27 replies to this topic

[Oscarbreeder30]

Any one know what a small cheap and easy to breed fish is that I can use as a feeder fish

[scottyhooton]

convicts

[Jamil]

+1 for convicts.

[joey]

im not sure how good they are as feeder fish, but guppies breed like rabbits.

[scottyhooton]

Convict =

[Evil_Boof]

convicts, had 2 breeding pairs, used to get maybe 300 fry out of each pair everytime they spawned, which was about once every 2 months... excellent for feeders.

[Peckoltia]

Unnecessary waste of time.

[scottyhooton]

I wouldn't say it's an unessecary waist of time , sure Oscar don't need live feeders but it's up to the individual and if he wants live feeders then breeding them is certainly better than paying for them . When I kept oscars I found feeding live food part of the experience .
Go for it mate do what pleases you

[clancy]

Blue eyes. They breed like crazy

[bigjohnnofish]

tilapia... dunno if they are legal in WA anymore ???

[Riggers]

Yay for convicts!! My fish loved having the constant supply of live food, easy to breed and fun to watch

[Mausberg]

Any one know what a small cheap and easy to breed fish is that I can use as a feeder fish

Tangs ...small, cheap, easy to breed and in abundance...should have no problem finding some

Edited by Mausberg, 26 October 2011 - 04:36 AM.

[Peckoltia]

I wouldn't say it's an unessecary waist of time , sure Oscar don't need live feeders but it's up to the individual and if he wants live feeders then breeding them is certainly better than paying for them . When I kept oscars I found feeding live food part of the experience .
Go for it mate do what pleases you

Yes, they don't need live feeders. I just fail to see why someone would set up 2 or more tanks to raise feeders for Oscars. Seems a little counter productive to me. Going to take the keeper, ~3months to get convict fry to some sort of substantial size to be considered a decent feed, and an adult oscar could probably eat a whole spawn of convict juveniles in a single sitting. But yes, each to their own.

It seems like a cheap option. But when you consider; Power for a couple tanks, the initial outlay for a couple tanks + equipment, feed + your time to maintain these extra tanks you may as well pay the $1ea for bronze comets and just buy a bag of 10 every few months if you feel you 'must' feed your fish feeders.

I have been keeping predatory fish for a long time... and have considered breeding my own feeders at times when I have had fish that wont eat anything but live at the time... and I always found it much easier and even cheaper in the long run to just buy them.

My 2 bob.

Do as you please, best of luck.

Alex

[tranced]

i would use a coldwater fish myself, and just throw them in a 200lt drum outside?

[Riggers]

Half an ibc full of guppys!!! Nice

Alex, I was breeding convicts for my fronts to eat and I see your point, but it is possible to do it cheaply. The spawns I was getting were in the 100-200 mark and only took around 6 weeks to get to a good size, I see your point about buying live feeders but it's kinda cool to be able to 'grow your own' and from watching the behavior of my fish when it comes time for feeding is really good for them as well..

Cheers
Nick

[Oscarbreeder30]

Alright lots of fish but I like convicts so I might get guppies for feeders so any one know the difference between a male and female guppy

[werdna]

Males have more fins, more colours, and generally cost a little more.
There is no mistaking it really.
Shops generally keep them separated, probably so they dont end up with millions of fry...

[Ronny]

other than the plain obvious traits, males have a thin pointed anal fin and females have a wide triangular shaped anal fin

Same goes for most live bearing fish.

[bigjohnnofish]

Alright lots of fish but I like convicts so I might get guppies for feeders so any one know the difference between a male and female guppy

i have heaps of guppies if you want some to get you started... males/females different colours whatever takes your fancy... will do you a cheap deal

as for buying bronze comets for feeders - these invariably come with parasites....

much safer to be breeding your own or you know the source of your feeders and its good... everytime you infect your fish with parasites its costs to treat the tank.... and usually its a big tank - so more meds are needed....

[Riggers]

+1 for johnno's guppys I'll be up to see you soon Johnno