feeder fish - Aquarium Advice

bigmac1878 · 06-21-2006, 07:02 PM

feeder fish is a phrase i've seen come across a lot. what does it mean? i have an idea but i'm not sure.

TIA

Cinder · 06-21-2006, 07:07 PM

Feeder fish are generally goldfish that are used to feed other, larger fish. So - a feeder fish is any fish that is specifically fed to another fish.

bigmac1878 · 06-21-2006, 07:09 PM

that's a bit harsh. that's what i thought it was. why is this done and what are the benefits? none for the fish that is fed obviously

Elmware2000 · 06-21-2006, 07:18 PM

It's kinda like buying live crikets for some pet lizzard, or when i hatch baby brine shrimps to feed to the frys. Ya I know it doesn't sound nice having fish bread just to feed them to other fish. Some people keep quite large fish, like some catfish or arowanas. I guess some of these fish just won't eat flakes, or they eat so much of it that it's probably worth it to just buy a live fish for it to eat instead.

bigmac1878 · 06-21-2006, 07:24 PM

are the feeder fish alive or dead when fed?

rich311k · 06-21-2006, 07:24 PM

Usually they are alive. Some large predatory fish will only feed on live food.

bigmac1878 · 06-21-2006, 07:29 PM

survival of the fittest (or biggest) i suppose. maybe i'll have a bit of sympathy for the daphnia as i watch my fish go mad and chomp away

Alshain · 06-21-2006, 08:00 PM

Some people actually make attempts to breed feeder guppies for other purposes like developing new color strains.

LittleNami · 06-21-2006, 09:27 PM

Kind of like the test dummies for these colors? Like those that didn't come out with the right color would end up as feeders?

06-21-2006, 09:45 PM

I used to use feeder fish about once a week I had an Oscar, a snakehead, and a shovelnose catfish in a 125 when I was new at the hobby. I used to be so happy to see my fish eat them (sorry if that sounds harsh) Now that I am a little more experienced I know that it is not the nest option. A lot of people think that it is good for their fish; however this is not always the case. Most aquarium fish will eat non-live food unless you get them custom to live food. Feeder fish actually pose a greater risk for disease and parasites IMO, or at least from what I have learned from people like the ones here on AA.

06-21-2006, 07:02 PM	#1
bigmac1878 Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: uk Posts: 125	feeder fish feeder fish is a phrase i've seen come across a lot. what does it mean? i have an idea but i'm not sure. TIA __________________ nil satis nisi optimum

06-21-2006, 07:09 PM	#3
bigmac1878 Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: uk Posts: 125	that's a bit harsh. that's what i thought it was. why is this done and what are the benefits? none for the fish that is fed obviously __________________ nil satis nisi optimum

06-21-2006, 07:24 PM	#5
bigmac1878 Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: uk Posts: 125	are the feeder fish alive or dead when fed? __________________ nil satis nisi optimum

06-21-2006, 07:29 PM	#7
bigmac1878 Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: uk Posts: 125	survival of the fittest (or biggest) i suppose. maybe i'll have a bit of sympathy for the daphnia as i watch my fish go mad and chomp away __________________ nil satis nisi optimum

06-21-2006, 08:00 PM	#8
Alshain Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Tyler, TX Posts: 807 Images: 4	Some people actually make attempts to breed feeder guppies for other purposes like developing new color strains. __________________ Remember to vote For AA! 55 Gallon Planted Tank

06-21-2006, 07:07 PM	#2
Cinder Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 99	Feeder fish are generally goldfish that are used to feed other, larger fish. So - a feeder fish is any fish that is specifically fed to another fish.

06-21-2006, 07:18 PM	#4
Elmware2000 Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 134	It's kinda like buying live crikets for some pet lizzard, or when i hatch baby brine shrimps to feed to the frys. Ya I know it doesn't sound nice having fish bread just to feed them to other fish. Some people keep quite large fish, like some catfish or arowanas. I guess some of these fish just won't eat flakes, or they eat so much of it that it's probably worth it to just buy a live fish for it to eat instead.

06-21-2006, 07:24 PM	#6
rich311k Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 8,972 Images: 35	Usually they are alive. Some large predatory fish will only feed on live food.

06-21-2006, 09:27 PM	#9
LittleNami Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 95	Kind of like the test dummies for these colors? Like those that didn't come out with the right color would end up as feeders?

06-21-2006, 09:45 PM	#10
Guest Posts: n/a	I used to use feeder fish about once a week I had an Oscar, a snakehead, and a shovelnose catfish in a 125 when I was new at the hobby. I used to be so happy to see my fish eat them (sorry if that sounds harsh) Now that I am a little more experienced I know that it is not the nest option. A lot of people think that it is good for their fish; however this is not always the case. Most aquarium fish will eat non-live food unless you get them custom to live food. Feeder fish actually pose a greater risk for disease and parasites IMO, or at least from what I have learned from people like the ones here on AA.

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