Feeder Tank
- Thread starter iceman3233
- Start date
Occationally this can happen, but usually when you try to switch what the fish eats all at once. You have to slowly change their food, gradually changing what it is they eat. Otherwise yes, they could reject the new food.
geoffgarcia -
I have freshwater barracudas. Unlike oscars they don't try to eat everything in site. They're attracted to the movement of the food, so they'll take guppies and ghost shrimp. They aren't interested in worms. Flake food and pellets either float or sink so they aren't interested. Sometimes if I put in guppies and they don't swim around right away the barracudas will turn their backs and not be interested. Once they start to swim thats a diff story. I"ve done some research on this fish and some people say that if they 'accidently' get something 'dead' they'll even spit it out.
I have freshwater barracudas. Unlike oscars they don't try to eat everything in site. They're attracted to the movement of the food, so they'll take guppies and ghost shrimp. They aren't interested in worms. Flake food and pellets either float or sink so they aren't interested. Sometimes if I put in guppies and they don't swim around right away the barracudas will turn their backs and not be interested. Once they start to swim thats a diff story. I"ve done some research on this fish and some people say that if they 'accidently' get something 'dead' they'll even spit it out.
Ok. So are we talking about aquarium fish which (for the most part) are mutated and inbred or are we talking about native fish, and so on? 
...because that would make a difference in feeding.
...because that would make a difference in feeding.
FW barracudas are some of the hardest fish to ween off of live foods. I have never accomplished it with 100% success, though I have gotten them to go after meats with varying results. Most of the time, as you indicated, they take them in and then reject them. I am aware that the topic is heated, but in the case of a freshwater barracuda I do believe you present a situation in which it is necessary to provide live foods.
I know that the majority of hobbyists in NA prefer dead foods for health and nutrition reasons, and there is certainly a great deal of validity in that conviction. Of course, on the other hand, there is always the issue of what some people call natural simulation, for a lack of better words. The obvious response to this is that an aquarium is not natural to begin with, but there are a variety of species that clearly "enjoy" being provided with their natural diets. I try to use dead foods as often as possible, and with my larger predators especially. It is not only a safe alternative, but a much cheaper one as well. However, when dealing with fish such as FW barracuda, Arapaima, Asia Arowana, etc..., it is without a doubt the case that these species derive a great sense of satisfaction from the pursuit and consumption of live foods.
I know this is an argument that has no end, but I think that once we start talking about the elite group of predatory fishes, we cannot overlook the fact that natural simulation carries significant benefits beyond the concerns of nutritional and health risks, which are easily minimized in a controlled setting.
I know that the majority of hobbyists in NA prefer dead foods for health and nutrition reasons, and there is certainly a great deal of validity in that conviction. Of course, on the other hand, there is always the issue of what some people call natural simulation, for a lack of better words. The obvious response to this is that an aquarium is not natural to begin with, but there are a variety of species that clearly "enjoy" being provided with their natural diets. I try to use dead foods as often as possible, and with my larger predators especially. It is not only a safe alternative, but a much cheaper one as well. However, when dealing with fish such as FW barracuda, Arapaima, Asia Arowana, etc..., it is without a doubt the case that these species derive a great sense of satisfaction from the pursuit and consumption of live foods.
I know this is an argument that has no end, but I think that once we start talking about the elite group of predatory fishes, we cannot overlook the fact that natural simulation carries significant benefits beyond the concerns of nutritional and health risks, which are easily minimized in a controlled setting.
Thank you dwf73. I agree with you completely. It's kinda like the movie 'Triple X' where they talk about the wild cought lion at the zoo, or even 'Second Hand Lions' where the boy decides to keep the lion. I do agree that nutrition is a great concern in raising fish, but when it comes to predatory fish, especially wild cought ones, IMO it would be best for them to have a 'natural simulated' environment. If I could get them to take dry or dead foods, like my oscars, I would, but these fish show no interest in those types of foods.
I wasn't trying to make an argument in this topic I was just symply giving a reason why I need live food. I hope nobody took it that way.
I wasn't trying to make an argument in this topic I was just symply giving a reason why I need live food. I hope nobody took it that way.
The point that most people like to make, which is a good one, is that fish bred for purposes of domestication should in most cases be able to take dead foods. Fish caught from the wild are obviously a different matter. Oscars can be tough, but it is definitely possible with time - Were yours fed solely on live foods before you bought them? AFG said that the process is often slow, and that is really the most important thing to bear in mind.
Just in case there were any misunderstandings, I was comparing the eating habits fw barracudas vs oscars (not saying my oscars only take fish, sorry). Oscars will take pretty much anything you put in the tank, where as barracudas won't. My cudas were wild cought from Asia. I my parents are from Asia and they confirm that these fish are found in the rivers there.
My mistake, I misread your last post. Sorry about that. Where in Asia? That is interesting, as I have not heard of that but I am sure it is a possiblity. They are native to northwest SA, so you could get some climatic similarities in the southern regions I bet. I wonder about the water?
Most websites I've gone to state that they're from the Amazon. However the guy I buy from told me he gets them from Japan. My parents are from Laos, and they say that the Japanese do get some of their fish from around these areas. They've noted these fish to be in the Mekong river as well as many of the other rivers.
