Smelt?

[mfrish000]

I just got some smelt for my rays and armatus. I was wondering if you should cut the bone out of it?

 

[LiuHsi]

no need, but u can cut them to the right size for ur fish if u want...

 

[Nic]

i never took the bone out... thats calcium

 

[mfrish000]

If I cut it to smaller sizes the bone will not be too sharp?

 

[LiuHsi]

nah man.... in wild, no one debone, fish manage fish bones well.

 

[mfrish000]

That is true never really thought about it like that. I tend to baby them a little too much.

 

[Oddball]

Bone in is fine. For myself, I try to steer away from mackerel species (such as smelt) due to the high oil content in their flesh. The oils make for a maintenance nightmare. I'd much rather keep buying 5 pound blocks of silversides at the local asian food market. The bulk price is about the same as for market smelt but, cleaning up is much easier.

 

[Nic]

Bone in is fine. For myself, I try to steer away from mackerel species (such as smelt) due to the high oil content in their flesh. The oils make for a maintenance nightmare. I'd much rather keep buying 5 pound blocks of silversides at the local asian food market. The bulk price is about the same as for market smelt but, cleaning up is much easier.

i never noticed the oily sheen in my tank from them...

 

[spotfin]

I feed smelt (small, whole fish) once in a great while but haven't found them to be oily. Certainly not like mackerel or herring.

 

[Nic]

my alligator snapper eats them all the time and his tank has little water movement and never noticed it there either