Feeding shrimp to freshwater predator

[Piraka]

Hi all,
I’m about to get my first predator, a Serrasalmus piranha.
I read everywhere that shrimp should be a staple of the diet, together with other fish (filet and other).
I don’t understand why is a saltwater creature as shrimp so recommended.
Doesn’t it contain sodium? doesn’t that affect in a negative way the piranha’s health ?

 

[Deadeye]

There’s freshwater shrimps that are used for foods. Macrobrachium species are commonly used to my knowledge.
A pelleted diet is best imo. Just like (good) dog food, it’s designed specifically to match all of the animals dietary needs. I would save shrimp and fish as more of treats.
Someone can correct me if I’m wrong, but I’m pretty sure that freshwater and marine organisms actually maintain similar cellular salt contents, so it’s not as much of a difference as you’d think.

 

[justintheodd]

There’s freshwater shrimps that are used for foods. Macrobrachium species are commonly used to my knowledge.
A pelleted diet is best imo. Just like (good) dog food, it’s designed specifically to match all of the animals dietary needs. I would save shrimp and fish as more of treats.
Someone can correct me if I’m wrong, but I’m pretty sure that freshwater and marine organisms actually maintain similar cellular salt contents, so it’s not as much of a difference as you’d think.

Yeah, both saltwater and freshwater fish species try to keep low sodium contents in their cells. freshwater cells pretty much always are pushing out water that contains little to no sodium, and saltwater fish cells are constantly pulling in water and purging the sodium.

 

[Piraka]

Wow so cool! I didn’t know that
Thx

 

[Midwater]

I use ghost shrimp as a staple part of my food, for both predators and others, though I do not have serrasalmus.

Ghost shrimp - freshwater river shrimp - is part of the natural diet of local (to me) predators.

I would not feed saltwater shrimp.

 

[Piraka]

I use ghost shrimp as a staple part of my food, for both predators and others, though I do not have serrasalmus.

Ghost shrimp - freshwater river shrimp - is part of the natural diet of local (to me) predators.

I would not feed saltwater shrimp.

Thanks. Ghost shrimp that you buy in stores or reproduce yourself? If you buy them at LFS, is there a chance they transfer diseases to your fish that preys them ?

 

[Midwater]

Thanks. Ghost shrimp that you buy in stores or reproduce yourself? If you buy them at LFS, is there a chance they transfer diseases to your fish that preys them ?

I buy from a supplier of ghost shrimp for resale for human consumption. They get delivered door to door by the kilo. Ghost shrimp are sometimes eaten as a snack with chili and lime. I have even eaten them myself. You can search for กุ้งเต้น.

Live ghost shrimp is mainly free of disease. It is high in Thiaminase though, so it should not be fed as the sole live food.

I also feed live tilapia and other river fish fry, but I treat them first with Levamisole.