Feeding cichlids bugs
- Thread starter Nickavfc
- Start date
I feed some of my fish large numbers of grasshoppers, crickets, worms, etc. collected around my home...BUT...I live out in the country and never, ever use any kind of pesticides or chemicals on my acreage. My bugs are organic. 
If you live in the city, or close to neighbours or farmers who spray toxic chemicals...or if you yourself use such chemicals on your own property...then I would forget about feeding wild-caught goodies to your fish.
If you live in the city, or close to neighbours or farmers who spray toxic chemicals...or if you yourself use such chemicals on your own property...then I would forget about feeding wild-caught goodies to your fish.
Perhaps if this is moved to another sub-forum (like General Aquaria Discussion) it will get more conversation?
As summer, approaches I began thinking about this question again.
I use lemon grass oil for pesticides outside my house so I was wondering if that is potentially toxic for fish.
If not, there's some species that are common around where I live and I was wondering what everyone's experiences are with feeding these bugs/will fish eat them/are they safe for fish to eat:
1) stinkbug
2) cockroach
3) centipede
4) spider
5) house fly
6) ant
7) hornet/wasp
8) western conifer seed bug
9) moth
10) dragon fly
I use lemon grass oil for pesticides outside my house so I was wondering if that is potentially toxic for fish.
If not, there's some species that are common around where I live and I was wondering what everyone's experiences are with feeding these bugs/will fish eat them/are they safe for fish to eat:
1) stinkbug
2) cockroach
3) centipede
4) spider
5) house fly
6) ant
7) hornet/wasp
8) western conifer seed bug
9) moth
10) dragon fly
A lot depends upon where you live. In urban areas, I wouldn't trust any insects to be free of pesticide contamination. In rural areas, you'd still need to be well clear of agricultural fields that are treated with chemicals. From your list:
1) stinkbug ...have their own chemical warfare weapons, unpleasant to handle, never tried them.
2) cockroach...wouldn't risk bringing these into the house under any circumstances, plus they are likely the worst species of insect in terms of chemical contamination due to people trying to nuke them.
3) centipede, 4) spider...both have venomous bites, should be fine if pre-killed.
5) house fly...they spend a lot of time walking around barefoot on dog poop and dead animals, so....
6) ant...most species are not attractive to the majority of insect-eating critters.
7) hornet/wasp...I use these a lot, because I usually have a lot around...easy to catch in traps...use pre-killed only.
8) western conifer seed bug...no idea.
9) moth...wings are covered with ultra-fine scales that have a texture like baby powder, bodies are covered with hair...probably like eating a dusty, dog-hair-covered marshmallow.
10) dragon fly...way too useful when left alive as a natural mosquito control measure for me to even consider ever killing them.
I like using mayflies; they aren't an agricultural pest, so nobody sprays them...the winged adults live only a few days and don't eat (don't even have mouths!) so less likely that they will carry chemical contaminants...right after a "hatch" they can be collected by the thousand and frozen for later use. I also use a lot of grasshoppers, which can be collected in quantity in late summer and kept in the freezer. Some years have heavy hatches of Tent Caterpillars which are terrific if uncontaminated.
Again...there's always an element of risk involved. Can't collect in or near farm fields that are sprayed. Use common sense and err on the side of caution. I wouldn't even think of feeding locally caught bugs if I myself were using insecticides.
Sorry for responding a second time, forgot that I had answered this thread once before. The perils of necro-posting...
1) stinkbug ...have their own chemical warfare weapons, unpleasant to handle, never tried them.
2) cockroach...wouldn't risk bringing these into the house under any circumstances, plus they are likely the worst species of insect in terms of chemical contamination due to people trying to nuke them.
3) centipede, 4) spider...both have venomous bites, should be fine if pre-killed.
5) house fly...they spend a lot of time walking around barefoot on dog poop and dead animals, so....
6) ant...most species are not attractive to the majority of insect-eating critters.
7) hornet/wasp...I use these a lot, because I usually have a lot around...easy to catch in traps...use pre-killed only.
8) western conifer seed bug...no idea.
9) moth...wings are covered with ultra-fine scales that have a texture like baby powder, bodies are covered with hair...probably like eating a dusty, dog-hair-covered marshmallow.
10) dragon fly...way too useful when left alive as a natural mosquito control measure for me to even consider ever killing them.
I like using mayflies; they aren't an agricultural pest, so nobody sprays them...the winged adults live only a few days and don't eat (don't even have mouths!) so less likely that they will carry chemical contaminants...right after a "hatch" they can be collected by the thousand and frozen for later use. I also use a lot of grasshoppers, which can be collected in quantity in late summer and kept in the freezer. Some years have heavy hatches of Tent Caterpillars which are terrific if uncontaminated.
Again...there's always an element of risk involved. Can't collect in or near farm fields that are sprayed. Use common sense and err on the side of caution. I wouldn't even think of feeding locally caught bugs if I myself were using insecticides.
Sorry for responding a second time, forgot that I had answered this thread once before. The perils of necro-posting...
First time reading this great advice.A lot depends upon where you live. In urban areas, I wouldn't trust any insects to be free of pesticide contamination. In rural areas, you'd still need to be well clear of agricultural fields that are treated with chemicals. From your list:
1) stinkbug ...have their own chemical warfare weapons, unpleasant to handle, never tried them.
2) cockroach...wouldn't risk bringing these into the house under any circumstances, plus they are likely the worst species of insect in terms of chemical contamination due to people trying to nuke them.
3) centipede, 4) spider...both have venomous bites, should be fine if pre-killed.
5) house fly...they spend a lot of time walking around barefoot on dog poop and dead animals, so....
6) ant...most species are not attractive to the majority of insect-eating critters.
7) hornet/wasp...I use these a lot, because I usually have a lot around...easy to catch in traps...use pre-killed only.
8) western conifer seed bug...no idea.
9) moth...wings are covered with ultra-fine scales that have a texture like baby powder, bodies are covered with hair...probably like eating a dusty, dog-hair-covered marshmallow.
10) dragon fly...way too useful when left alive as a natural mosquito control measure for me to even consider ever killing them.
I like using mayflies; they aren't an agricultural pest, so nobody sprays them...the winged adults live only a few days and don't eat (don't even have mouths!) so less likely that they will carry chemical contaminants...right after a "hatch" they can be collected by the thousand and frozen for later use. I also use a lot of grasshoppers, which can be collected in quantity in late summer and kept in the freezer. Some years have heavy hatches of Tent Caterpillars which are terrific if uncontaminated.
Again...there's always an element of risk involved. Can't collect in or near farm fields that are sprayed. Use common sense and err on the side of caution. I wouldn't even think of feeding locally caught bugs if I myself were using insecticides.
Sorry for responding a second time, forgot that I had answered this thread once before. The perils of necro-posting...
thanks for the detailed response! I will probably first start off with less-risky insects that I'll collect on a hike in the woods or mountains or something for now and see how it goes.A lot depends upon where you live. In urban areas, I wouldn't trust any insects to be free of pesticide contamination. In rural areas, you'd still need to be well clear of agricultural fields that are treated with chemicals. From your list:
1) stinkbug ...have their own chemical warfare weapons, unpleasant to handle, never tried them.
2) cockroach...wouldn't risk bringing these into the house under any circumstances, plus they are likely the worst species of insect in terms of chemical contamination due to people trying to nuke them.
3) centipede, 4) spider...both have venomous bites, should be fine if pre-killed.
5) house fly...they spend a lot of time walking around barefoot on dog poop and dead animals, so....
6) ant...most species are not attractive to the majority of insect-eating critters.
7) hornet/wasp...I use these a lot, because I usually have a lot around...easy to catch in traps...use pre-killed only.
8) western conifer seed bug...no idea.
9) moth...wings are covered with ultra-fine scales that have a texture like baby powder, bodies are covered with hair...probably like eating a dusty, dog-hair-covered marshmallow.
10) dragon fly...way too useful when left alive as a natural mosquito control measure for me to even consider ever killing them.
I like using mayflies; they aren't an agricultural pest, so nobody sprays them...the winged adults live only a few days and don't eat (don't even have mouths!) so less likely that they will carry chemical contaminants...right after a "hatch" they can be collected by the thousand and frozen for later use. I also use a lot of grasshoppers, which can be collected in quantity in late summer and kept in the freezer. Some years have heavy hatches of Tent Caterpillars which are terrific if uncontaminated.
Again...there's always an element of risk involved. Can't collect in or near farm fields that are sprayed. Use common sense and err on the side of caution. I wouldn't even think of feeding locally caught bugs if I myself were using insecticides.
Sorry for responding a second time, forgot that I had answered this thread once before. The perils of necro-posting...
I’ve really only fed young grasshoppers found around my house and I don’t use pesticides. It’s really only grasshoppers and crickets since they’re like the damn sliced bread of the insect world lol. Anything else is a no no imo, too risky. Now and then I used to give my cichlids earthworms as well, like once every 3-4 weeks. They went crazy for that, greedy lil mofos lol.
