Another question on feeding and nutrition please

I feed my fish once a day and try to vary their diet as much as possible. Worms one day, krill the next, Aquamax the next etc. I also do 25% PWC's twice a week. Water is crystal clear and the parameters are good.

Krill costs $16 a pound at the LFS. Tiny cooked frozen Shrimp costs about $5 a pound. Is there any problem feeding them that instead of Krill?

Also, would it be okay to give tiny bits of other types of fish as well? (whatever the seafood counter at the market has)

I'm just looking to save costs on feeding these small, carnivorous critters.

I think this would be just fine. You are still talking about high quality protein sources. Lots of people feed their fish solely from what is at the supermarket.

Sombunya,
Out of curiousity how much are you spending to feed and how much are you looking to spend, I have 5 tanks currently setup, the largest being a 90G the smallest 2 being 10G Natives, I am setting up a 90G native, so that will be 6 tanks total, I spend maybe 10 to 20 a month in commercial high quality foods, including frozen, pellets, etc.. I dont see that as expensive myself others might. You can vary the diet without going broke.

The fish in the 100 are 5"-6" long. In the 40, 4" & 5'.

The frozen Blood worms I get from two sources. One source costs about $15 for 180 "cubes". They are not too big, about the size of a grape, so I'll drop 10 in the big tank, 6 in the 40 and 2 in the Sculpin tank. That's 18 pieces so there's 10 days for $15. I can get higher quality worms, less water in them and they also have mosquito larvae mixed in, 140 pieces for $16. If that seems like a lot, it may be but they eat every speck of it. Sometimes the Crays don't seem to get much, unless they go raom around at night eating whatever they can touch.

Krill is $16 or so for a pound. That lasts a while because they don't seem to like it as much. Again, the two fish in the 40 gallon seem more picky, presumably because there is less competition. The 4 fish in the 100 splash around and get wild at the beginning of feeding time. When I keep them on the Aquamax for a week straight, then I introduce Krill, they all eat it up.

What I want to do is mix it all up, worms, Shrimp, Aquamax pellets, toss in some small guppies once in a while, and so on. If I knew I could feed them some fish I'd go to the Asian market and buy a chunk.

So, I guess I don't spend too much, but they seem to be always hungry, and very healthy.

The fish in the 100 are 5"-6" long. In the 40, 4" & 5'.

The frozen Blood worms I get from two sources. One source costs about $15 for 180 "cubes". They are not too big, about the size of a grape, so I'll drop 10 in the big tank, 6 in the 40 and 2 in the Sculpin tank. That's 18 pieces so there's 10 days for $15. I can get higher quality worms, less water in them and they also have mosquito larvae mixed in, 140 pieces for $16. If that seems like a lot, it may be but they eat every speck of it. Sometimes the Crays don't seem to get much, unless they go raom around at night eating whatever they can touch.

Krill is $16 or so for a pound. That lasts a while because they don't seem to like it as much. Again, the two fish in the 40 gallon seem more picky, presumably because there is less competition. The 4 fish in the 100 splash around and get wild at the beginning of feeding time. When I keep them on the Aquamax for a week straight, then I introduce Krill, they all eat it up.

What I want to do is mix it all up, worms, Shrimp, Aquamax pellets, toss in some small guppies once in a while, and so on. If I knew I could feed them some fish I'd go to the Asian market and buy a chunk.

So, I guess I don't spend too much, but they seem to be always hungry, and very healthy.

can you spare the room to start a small scale worn culture. bee moths grow very fast and meal worms as well. in a few months you would lots to feed with

can you spare the room to start a small scale worn culture. bee moths grow very fast and meal worms as well. in a few months you would lots to feed with

Tony is right, for the space of a couple 10G you can easily raise some mealworms/ crickets and even set up a simple 10 to 20G tank for raising guppies or convicts..very cheap food..I personally would go with convicts for live fry feeders just because u dont have to worry about separating the parents.

I honestly think you are overthinking the whole issue here Joe, I understand you are wanting them to get a healthy diet, with some variety but simple pellets, wafers are formulated to provide a healthy exclusive diet, the extras are nice but they dont need it to thrive. I would be more cautious that they are lacking nutritional value when fed primary items suchs as krill, etc..

Tonight it is Aquamax. As inexpensive as it gets.

I also realize that straight Shrimp or Krill maybe isn't the most nutritious thing to feed them. That's why I'll give it maybe twice a week. But they do like it.

I've kicked around raising crickets and/or worms. I may try it. Not sure. I've also thought about raising guppies. Based on some posts I've read that may be a good way to go.

Convict fish? I didn't know they bred prolifically.

I appreciate the responses here and will look into some of them.

Convict fish? I didn't know they bred prolifically.

I appreciate the responses here and will look into some of them.

Check out my posts on MFT, I am getting over ran with fry very quickly from 2 pairs of convicts, I should have another 200 to 300 fry this weekend..

If you decide to breed bugs, I would suggest orange-spotted roaches (Blaptica dubia) rather than crickets. Crickets have a strong odor even if you keep the cages meticulously clean, and can become pests if they escape. These roaches are at least as easy to raise and as prolific as crickets, have little smell, are silent, and soon die at room temp (so infestations are very unlikely).

N.B. I haven't started raising roaches yet myself, but I know folks who do and they are all quite impressed with the little guys.

Tonight it is Aquamax. As inexpensive as it gets.

I also realize that straight Shrimp or Krill maybe isn't the most nutritious thing to feed them. That's why I'll give it maybe twice a week. But they do like it.

I've kicked around raising crickets and/or worms. I may try it. Not sure. I've also thought about raising guppies. Based on some posts I've read that may be a good way to go.

Convict fish? I didn't know they bred prolifically.

I appreciate the responses here and will look into some of them.

Here is a link that may help
http://www.aquariuml...sh-food/112.asp

Check out my posts on MFT, I am getting over ran with fry very quickly from 2 pairs of convicts, I should have another 200 to 300 fry this weekend..

I had no idea! Sounds interesting.

And that recipe you linked to is also interesting CATFishTONY. I appreciate it and may just try it.

I had no idea! Sounds interesting.

And that recipe you linked to is also interesting CATFishTONY. I appreciate it and may just try it.

this weekend I will make a small batch as well for my fishes