How to feed Alpha Predators, Cheap!

[Kelly]

For those of you like me, who love to keep the big boys, I've got a great way to keep them cheap.
First things first. Just about everything you buy from a Petstore including feeders is way to expensive to keep big fish economically. And they're not that good for them either.
I feed mine three ways.
1. I buy slabs of either Atlantic Salmon or Trout from Costco for a lttle over $20. I then cut them into about twelve or more 1 to 2" x 6" strips, bag them in small zip lock sandwich bags and freeze them. These can be thawed individually when you need them and cut into bite size portions. 100% high protien meat!
2. For my really big fish (a 34" x 15 lb Redtail Cat) I go to a local Asian Food Market and buy bags of whole Mackerel. I get a bag containing about eight 8" to 10" fish for about $5. One will last him for up to 5 days.
3. We all know feeders are fun. So I still get feeders every once in a while.

Thanks
Kelly

[Pamelajo]

Hi Kelly! I don't keep any big guys but wanted to welcome you to the site.

[CACAdmin]

Hi and :Welcome: Thanks for sharing your solutions to feeding large carnivores, while still trying to retain some of the paycheque for your own groceries.:wink:

It would definitely could be an expensive propostition to fee da fish that size. I see you freeze the fish first before feeding, which I imagine would kill off any possible parasites. Feeding fresh uncooked fish fillets can be a concern in that department.

I'm assuming red tailed cats are strickly carnivores. Have you tried earthworms? (mentioned on mongabay (http://fish.mongabay.com/pimelodidae.htm#Phractocephalus%20hemioliopterus)) ? I realized these would barely be an appetizer but might help too with the overall food costs if you grew them yourself.

Most feeders would barely be a snack for a fish that size but I guess you could raise your own and gutload them before feeding as well.

These are all just ideas I'm tossing into the pot, with little real knowldege about red-tailed cats but might be options for other large carnivores.

How long have you had this catfish and how old would he be? If you get a chance we'd love to see a picture of him.

[Pamelajo]

:Eeewww::Eeewww::Eeewww:It may be easier to pay for salmon instead of catching the worms.:twitcy: I know I would rather pay.

[brnttoast]

i had a red tail that quickly outgrew my largest tank, i fed it beef heart which is also cheap

[Catahoula Ranch]

I have a question,,
will they eat a slug? :twitcy:

[Melody]

My guess is they'll eat anything that fits into their mouth...lol.

Just a word of caution in buying supermarket fish for your pets - cooked is safer than raw. There are nasties which won't hurt humans but can infect our fish. Also, some meats are brushed with human-safe formulations to retain colour & all that. It's best to rinse & cook it first (low heat and just long enough to get the job done). Otherwise, you'll never find anything on a store shelf that is better for them than a variety of whole foods from the grocer.

[Catahoula Ranch]

I cut up a slug today and tried it on the Koi, they spit it out right away. :nah:

[CACAdmin]

So much for the idea of using them to control the slug population. :laugh:

[Soggybottom]

Heres an interesting article about atlantic salmon being "farmed and dangerous"

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FKA/is_6_65/ai_101940136/

Go for the trout!

[Catahoula Ranch]

I just spit my Salmon out. Thats an interesting read and a definate eye opener.

And yes Jay, so much for all these slugs around at night, the Koi aren't interested, I'll bet Trout would eat them though.

[Melody]

It's official, everything and everybody hates slugs.

I think all evil people come back as slugs and tubifex worms. :laugh:

[Kelly]

Hi Kelly! I don't keep any big guys but wanted to welcome you to the site.
Hello Pam
Thank You. I must appologise for taking so long to respond. I have no excuse except to say it's been a long crazy summer. :err:

[Pamelajo]

Yep it has, and went soooo fast.

[Kelly]

Yep it has, and went soooo fast.
This is just my second time on this site. I'm still trying to figure out how to manuver around and respond. Please be patient with me.

[Pamelajo]

No worries, don't hesitate to ask any questions if you having trouble. :yes:

[Kelly]

No worries, don't hesitate to ask any questions if you having trouble. :yes:
Thank You. I guess I must be doing something right if your getting back to me. So how are you and how long have you been with CAC?

[Kelly]

Hi and :Welcome: Thanks for sharing your solutions to feeding large carnivores, while still trying to retain some of the paycheque for your own groceries.:wink:

It would definitely could be an expensive propostition to fee da fish that size. I see you freeze the fish first before feeding, which I imagine would kill off any possible parasites. Feeding fresh uncooked fish fillets can be a concern in that department.

I'm assuming red tailed cats are strickly carnivores. Have you tried earthworms? (mentioned on mongabay (http://fish.mongabay.com/pimelodidae.htm#Phractocephalus%20hemioliopterus)) ? I realized these would barely be an appetizer but might help too with the overall food costs if you grew them yourself.

Most feeders would barely be a snack for a fish that size but I guess you could raise your own and gutload them before feeding as well.

These are all just ideas I'm tossing into the pot, with little real knowldege about red-tailed cats but might be options for other large carnivores.

How long have you had this catfish and how old would he be? If you get a chance we'd love to see a picture of him.
Hello Jay
I must appologise for my slow response. I don't get on this computer very often. I am blown away from the responses from people however, wow. My Digital camera is on the fritz for pics at the moment. I'm going to borrow one now that I know people actually use this site. I want to show off my pride and joy, a 11" African Tiger Fish.

[Pamelajo]

Thank You. I guess I must be doing something right if your getting back to me. So how are you and how long have you been with CAC?
I have been here 3 years. It is a nice friendly forum, lots of great people, info, and support and help when needed.

[Kelly]

I have a question,,
will they eat a slug? :twitcy:
No but he's already eaten a full grown 12" Oscar and a 14" Clown Knife before I got smart and put by himself.

[Kelly]

I have been here 3 years. It is a nice friendly forum, lots of great people, info, and support and help when needed.
To be honest I'm blown away by the responses from people here. In years past I've posted the odd thing on sites like Monster Fish Keepers and Aquatic Predators and heard back from no one. This is kind of exciting actually. I've been trying to get back to people tonight to at least be polite. Your the only live one however!

[Kelly]

My guess is they'll eat anything that fits into their mouth...lol.

Just a word of caution in buying supermarket fish for your pets - cooked is safer than raw. There are nasties which won't hurt humans but can infect our fish. Also, some meats are brushed with human-safe formulations to retain colour & all that. It's best to rinse & cook it first (low heat and just long enough to get the job done). Otherwise, you'll never find anything on a store shelf that is better for them than a variety of whole foods from the grocer.
Hello Melody
Thanks for that. Your right of course. However with Bob (thats what my kids call him) I don't even thaw them out. I just rinse them under hot water for about 30 seconds to get the frost off and throw it in. He's healthy as a horse and it goes big with company.

[Kelly]

Heres an interesting article about atlantic salmon being "farmed and dangerous"

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FKA/is_6_65/ai_101940136/

Go for the trout!

Well you know what they say; "What does kill you makes you stronger!"

[Pamelajo]

To be honest I'm blown away by the responses from people here. In years past I've posted the odd thing on sites like Monster Fish Keepers and Aquatic Predators and heard back from no one. This is kind of exciting actually. I've been trying to get back to people tonight to at least be polite. Your the only live one however!
And I left you and went to bed.:laugh: Sorry!

[Kelly]

And I left you and went to bed.:laugh: Sorry!
Not a problem. My alarm goes off at 3:25 AM 5 days a week. I know all about getting to bed early and trying to get enough sleep.

[CACAdmin]

Not a problem. My alarm goes off at 3:25 AM 5 days a week. I know all about getting to bed early and trying to get enough sleep.
Yikes! That's the middle of the night! (One reason why I don't do a.m. shifts... I'd have to get up at that time too.:rolleyes: I could if I had to but.... :nah: it's not going to happen. Hopefully you get to sleep in this long weekend.

[Pamelajo]

That is a terrible time to get up. I thought 5 am was bad.

[STANKYfish]

Back to the slug eating. We had pond turtles(red ear slider) and they loved when we would toss in whole slugs.

[CACAdmin]

Interesting. I hadn't realized they enjoy slugs. The size of some of the slugs we get hear would make for a feast.

[Melody]

I'm boxing up all of the slugs who ate my flowers. Who's address am I putting on the box? :DevilGrin: They're wonderfully healthy - they had a nutritious, varied diet all Summer. :evil:

[CACAdmin]

I'm boxing up all of the slugs who ate my flowers. Who's address am I putting on the box? :DevilGrin: They're wonderfully healthy - they had a nutritious, varied diet all Summer. :evil:
I'm sure they thought you planted all those flowers for their dining pleasure. :wink:

There certainly seems to be an abundance of slugs this year (the big black ones that is, anyway).

[Noctame]

Least you don't have to deal with a wasp infestation. Thanks to the Toronto Garbage Strike Mississauga is just overrun by them.

[STANKYfish]

Oh, thats horrible when garbage collectors go out on strike. I remember when i lived in Coquitlam,BC, there was a strike and people started piling garbage in a plaza parking lot. It got to be quite large.
As for wasps, we seem to have an abundance this year as well, usually when you are trying to have a meal on the sundeck :mad: .

A welcome to Kelly is also in order, i am "new" as well. Welcome
We have had monster fish also. A black diamond pirana, !2 in, clown knife 14, (just like what yours ate) Pacus, black ghost knife. giant gourami, etc. We perfer other types now, as like you mentioned, they need a tank all to themselves.


Oh, we do not have turtles anymore in our pond, so please do not send us that box of slugs.

[CACAdmin]

As for wasps, we seem to have an abundance this year as well, usually when you are trying to have a meal on the sundeck :mad: .
How true, within minutes of sitting down to eat outdoors they seem to appear from nowhere. :rolleyes:


A welcome to Kelly is also in order, i am "new" as well. Welcome.:Welcome: to both of you (in case I missed the opportunity to do so before... what can I say... the old brain is a little fuzzy tonight.)