Live Crawfish as food for wels Catfish

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that_fish_Guy

that_fish_Guy

Peacock Bass
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Jul 29, 2013
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So i have been doing extensive research about the natural diet of Wels Catfish. Mostly reading scientific studies taken from research done on both wild and captive fish. In most of the studies it says crawfish are a primary diet of Wels Catfish in quite a few water systems. I know of a place to buy live crawfish and was wondering if disease transfer was a concern. If it is I will just freeze them before feeding.
 
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I'd most definitely freeze them. I used to collect crawfish from NY streams, where I fished for brown trout. They were teeming with parasites crawling all over them and under the tail etc.

Even if not visible, I'd still freeze them. I think the immune system of a captive kept fish is not nearly as strong as that of a wild fish. Plus, parasites tend to multiply too quickly and overrun their hosts in the largely closed systems that are our fish tanks.
 
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thebiggerthebetter said:
I'd most definitely freeze them. I used to collect crawfish from NY streams, where I fished for brown trout. They were teeming with parasites crawling all over them and under the tail etc.

Even if not visible, I'd still freeze them. I think the immune system of a captive kept fish is not nearly as strong as that of a wild fish. Plus, parasites tend to multiply too quickly and overrun their hosts in the largely closed systems that are our fish tanks.
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Agreed, most of the fish in my systems had very strong immune systems
(However this is a result of exercise programs,not having a bare tank(immune response is somewhat dependent on stimulative environs)and a cultured immune system)).
However be sure to feed your weld a balanced diet(crayfish don't contain much nutritionally ).
 
Deadliestviper7 said:
However be sure to feed your weld a balanced diet(crayfish don't contain much nutritionally ).
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100% agree, im trying to avoid a stale diet of just shrimp and smelt. I started him on pellets at 4 inches or so and stopped once he reached 20 inches or so. Since he has grown I switched him to a whole fish/fish fillet diet. Whole smelt, tilapia, shrimp I also just bought another container of vitachem. I just went shopping today and found a seafood market with everything under the sun seafood related lol. I plan to buy a bunch of seafood all sorts of types including crawfish for the calcium and chop it all up and freeze it before feeding soak in vitachem and feed as a staple... i want to get as much variety as possible so I can ensure he is getting proper nutrition to grow.
 
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that_fish_Guy said:
100% agree, im trying to avoid a stale diet of just shrimp and smelt. I started him on pellets at 4 inches or so and stopped once he reached 20 inches or so. Since he has grown I switched him to a whole fish/fish fillet diet. Whole smelt, tilapia, shrimp I also just bought another container of vitachem. I just went shopping today and found a seafood market with everything under the sun seafood related lol. I plan to buy a bunch of seafood all sorts of types including crawfish for the calcium and chop it all up and freeze it before feeding soak in vitachem and feed as a staple... i want to get as much variety as possible so I can ensure he is getting proper nutrition to grow.
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They also like freshwater mussels in the wild
 
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