everything, not just the fillet. In the UK, it's illegal to sell feeder fish, so we don't even have that option here, not that they are much good anyway. I do love to give mine frozen and fresh though, but you made a very good point about only getting the fillet rather than all the goodness.
I don't quite understand the rationale for feeding fresh or frozen fish, when pellets have been made that supply all the nutritional requirements of fish, without the risk.
If you feed freshly caught fish, the risk of internal parasites is high.
If you feed frozen fish, the nutritional value lowers with each frozen day, and if those frozen fish come from lakes that freeze over, there is still a parasitic risk. Some parasites just go into a sort of stasis until thawed out, and become active again.
There are even some reef parasites that aren't killed by normal cooking methods (ciguatera is one of them, and is even dangerous for humans to eat after being cooked)
All it takes is 1 viable parasite, and your entire tank can be infected.
Fish Poisoning in Travelers: Ciguatera and Scombroid | Travelers ...
If you feed freshly caught fish, the risk of internal parasites is high.
If you feed frozen fish, the nutritional value lowers with each frozen day, and if those frozen fish come from lakes that freeze over, there is still a parasitic risk. Some parasites just go into a sort of stasis until thawed out, and become active again.
There are even some reef parasites that aren't killed by normal cooking methods (ciguatera is one of them, and is even dangerous for humans to eat after being cooked)
All it takes is 1 viable parasite, and your entire tank can be infected.
Fish Poisoning in Travelers: Ciguatera and Scombroid | Travelers ...
Personally, I have two very finicky shovelnose cats and a black ghost knife fish that won't eat pellets so I don't have much choice.
I think it also offers a bit of variety for them. My fish go nuts for treats, but they don't get much of it.
The only thing other than pellet that I will feed more regularly is vitamin enriched bloodworm because its the one thing that I can get my picky eaters to eat, and the only way to give them vitamins.
I also tend to gut loaded river shrimp for them from my lfs. They're a great way to sneak some pellet into my picky eaters, even if it's only a small amount.
I think it also offers a bit of variety for them. My fish go nuts for treats, but they don't get much of it.
The only thing other than pellet that I will feed more regularly is vitamin enriched bloodworm because its the one thing that I can get my picky eaters to eat, and the only way to give them vitamins.
I also tend to gut loaded river shrimp for them from my lfs. They're a great way to sneak some pellet into my picky eaters, even if it's only a small amount.