pellets vs raw/frozen

[Big Daves Rays]

if you do raw/frozen vary the diet. alot of people just feed shrimp. try different foods. My main foods are shrimp, smelt and tilapia filets. just found tilapia filets up here for 2.75 a pound, smelt is usually 1.99 pound and shrimp runs about 3.50 a pound

 

[Deaths Sting]

if you do raw/frozen vary the diet. alot of people just feed shrimp. try different foods. My main foods are shrimp, smelt and tilapia filets. just found tilapia filets up here for 2.75 a pound, smelt is usually 1.99 pound and shrimp runs about 3.50 a pound

yah i for sure will man! do u get the smelts live or are they frozen?

right now my rays are eating dew worms and mysis shrimp. i've tried feeding them chopped prawns but i think 50% of it goes to my filters.

 

[Big Daves Rays]

do u get the smelts live or are they frozen?

Frozen, I buy them 15 pounds at a time. when I feed them, I put them in a small bucket, scoop up some tank water, then break them in 1/2 and throw them in. they will float if you don't pop the air bubble that is inside them when they are flash frozen. They smell like crap, but the rays love them.

 

[tank125]

yah i for sure will man! do u get the smelts live or are they frozen?

right now my rays are eating dew worms and mysis shrimp. i've tried feeding them chopped prawns but i think 50% of it goes to my filters.

Other frozen/raws

silver sides
clam
smelt
shrimp
tilapia or other white fish filet
scallops
squid
cockle (spelling?)
meal worms
canadian night crawlers
red wigglers (trout worms)
super worms
wax worms
crickets

 

[FireMedic]

I feed pellets for both practical and experimental purposes.

The pellets that I have been offering are from a batch made for a colleague of mine to feed to Lake Sturgeon. I have willingly accepted any risks from such an experiment, none noticed so far.

The pellets also offer greater economic management of my rays. I can get them in bulk (40lbs/time) portion into smaller containers and freeze for long term (relatively) storage. Pellets tend to be more stable in the system. Less fouling. Less undigestible matter excreted and clogging the coarse filter media, less filter changes. One more pro-pellet comment is based on quality. You do not tend to find disease organisms or pollutants in manufactured pellets.

When the Smelt run up here I harvest about 120lbs sort into groups of a dozen and freeze.

Nightcrawlers are seasonal as well. If it rains I am out pickin' crawlers.

Frozen shrimp I buy as the mood hits me.

Variety is critical to health, yes, but I vary their diet over the course of 12 months, not necessarily per feeding.

I vote pellets.
Respectfully submitted, FireMedic.

 

[Deaths Sting]

I feed pellets for both practical and experimental purposes.

The pellets that I have been offering are from a batch made for a colleague of mine to feed to Lake Sturgeon. I have willingly accepted any risks from such an experiment, none noticed so far.

The pellets also offer greater economic management of my rays. I can get them in bulk (40lbs/time) portion into smaller containers and freeze for long term (relatively) storage. Pellets tend to be more stable in the system. Less fouling. Less undigestible matter excreted and clogging the coarse filter media, less filter changes. One more pro-pellet comment is based on quality. You do not tend to find disease organisms or pollutants in manufactured pellets.


When the Smelt run up here I harvest about 120lbs sort into groups of a dozen and freeze.

Nightcrawlers are seasonal as well. If it rains I am out pickin' crawlers.

Frozen shrimp I buy as the mood hits me.

Variety is critical to health, yes, but I vary their diet over the course of 12 months, not necessarily per feeding.

I vote pellets.
Respectfully submitted, FireMedic.

thanks man! that's some really good input there! much appreciated! if you have anymore advice to give please do share!

 

[carcrazy]

Yeah, I've been tagging along and also appreciate the info! Anything to reduce the food bill would be appreciated. I currently have to drive 100 miles to buy shrimp in bulk. With the cost of fuel, I am spending about $40 a week on shrimp.

 

[T1KARMANN]

pellets all the way

i feed the whole tank with prawn and giant meal worms if the other fish miss any the rays eat that 1st

then i throw 2 big hand fulls of pellets in and the rays love them

i have had new born p14 pups eat pellets with in 3 hours of birth

most people will tell you to feed a varied diet well pellets are a varied diet they have loads of stuff in them compared to most frozen foods

getting my rays eatting pellets was the best thing i ever done

 

[Deaths Sting]

pellets all the way

i feed the whole tank with prawn and giant meal worms if the other fish miss any the rays eat that 1st

then i throw 2 big hand fulls of pellets in and the rays love them

i have had new born p14 pups eat pellets with in 3 hours of birth

most people will tell you to feed a varied diet well pellets are a varied diet they have loads of stuff in them compared to most frozen foods

getting my rays eatting pellets was the best thing i ever done

are u feeding them different types of pellets or is their one in particular they like?

 

[genki]

Frozen as main diet & pellets as supplement for 3 times a week thingy.