Live Fish As Food - Nutritional Value & Concerns

[bandogg]

I feed mine feeders every weekend a mix of rosies,goldfish,guppies

I keep my feeders in a cycled 55g with 2 tablespoons of salt per 10g for a week before the feeding.

I gotta try that

 

[liljag]

oddball? really

 

[Carefree_Dude]

how nutritional are live worms? I have spiny eels, and that is the only thing i can get them to eat.

 

[Oddball]

Depending on locale collected from and/or material the worms feed on, their total protein yield may be as high as 97% crude protein. They also contain essential amino acids (one of which is arachidonic acid which is an important component in mammal development in the first 6 month of life - promotes proper hormone development) and calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, and phosphorus

 

[sjkoi]

Oddball, would you be interested in an in-depth conversation about feeder goldfish? I may be able to dredge up some useful information. I am a producer, and I have some contacts. I have read your posts and they are thoughtful, but I think the conversation would benefit from more specific data.

 

[RD.]

Depending on locale collected from and/or material the worms feed on, their total protein yield may be as high as 97% crude protein. They also contain essential amino acids (one of which is arachidonic acid which is an important component in mammal development in the first 6 month of life - promotes proper hormone development) and calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, and phosphorus

According to Tacon et al (1983) the earthworm, Eisena foetida, has a crude protein content varying from 50-67%. As previously mentioned their nutrient composition will be largely based on the substrate where they live or are grown.

A couple of interesting reads on the subject:

http://www.nagonline.net/Technical%20Papers/NAGFS00397Insects-JONIFEB24,2002MODIFIED.pdf

and .....

http://www.springerlink.com/content/l6610304843824t2/

Abstract

Whole frozen earthworms (Eisenia foetida) were evaluated as a partial replacement for commercial pellets for rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss. Earthworms were blanched and treated with concentrated sodium chloride (10%). Fish were submitted to four treatments: control fish were fed with a commercial diet and three groups of fish were fed with diets partially supplemented with earthworms. All fish showed the same appetite for the earthworm-supplemented diets as for the control diet during the course of the experiment (8 weeks). No significant differences (p > 0.05) were detected in the mean final body weights of all groups of fish. A significant decrease was found in the whole-carcass lipid content of fish fed diets containing 25%, 50% and 75% frozen earthworms. The results on growth rate and feed utilization efficiency of fish fed diets containing high levels of whole frozen worms suggested an adverse effect of worm incorporation, probably due to dietary energy/protein imbalance

 

[David K. Bradley]

Depending on locale collected from and/or material the worms feed on, their total protein yield may be as high as 97% crude protein. They also contain essential amino acids (one of which is arachidonic acid which is an important component in mammal development in the first 6 month of life - promotes proper hormone development) and calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, and phosphorus

Oddball:
As always, another fabulous topic for open discussion and for all to enjoy. I am truly impressed. It must have taken some dedication and time to gather all of your information, where you felt comfortable with your presentation. I found it all to be extremely informative, educational, captivating and interesting. Thank you for sharing your extensive knowledge with us. It's always a pleasure to read your threads.

Now to my questions.
Would your statement as quoted above, have a direct effect on all mammals or just land based mammals? I used small worms and then later on, nightcrawlers as part of a "varied diet" for my O's during the first 14 months of ownership, never using feeder fish. I noticed they grew tremendously huge, but other variables helped as well, I believe (e.g. a 100 gal. tank, frequent water changes, daily cleaning of waste & filtration media, etc.). By the time they were 14 mo. old, they were somewhere around 18", tip to tail. Do you feel this would be considered an abnormality?

EDIT: Subscribed.

 

[Carefree_Dude]

so live worms I buy at petco are probably a nutritional snack for my fish?

 

[David K. Bradley]

Absolutely! The worms you purchase at Petco, Carefree_Dude are a nutritional snack of your fishes diet.

 

[triniyute]

Unless you buy at the docks there is no such thing as fresh market fish. It's all frozen for shipping. And, long-haul fishing boats fast freeze their catch in storage holds (except shellfish).

what if i feed my fish fresh marine fish that i myself catch (never frozen) would the nutrional value be the same as live foods?if so should m growth rates on predatory fish be the same to that of fish fed primarily on live foods?

i am a "weekend angler" an avid fisherman however i do not fish daily so i wiould not be feeding my fish that "primarily" but im still curious and would be feeding them that on a every week or every other week type basis

and would my same oceanic fish that i catch should be good for my fish even if frozen( i mean i eat the stuff lol)

and im asking but i think its obvious. roe (fish eggs) of fish that i catch in the ocean frozen and cut into bite sized chunks should be IMO extremely nutritious ? or am i crazy to me it is simpl logic