feeding feeders caught from lake...shad, minnows..etc
- Thread starter keepinfish
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the ocean is a whole different eco system... iw ouldnt even try to compare the too.... in reality all we can give is opinions its your call if you want to try it.... maybe Q them for a few weeks then freeze... still too much of a gamble for me...
There are a few ways to look at it.
Silversides come from saltwater and carry saltwater parasites that would not do well in freshwater aquariums. So, you could easily argue that these are safer than fish from freshwater bodies. The same goes for most grocery store shrimp.
Many people feed smelt that come straight out of the great lakes without evening thinking about it. I did it for years with no hesitation. I used to cathc bluegills in the local lakes and fillet them for my rays. The histrix went crazy for them. Many people feed catfish nuggets. They are nothing more than chunks of catfish fillet from fish that are farm raised in open, outdoor, crowded ponds.
I fed my group of motoros with occasional treats of live crayfish from the local stream and/or lake. Crayfish traps are cheap and easy to perate. The rays go nuts for them. I never had any issues that I know of.
What are the first things that you feed a new ray pup? Generally, live blackworms and live ghost shrimp. Both are farmed in shallow freshwater ponds with no real protection from environmental factors. Every batch of live blackworms that I ever bought had leeches and other creepy crawlies in it.
I think it is a good idea economically but, you need to be smart about it. Give everything a good look and a good rinse before you place it in the bag for storage. If you can, freeze it first. The odds are good that it will kill all of the bad stuff that may be in there. If you cannot, as is the case with crayfish, give them a good anti-parasitic dip in a small aquarium before feeding them to your rays. I used to have an unheated, 20L with an airstone in it sitting next to my pond. I added various anitparasitic meds in it and I dumped the crayfish in the quarantine tank. I pulled a few crays per day until they were gone. It worked quite well and the rays loved it.
Colin
Silversides come from saltwater and carry saltwater parasites that would not do well in freshwater aquariums. So, you could easily argue that these are safer than fish from freshwater bodies. The same goes for most grocery store shrimp.
Many people feed smelt that come straight out of the great lakes without evening thinking about it. I did it for years with no hesitation. I used to cathc bluegills in the local lakes and fillet them for my rays. The histrix went crazy for them. Many people feed catfish nuggets. They are nothing more than chunks of catfish fillet from fish that are farm raised in open, outdoor, crowded ponds.
I fed my group of motoros with occasional treats of live crayfish from the local stream and/or lake. Crayfish traps are cheap and easy to perate. The rays go nuts for them. I never had any issues that I know of.
What are the first things that you feed a new ray pup? Generally, live blackworms and live ghost shrimp. Both are farmed in shallow freshwater ponds with no real protection from environmental factors. Every batch of live blackworms that I ever bought had leeches and other creepy crawlies in it.
I think it is a good idea economically but, you need to be smart about it. Give everything a good look and a good rinse before you place it in the bag for storage. If you can, freeze it first. The odds are good that it will kill all of the bad stuff that may be in there. If you cannot, as is the case with crayfish, give them a good anti-parasitic dip in a small aquarium before feeding them to your rays. I used to have an unheated, 20L with an airstone in it sitting next to my pond. I added various anitparasitic meds in it and I dumped the crayfish in the quarantine tank. I pulled a few crays per day until they were gone. It worked quite well and the rays loved it.
Colin
well with that being said, i was thinking about blood worms...they carry disease but the ones we buy are frozen so that killed the parasites? most do not hesitate before feeding them.
I have always thought along the same line that Colin is pointing out.
My plan is to periodically (maybe 3-4x a year) treat my rays with anti bacterial and anit-parasitic meds even with out signs of a symptom. Of course I will use meds such as prazi pro that will be more then ray safe.
If I do this and freeze my catch (craws, minnows, shad, and left overs from fish I catch for my self!) I should be fine. However, what about pollutants such as mercury or any other man made pollutants?
Im really hoping to be able to safely feed my rays this because I figure a varied diet consisting of WHOLE foods that they would naturally eat would be best for my rays.
My plan is to periodically (maybe 3-4x a year) treat my rays with anti bacterial and anit-parasitic meds even with out signs of a symptom. Of course I will use meds such as prazi pro that will be more then ray safe.
If I do this and freeze my catch (craws, minnows, shad, and left overs from fish I catch for my self!) I should be fine. However, what about pollutants such as mercury or any other man made pollutants?
Im really hoping to be able to safely feed my rays this because I figure a varied diet consisting of WHOLE foods that they would naturally eat would be best for my rays.
when i first got into rays, i would go fishing and catch stripper/hybrids and we would filet them to eat...i would always keep some of the filet's for my fish. I know that my stingrays loved it, and i had no problems, but who's to say that i have'nt JUST GOTTEN LUCKY!
JD7.62;1552689; said:
I agree...but i am not sure about treating something that may or may not have a problem.
Pollutants, that is a good point that nic brought up. I just don't know.
thats my main concern is pollutants... when i do crawfish and get them going i have talked to a friend of mine who works in a lab and he will test several sample ones after i Q them for a long time... my goal is to be self sustained on them.. have them breeding..upon clear bill of health of no pollutants parasites etc.. i will then start giving them to my rays and dats... i ordered about 50 from a store before had them in Q for a month and fed them my dats and rays went nuts..
