Question for those that raise their own feeders

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CWO4GUNNER

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jan 16, 2010
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Bullhead, AZ
cwo4gunnerguscgretired.blogspot.com
Is it my imagination or do feeder fish that are disease free and raised up on nutritious food have an odor whereas store bough small feeders do not have any odor? Just wanted to know if that was characteristic. I have an overpopulation of very healthy raised (Hikari pellets) feeder fish that I have had to thin out and recycle as the occasional once a week treat for my now 6" Albino Oscars.

Although I have never fed these Oscars any store bought ready to eat feeders (sickly). As a teenager 35 years ago I did allot and never recalled any odor at all. My healthy raised smell almost like beef.

Anyone notice this?
 
No-no, I'm not talking about a tank odor problem, been there done that when I was 16. None of my tanks have odors and the feeders themselves intact have no odor. It when they are, If I can put this nicely, in parts that an odor is noticed. Not a bad order per-say but sort of a initial grocery store fresh meat section kind of smell, but more striking!

Anyway I suppose it is normal since they are very healthy and plump. like I said actually just an occasional treat, the rest of the time my Oscars get a combination of cichlid pellets, meat lovers pellet, cichlid flake, Koi pellets, fresh dried fruit, vitamin, all ground to a powder consistence and mixed into a slightly dehydrated fresh cooked oatmeal frap that sinks and stays together even underwater until bitten off. All my fish go nuts over it.
 
My Oscar toys (see sig) smell funny when I pull them out of the water. But just like you, the tank has no smell. My wife says the it smells funny when I feed any of my fish though... I think its the food honestly.
 
Are you cutting up the feeders? Your Oscar would prefer them swimming. Also the use of oatmeal isn't good as cichlids can't process grains efficiently. they may like it but it doesn't get digested properly so polutes the water.
 
Danger_Chicken;4215322; said:
Are you cutting up the feeders? Your Oscar would prefer them swimming. Also the use of oatmeal isn't good as cichlids can't process grains efficiently. they may like it but it doesn't get digested properly so polutes the water.
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Really, of all the grains they use in process pet foods, rarely oats becasue its expensive as grains go, oats is known as one of the most digestible grains and used when digestion is a problem in animals.

Well anyway back to the main subject. Im afraid my feeders once $0.12 initially used over and over again for cycling new tanks have become rather large and being a humane individual cutting up quickly seems to be the only right thing to do. One feeder fills both my two 6" Oscars up for the day and they love it just fine, hence the smell.
 
I breed swordtails and never noticed any odors. I rarely feed my oscar them though.
 
CWO4GUNNER;4215365; said:
Really, of all the grains they use in process pet foods, rarely oats becasue its expensive as grains go, oats is known as one of the most digestible grains and used when digestion is a problem in animals.

Well anyway back to the main subject. Im afraid my feeders once $0.12 initially used over and over again for cycling new tanks have become rather large and being a humane individual cutting up quickly seems to be the only right thing to do. One feeder fills both my two 6" Oscars up for the day and they love it just fine, hence the smell.
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But fish aren't animals they are fish, also not good to feed most fish animal protien. You will see fish food with grain products but it's mostly filler in cheaper food. Koi or goldfish maybe ok with it but I don't know much about them.
 
I will no longer ever need to use feeders for cycling as I have enough bacteria colonized material for any future tanks (sand, media, ornaments exc). I just got so good at feeder cycling that they not only survived but thrived. But now its time to give my Koi some more room as the pond wont be ready until next fall maybe. After these few that are left, no more feeders period. Not that I think there is anything wrong with live stock as food, its just not necessary when packaged food already has animal protein in it ready to store and feed. Live food is messy, tedious, and annoying when you have to fish it back out of the tank.

Just diden't remember live food being so pungent. Processed fish food bought or homemade is the way to go. ;)
 
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