Live food source

[FireMedic]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ostracod

Here is a link to start with if you are interested in these creatures as a food source for your rays. A colleage of mine directs a research based recirculating aquaculture farm with indoor and outdoor runs. In his outdoor ponds he has a problem with these little critters. He is attempting to eradicate them due in part to their diet of plankton/zooplankton and smaller invertebrates in the ponds. He has to account for their biomass and plan accordingly for his production. He has offered me the chance to harvest as many of these critters as I want, especially to offer as food for my rays. Has any one else considered/tried them? I am currently using them as food and will post my results. If anyone desires a couple pounds I am sure I can set you up. If you live near an aquaculture facility, inquire about these crittes and see if you can get them free. -FM

 

[FireMedic]

For reference the ostracods Greg has in his ponds are about the size of a adult fingernail. Rays could probably utilize these as food due to the crushing plates in their mouths. Greg farms Walleye, Sauger, Trout and Salmon. All of these species seize and swallow prey without "chewing". The ostracods tend to constipate the smaller fishes that consume them and pass as indigestible matter in the larger fish that consume them. Rays with their crushing plates (I am hypothesizing) would be better equipped to consume them and receive nutritional benefits. We shall see. -FM