The Live Food vs. Flake Debate

[Blue Lobster]

Ok, In the arawana eating a mouse thread this topic became heated.

I know this is going to be a hotly contested debate, I just want to bring this issue to the table in a fair and balanced manner.

Live food is the best for fish, that's what they eat in the wild and it is preferred by breeders and enthusiast. My position is simple in the wild and in you tank fish are eating fish. Some people feel it's more humane to feed flake cause heaven forbid the fish suffers death in the mouth of a bigger fish.


Well that's just sick, so I will feed flake or prepaired foods.
, .

Tetramin flakes, crisps, pellets and crumbles all contain FISH MEAL. Hikari sinking disks do too (I looked). Actually it's the #1 ingredient in most fish food.


Here is a site about the preperation of fish meal. http/www.fao.org/documents/show_cdr.asp?...9E/X6899E00.HTM

A quote about prepairing the live fish for processing. Basically the "How to kill them" part.

Proper draining of the fish, both aboard and ashore, is a simple and effective method of extending the short-term storage life of fish. Aboard the fishing vessels proper drainage reduces the amount of rubbing together and breakage of the fish during rolling and pitching of the fishing vessel. Moreover, the spreading and rapid growth of bacteria is reduced by restricting the presence of free water containing body slime, gut contents and the bacteria contained therein.

So they suffocate the fish by draining the water out of them and/or flash freezing them while they draw their last gasp? Oh really? Ich(not white spots, but the gross kind)


There are proponents of each type of food, but don't fool yourself into believing one is more humane. Fish will die to keep your fish alive. Where it happens is the only difference.

 

[Zenn]

Ok that is cruel, i have to admit, however when you think upon it, it is cruel in nature too, because fish tend to die when a their pool of water drys up, of if they jumped out of the water and misjudged and landing on the bank and died...

It is all horrible, but fish are cannibals no matter which way you look at it, so thats what they are trying to achieve when making this food and to make our lives easier...

I aint saying it is right, because i believe every fish should get to live to a right old age before dying, its just how could you do it any other way?