Best Feeder Fish/Invert?

[GARRIGA]

I've considered breeding mollies in FW and feeding them a vegetarian diet which makes me scratch my head when others say they lack nutritional value and likely just parroting the internet. Nice part about feeding baby bred in FW being less likely to transfer pathogens from prey stock and I've heard of survivors continuing to proper in salt without acclimation meaning that food item lasts longer before it starts to pollute.

Another option are grass shrimp in FW although those won't survive long but likely just long enough. There are also SW varieties. Assuming buying live food not an option. Sometimes less effort, less tanks to maintain and might be cost effective.

BTW, FW fish and shrimp caught locally can also be fed and being FW less likely to transmit pathogens. Now instead of having a breeding setup one just need to maintain enough to last between trips. Although might be found at bait shops as well.

 

[WvAquatics]

I haven't made the final decision on my predator tank, that's part of what my other thread (Fill These Tanks) was for, but there would potentially be eels, lions, triggers, and/or groupers, though I'm not sold on those yet. I'm sure I'm missing a few in there. Also, live fish would be occasionally offered to my sharks and octopus, when I am blessed enough to house one. I'm unsure if rays would bother with live fish, they seem more interested in burrowing inverts.

As for the extra hassle, yes I'm aware, both for ordering them or raising them for live food it's extra time/money. But for me, I'm willing to entertain that. If it were for a single 40g tank, I might not, but given the amount of tanks and fish I'm envisioning, It's worth it to me for the stimulation of my predatory fish. Besides, creating an ecosystem where everything relies on/interacts with everything else is half the passion for me. Seeing how things work, watching the life cycle in action. That's also why I wanted to attempt to have a male/female pair of each fish I plan to have. I've read many threads where people say that it's very risky for some territorial fish, and the main 2 ways they got around the issue was more space (ie larger tank, more hiding places for territory/breaking line of sight), and having a male/female pair. Many on other threads say not to even bother, but failed to mention the size of the tank they attempted it with, or the other fish that were already in there. I know it also is highly dependent on the fish in question, I've accepted that as well. They would be purchased as young/small as possible and introduced together. Sometimes it just doesn't work out, and I've accepted that possibility as well.

Blessings all

Guppies. I was going to put guppies in the sump when I was planning a predator tank. Figure guppies in the sump babies would make their way up the return.

 

[WanderingAlbatross]

Besides having a male and female fish, the difference is quality food and lots of it. Not this… I feed pellets and a half a cube of blah because nutrients…

Fish won’t be thinking about babies without an abundance of quality food and stored fat reserves.

I can totally understand that. Many fish in the wild spawn when there is an abundance of food for themselves and/or their fry, so it stands to reason that it would follow a similar path in a controlled environment.

Everyone seems to agree that well fed fish are better tankmates all around. And while we may think 3x a day is enough, it may have just as much to do with constant access as it does quantity and quality, when it comes to spawning. They may be fed quite well on a schedule, but if we go by 'out of sight, out of mind', the more finicky ones may not think all of our tanks are conducive to spawning because they cannot always 'see/find' a food source. A little food for thought.

Blessings

 

[WanderingAlbatross]

Guppies. I was going to put guppies in the sump when I was planning a predator tank. Figure guppies in the sump babies would make their way up the return.

Jeez I never even considered that! I planned to have a refugium with pods for my reef, but never considered the fry being kept in the same way and passed through into the DT. That'd be perfect. Already acclimated, don't have to have another tank for them, fry automatically ending up in the tank, just like pods in a reef tank. I could in theory have 6 or so breeding adults in there, let them just go crazy. Have you seen this work before? With guppies or mollies?

Perfect solution if it works that easily!

Blessings