Feeding prawn, shell on or off?

[PeteLockwood]

I could swear I've seen in the ray forum that Zoodiver has said before that not peeling shrimp is better. MFK search isn't helping me and this is the first reference I've found using a google search:

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/f...aby-arapaima&p=1930375&viewfull=1#post1930375

try and feed fresh shrimp with the shell on them (people peel the shell all the time, and it's throwing away good stuff).

As to Speedo's question re. cooking or not cooking shrimp, that one's simple: cooking anything reduces the amount of nutrients in food - that's regardless of whether the food is to be consumed by a ray or a human.

 

[Bassrutten]

That is the same sort of information I was told, that it helps with their colour and such.

Thanks for the reply

 

[speedo]

Think i will have to price up some uncooked prawns instead of frozen then (oh well you dont know until you are told)

 

[PeteLockwood]

Frozen raw prawns is fine, it's the cooking that's most of the problem. Most likely raw will be cheaper anyway, they have less to do before selling them (i.e. no cooking cost).

 

[dogofwar]

I don't keep rays but have fed raw, shell-on, head-on, shrimp to lots of big fish (cichlids, cats, bichirs, etc.).

I buy from a local market in small enough quantities that freezing isn't necessary...

Matt

 

[iwiied]

i feed headless, shell on body, shell off on the tail , as i find it to be extremely sharp and could cause punture wounds, i've had many of these, just handling the shrimps.

 

[arwen]

i feed headless, shell on body, shell off on the tail , as i find it to be extremely sharp and could cause punture wounds, i've had many of these, just handling the shrimps.

Same here bro, for me will chomp them into pieces for my tiny rays, thanks for sharing

 

[Zoodiver]

In my head I can remember someone telling me to avoid cooked ones.. raw only? I sure may be wrong.

Maybe im wrong then? Anybody help out whether cooked prawns are to be avoided?

Yes, don't ever feed cooked products. It's a waste. It loses most of it's nutritional value. While we're on the topic, never thaw your food in hot water either. Pull it out of the freezer a day in advance and slow thaw it in the fridge. Thawing too quickly reduces the nutritional value as well.

I could swear I've seen in the ray forum that Zoodiver has said before that not peeling shrimp is better. MFK search isn't helping me and this is the first reference I've found using a google search:

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/f...aby-arapaima&p=1930375&viewfull=1#post1930375



As to Speedo's question re. cooking or not cooking shrimp, that one's simple: cooking anything reduces the amount of nutrients in food - that's regardless of whether the food is to be consumed by a ray or a human.

Yep.

In the wild, they eat it ALL. The points of the shrimp tails and spines don't bother them, their bodies are designed to process it. Taking them off is 99% for our own warm fuzzy feelings when feeding them. Just keep in mind what they eat and how they eat in the wild. Small meals all day, eating small things.

 

[FishDog]

When I make my homemade food I leave the shells and tails on when I grind it all up. I have tried to feed my bigger rays shrimp with the shell on but they magically eat the meat and leave the shell on the bottom for me to fish out LOL

 

[jstavis]

In my admittedly limited experience, rays will just leave the shell and the shells will foul your water if you don't fish them out. If you're feeding frozen raw prawns you can defrost them quite quickly in a bucket of cold to room temp water. I agree that you don't want to use hot water, but you don't need to start food prep a day early for frozen prawns IMO.