Suggestion: A Feeder-fish Pinned Thread

[nmonks]

Having seen yet another posting about feeding a live fish to another one I was wondering if it might be worthwhile if we put tgether a simple summary on the topic. So rather than repeatedly going into the argument for and against, we could simply direct newbies to a pinned mini-FAQ that gave a balanced overview of the topic.

While I am against live feeder fish generally, I accept that in some situations it is the only way forward, and even with fishes that can be adapted to dead food, you may need to wean them off live feeders slowly. I can also respect the argument that it is a natural diet for many fish, and that, provided the feeders are healthy and "fattened up" beforehand, they can be a good way to provide all the nutrients piscivorous fish need.

So there is a case to be made for feeders, just as there is one against. Rather than try and argue the point to a conclusion, I'd like to see this mini-FAQ simply state each case, allowing the individual aquarist come to their own conclusion.

It would also be worth explain the best practise for each approach. For example, if you are going to use feeder fish, how do you make sure that the predatory fish in question gets a balanced diet and avoids parasites. Conversely, if you are only going to use dead or alternative foods, how do you train predators to accept them.

Suggestions? Comments?

Neale

 

[cane76]

i think its a great idea.i have been forced to use feeders in the past and a pinned article would of been helpful

 

[k.o.d]

As long as it stays neutral I think it is a good idea.

I too am against 'feeders' for various reasons but have been forced to use them occasionally to fatten up fish after they have come to me in an emaciated condition.

A lot of the oddballs come straight from the wild and only recognise live food as a source of nutrition, flake food and non-moving prepared foods are alien to them and so a 'weaning' phase may be required.

I have used feeders when my Tigrinus refused to eat defrosted frozen, but the feeders themselves were quarantined and in good health.

 

[AMS]

Sounds like a great idea nmonks. Who is going to write it?

 

[pieman]

Would it not be an idea to just list the good points and the bad points, then a little guide on what they are to do if they are going to use feeder fish, like don't just plonk them in the tank as they may have disease.

 

[CFC]

Its a good idea provided it doesnt just become a hige argument over the ethics of live feeding.

I'll stick these notes here until we can get something together thats worth pinning.

Gold fish are known to be very nutritionally poor and have high levels of thiaminase, a chemical which breaks down thiamin which is an essential B vitamim, if fed a diet of primarily goldfish fish become thiamin defficiant within a fairly short time which leads to problems with the central nervous system and difficulties with swimming and ultimately death.

A varied diet of silver sides, market shrimp and krill is a far healthier option and will provide the fish with all the essential vitamins and minerals that they need to maintain peak condition. If feeders must be used then home bred feeder fish such as Cichlids or guppies which have been raised on good quality flake and pellet foods are prefferable over shop bought ones as it limits the chances of spreading disease or parasites to your live stock and ensures that all the right nutrients are passed onto the predator.

Of the 40 or more predatory fish i have kept only 3 species have refused to eat anything but live foods in my care which goes to show that in all but very occasional circumstances almost all predatory fish can be weened onto non live alternatives.

 

[beblondie]

Further on the subject of feeder goldfish.another issue with goldfish is the presence of a 'spine' in the anterior of the dorsal fin, this can prove problematic if the fish swallows the feeder the wrong way or further issues in the digestive system. goldfish are just not a good feeder (not that feeders in general are that great). if you have to feed feeders, as mentioned above, go with guppies or rosies. i prefer rosies since they seem to be a little less susceptible to ich and the like...although its good to quarantine feeders if you can.
Feeder goldfish farms utilize copper meds in suspension form to combat diseases in the feeders associated with overcrowding. These copper meds are retained by the feeders for long periods after they leave the farms. Most lfs invariably retain all or part of the feeders shipping water when the feeders are loaded into their bins/tanks. And copper does not dissapate from a closed system.-Anne

 

[ringham]

I personally have never used feeder fish before because buy live fish and then kill them seems a bit pointless. Anyway I think that it would be a good idea to make a pinned topic. I found the information in this topic alone to be very useful.

 

[SLC Flyfishing]

I think that making a pinned topic about feeders is a great idea. That way people can have a reference to make decisions against. Also if another argument springs up or a member or members become beligerant with eachother over it, the mod can simply direct them to the pinned topic before it gets too out of hand. I've read some nasties on this forum dealing with this topic.

Good Thinking.

SLC

 

[nmonks]

This all seems very positive.

CFC -- I've heard the thiaminase issue about prawns, and hence why they shouldn't be fed to cats.

I'll draft something up over the next few days, and then post it here. Everyone else can make suggestions for changes and additions. I don't know much about feeding live fish, so would be definitely open to having someone else author that section.

It's warming to see that even on a divisive issue like this, there are level heads, and that people on both sides of the argument do want to put the health of their fish first.

Cheers,

Neale

 

[Tolak]

I don't buy feeder fish, but being involved in breeding means I also have to deal with the unpleasantry of culling. In nature, if 10% of the fish spawned survived, their area would be overrun. Any slower, weaker fish become feeders.

I used to give the culls to a co-worker with an oscar, his fish died last fall. I picked up an oscar in late fall, he gets home grown feeders every few weeks. If I don't have any culls, he gets along fine without them.