Pellets vs Purely Raw Feeding?

[tlindsey]

For me it is cheaper, and i dont even get tilapia here really.

Anyway my knives are not piscivores so meaty fare is earthworms and bloodworm. I may also try crickets

Yes it is cheaper for me as well. I agree depends on the species requirements for longevity.

 

[RD.]

i noticed that fish nutrition research is not that detailed.

Use the search feature with my user ID.

 

[Hendre]

i noticed that fish nutrition research is not that detailed.

Use the search feature with my user ID.

^^

I read a study done on wild xenomystus nigri, and their diet is mostly insect larvae and other invertabrates, with some small fish. and lastly some 20% of it is algae and other small planktonic organisms. I dont know how to simulate that. Do you know RD. ?

 

[Polyaddict86]

I think pellets are the best way to get all the vitamins that the fish needs, just think about it as a vitamin pills for humans. As for raw food like tilapia,shimp and nightcrawlers imo they carry more protien amd makes the poly grow bigger and less hungry, i mean they do eat raw and live fish in the wild,lolz.

 

[Stalker_Loneriff]

i appreciate all the feed backs. interesting that for a lot of people here, purely raw diet is more expensive. here in my country(philippines), its actually cheaper to feed raw. as the high quality pellets could be expensive. same with dog foods.

 

[Vancouver_98683]

Here's a field study conducted in 2003. Stomach contents were examined. Endli and Senegal were the test subjects. Majority of their dietary intake is tilapia species. It's a good read.

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/f...ort-endli-senegal-food-feeding-habits.673557/

 

[Hendre]

It depends by fish, find out about its diet and try and recreate it as well as possible. Just remember that raw food, especially aquacultured may not always have all the nutrients and minerals of wild diets, thus the need for pellets and a mixed diet

That is my opinion on it

 

[clm08k]

But there's one thing that intrigues me. I come from the dog world and currently in the dog world there is a debate whether it is more healthy for our dogs to be fed purely raw food or dog foods.

I'm pretty new to the fish world, . I come from the fitness industry, where you have all the protein shakes, bars, etc. They are called supplements for a reason.

From a nutritional perspective, it is always better to get your macros(protein, carbs, fats) from whole foods instead of processed. A natural source of vitamins and minerals that are easily absorbed and recognized by the body. This then helps with metabolism, immune response, performance, blah blah blah. However, supplements are great to "supplement" whatever you are not getting enough of in your diet. If your diet isn't balanced in the first place, the supplements won't do much of anything for you. they don't have the foundation of proper nutrition to maximize results. (if anyone ever wanted a fitness nutrition lecture lol).

Not sure how that translates into a fish nutrition, but....I believe pellets or flakes with live/frozen food is great. Pellets give fish all the nutrients they may not be getting elsewhere. Particularly fiber and greens. Still on the fence about feeders though....those things can be riddled with diseases.

 

[mikee870]

It would be better if you can switch the diet every now an then. Go for pellets (Hikari) and meat for treats. Just beware of feeder fishes because sometimes they are the culprit of introducing all sorts of diseases and parasites to your poly. Keep in mind that water too plays an important role in making your fish healthy. Do a once a week water change and your poly will live forever.

 

[isde02]

Research is great, but all it takes is looking at a wild specimen's diet and detailing the feeding off that.

I believe unless you are providing all the necessary components in the form of supplements along with the diet of fish/shrimp/pellets that a whole diet is also advisable for predatory fish.

Exactly! Because some aquatic predators are piscivorous and some are insectivorous and some are omnivorous.