Should You Use Live Feeder Fish in Your Aquariums? The Pros and Cons

[@KiaraMamba985]

Great video! I followed your advice from one of your videos a few months ago and started giving my fishes a mix of high quality pellets, flakes, and frozen food. My fishes (especially my oscars and bichirs) grew really fast and my cichlids have more vibrant colors now because of the varied diet! Love your videos and thank you for posting this

[@CichlidBros]

Love to hear that! And thanks for watching!

[@MaryCatherineMcHugh]

Great video! Thanks for all the information on feeder fish. I liked how even though you don’t believe in using feeder fish you still taught us both the pros and cons about them. I really appreciate all the tips and advice.

[@aquarium.talktv]

Great video Troy. Well explained and educational.

[@CichlidBros]

Thanks, Gordon!

[@edpereira1908]

I'm with you 100%. Been keeping fish for almost 50 years. I'll admit, I used to get the feeder goldfish for some predatory fish I had but got tired of having to get them and switched to freeze dried krill. That was way easier to keep on hand and the fish went after them no problems. They didn't complain :)

[@mattiashellstrom4682]

Hey! As a long time animal keeper here is my opinion! I use live food usualy only with young animals up to the point they learn to eat pellets or other types of fresh food, personaly. They are dometicated pets and we dont need them to attack other things. That being said. I do understand that some animals actualy can not be trained to eat other that live foods so in these cases id say it is ok to use it. Best wishes from Sweden!

[@jsiegel414]

In highschool I used live feeders before I fully understood what the consequences could be. I got lucky and never had a disease issue. Now as I’m older and better understand the hobby the only way I could do live food was if I was raising the food up myself but at that point I probably wouldn’t have the heart to kill them.

[@razinfishes1918]

I never feed feeder fish ever. The risks are way too high. Like you Troy I have a lot of money tied up in this hobby and some expensive fish. I really don't see any pros to this subject. Great video. But I'm sure you will have haters out there in the subject.

[@CichlidBros]

Thank you, and totally agree!

[@factsoverfeelings1776]

Establish your own feeder fish tank

[@razinfishes1918]

@@factsoverfeelings1776 I could, but I have no desire to feed live fish to my fish period. My fish are super healthy with good nutritious food variety they get fed. No need to change what works really well for me

[@factsoverfeelings1776]

@@razinfishes1918 That is your choice. I choose to feed mine closer to what they would eat in the wild instead of manufactured crap. But you do you my friend...

[@CichlidBros]

Telling someone else what to do and then backtracking to say “it’s your own choice” … followed by an incorrect statement about nutritional value. Just comical sometimes lol

[@tripezius1]

Great video! Hey people, how 'bout skipping the feeder fish and substitute worms!? I've grown worms in a container for many years to feed my fish. I put a little dirt in there, throw some worms in the container, then use my veggie/fruit compost to feed them. They breed like crazy (especially on bell pepper scraps) and you have "free" nutritious, live food for your fish, which they would arguably eat in a natural habitat. PLUS, you get great compost for your house plants or small garden :)

[@ana-bananainca790]

What kind of worms? 🪱 I want to grow blood worms or black worms but I can’t find black worms anywhere and I hear blood worms stink .. ❤

[@factsoverfeelings1776]

Yes

[@CichlidBros]

🤦🏻‍♂️

[@zafishguy5166]

Usually I only use feeders when my fish are not responding to other foods. Or if they are only eating one type of frozen food and I feel they need a diversified diet. Usually this entails just scooping out some mollies or guppies from other tanks. I'm not sure what I would do if I didnt have other tanks though.

[@CichlidBros]

Like I said in Pro #3, never seen a fish that could be weaned off of live completely. Quality frozen foods always work

[@BRSfresh]

Another great video Troy - well done 💪

[@CichlidBros]

Thank you guys!

[@jonclark8155]

I agree with you. Way long ago when I first got into fish keeping I tried it and ended up killing my fish. Now with adding two saltwater tanks I use mysis shrimp with spirulina brine shrimp and blood worms. The brine shrimp and blood worms do not go in the saltwater tank but green nori does. Good video and thank you for posting this.

[@HenryZ20]

I agree with you on your views on live feeder fish. As for live food in general, I do have plans on raising scuds for cichlids as it encourages substrate sifting and they can be bred in a nano tank which I am planning on getting anyway.

[@LucaHoolioLastName]

good idea

[@H20Fanatics]

I have Oscar's and many tanks with different snakeheads, live feeder fish I have never used and will never use. Would you feed you're Rottweiler with live chihuahuas?

[@redcargarage]

Interesting video. Troy I appreciate how you unapologetically shared your opinion, but still presented a fair list of pros and cons. I have a tank with a healthy guppy population alongside my tank of South American cichlids. I've considered feeding some of the guppies to my cichlids, partly as population control and also just to enrich the big fish mentally. I'm still on the fence about it from an ethical perspective. Like you said, I don't love the idea of raising fish simply to slaughter them. But I'm also aware that commercial fish food also comes from wild or farmed fish that have been slaughtered. If I raise guppies in a healthy and humane tank and some of them end up as food, I'm not convinced it is any worse than buying processed fish food. Still thinking about it.

[@CichlidBros]

I appreciate the thoughtful response. Thanks for watching

[@chrislouis2131]

I usually just make my own I buy guppies and let them breed with no control and feed the culls

[@CichlidBros]

Still wasting resources, money, and tank space growing them up. Why not just do frozen?

[@Youngtrout50]

He is actually providing more resources and there is nothing wrong with giving your animals enrichment. If he knows the guppies are safe to feed why not? Because it’s cruel to be self sustaining? It’s pretty much like having a Dubia roach colony for a reptile collection. That’s the way the food chain works. How do you feel about farm fresh eggs and store bought eggs?

[@CichlidBros]

Haha “giving them enrichment” … guess you missed the part about no nutritional value and the other cons on the list…

[@Youngtrout50]

Yes enrichment, providing animals opportunities to satisfy their behavioral needs and improve their mental health. Guess you’ve never heard of gut loading

[@CichlidBros]

@Youngtrout50 food lacking nutritional value, and they are just as stimulated striking at frozen foods. So is that “enrichment” actually for the fish, or just your own odd enjoyment?

[@pollylewis9611]

My Con is when I fed live food to my 4 Oscars bit and pieces of fish that came out of the Oscars gills making a nasty mess in the 125gal tank. Why I gave it to them I thought they needed the protein, well I only fed live maybe 2-3 times and went NOPE not happening again, what a mess! Thank you for your opinions their all great!

[@HapiPETSWM]

I’m not crazy about feeder fish, but this being said there are times my Oscar refuses to eat and on occasion even my bichir go crazy for them. This being said all my feeders are kept and bred here at home and most the time…. Don’t hate for this…. It’s a cichlid fry or 2 because my tanks are prolific breeders. I see it only as a protein supplement and have even mixed together zucchini and garlic with some extreme flakes, dried it out to create my own pellets but, absolutely the dry foods are much better for the fishes health. Besides most of those feeder fish will grow up to be actual healthy fish so why not give them a home if you can! This being said let me know if you need, jewels, labridochromis Freibergi or yellow labs, obs, sulphur head, strawberry…. lol 😂. Awesome video and stay happy and healthy my friend!

[@CichlidBros]

Glad to hear you’re giving them healthier feeder options and also know the primary concerns with using live feeders. Awareness goes a long way!

[@HapiPETSWM]

@@CichlidBrosthank you and I hear you about separating out males and females. I’m not internally breeding most the time but almost all the time my LFS will take them for either consignment or credit. I have a huge soft spot for cichlids so I would happily give a leg to make sure they are thriving. Thanks for reaching out and thank you for using your reach to help others understand what it means and how it can impact an entire tank. Always happy to hear from you my friend,

[@BPRandoms]

The only live animals I have ever used with my cichlid tank is live bloodworms I find other ways with enrichment like giving them peas to eat and plants to rip up I’ve even tried putting a ping pong ball in I love the content btw 😃

[@CichlidBros]

Love that!

[@BPRandoms]

@@CichlidBros thanks I like how you respond to almost every comment I agree with what you have said and have included both sides of the argument

[@JoeHigh-lc4is]

Ive been in this hobby since i was 13 years old Im 28 now. I have never lost a fish due to feeder fish. Ive lost plenty of fish tho trying to set up "cichlid community tanks"

[@CichlidBros]

Congrats on the luck, I am happy you haven’t. Although I guess you’re ignoring all the other aspects of the video

[@JoeHigh-lc4is]

@@CichlidBros nah wasn't ignoring I agree with everything feeder fish are a tricky subject there's nothing wrong with it as long as you take precautions

[@nathanbox1219]

Good topic bro I had feeder fish many years ago I notice the aggression level was higher than normal my cichlids would attack me when I put my hand in the tank

[@harryurban4219]

I agree with you . Feeder fish disease aspect alone is enough for me not to feed live fish . Do you want a 25 Cent disease ridden goldfish killing your $300 arowana? I don’t think so

[@trochartist]

Nice shirt dude👍🏻

[@CichlidBros]

Thank you! Ran the NYC marathon for Imerman Angels last year

[@DCunha78]

I don't feed feeder fish ever, specially to my oscars. Frozen brine shrimp and frozen blood-red worms are okay.

[@CichlidBros]

👍🏻👍🏻

[@jessicadanielson4543]

Honestly ,like ~8 years ago I tried feeding live and, like you said,the fish eating was no different,and I felt bad after,for the 'feeders' and for risking fish health and so I haven't done it sinceso many better options 🖤

[@ProducedbyPDot]

i been using feeders and having a few issues since than, been getting ich for some reason , some fungal breakouts , in the process of breeding my own feeder guppys and constantly dosing the tank bi weekly just crossing my fingers i can keep things under control til than

[@JohnTho-c8l]

Hey you still got blue acaras available? I’m interested in one and would love you get one of you

[@CichlidBros]

Yep, but local pickup only

[@JohnTho-c8l]

@@CichlidBros I live in norridge

[@CichlidBros]

Send me a DM on instagram or email at [e-mail] and we can arrange it!

[@JohnTho-c8l]

@@CichlidBros thanks I will

[@JCAGLoftandAnimals]

I catch wild minnows and throw them in my tanks and they are cleaned up very quickly by my jd and Texas Cichlid and I also keep red worms which breed in a box and I don’t have to do anything at all other than throw a couple veggies in there once in a while so that they continue to breed. I have only spent 10 dollars on feed in the last year frozen food is more cruel because of how they where raised

[@CichlidBros]

Are you quarantining the wild minnows?

[@JCAGLoftandAnimals]

@@CichlidBros no need to they come from our dugout/trout pond which is the same water that is in my aquarium. We can tell that the minnows are not sick by the health of the trout in the pond

[@JCAGLoftandAnimals]

@@CichlidBros not trying to give you any hate it’s just my opinion and I have not had any sick fish or losses from doing what I have been doing

[@CichlidBros]

Hmm, I guess in this specific instance I’d be okay with it. Hard for most fish keepers to replicate this tho. Way better than buying from a big box store

[@JCAGLoftandAnimals]

@@CichlidBros yay I would not buy from a big box store

[@beccawilkins7350]

When you have a tank of semi aggressive fish you could heighten the aggression in the tank and that can lead to fin nipping or more aggressive behaviour where you may have to remove fish to stop the behaviour

[@reggie2803]

There are too many healthy options instead of feeding feeder fish. You are keeping fish in a controlled environment. They are no longer in the wild.

[@alleng0795]

Well the only reasonable thing i can think about is that if you have predator fish like grouper or eel if you hand feed them with frozen foods they will become lazy and not more like themselves as predator fish so you would like to exercise them to keep their nature....

[@CichlidBros]

I don’t agree. They eat frozen foods just as aggressively

[@alleng0795]

@CichlidBros i think you never saw a tiger while hunting? How it looks like if you put a meet in front of him to eat? Is it looks the same ? You think, they do alot of calculations and running and difficulty to get a food

[@adriandiy673]

I tried to do it once and my daughter see what happened and she was pretty upset. I would never do it again. And I really don't like the idea of it.

[@markkrok5071]

I use them always have I also use bug bites , krill , brine shrimp and occasional blood worms

[@kamelladys]

Are frozen fish like the gobies always safe to feed to other fish?

[@CichlidBros]

Yep

[@Sweechai_butterfly]

how do you feel about meal worms n superworms?

[@CichlidBros]

No issues there. Not sure about the nutritional value but I don’t think it’s harmful

[@nova5224]

​@@CichlidBros they can literally carry disease and parasites...Every argument you made against live feeding fish exists for any other live food source. They are even crammed into a small box, often with dead ones inside...

[@cinephile1010]

I feed my Oscars with live feed once in a while just to keep their true hunting nature.

[@CichlidBros]

Frozen foods elicit the same behavior without the major risks that come with feeders

[@Colin-m2l]

I only do live bearing fish because I'm to attached to the goldfish plus the live bearing fish are easy to breed

[@turtlefreak]

You never mentioned thiaminase concerns?

[@CichlidBros]

Yeah definitely falls into the nutritional value category

[@scottgordin9709]

I wouldn’t feed my fish feeders, but then again I’m not 14 yrs old anymore.

[@later_daze_4080]

I feed my angels guppy fry a few times a month when my fancy guppy population gets out of hand. There's no way any frozen or non live food gets the same reaction a live fish does when you feed them. They go into hunter mode and go nuts for them. Even mosquito larvae and live baby brine shrimp doesn't get the same reaction. I wouldn't buy feeder fish to feed them, but if I'm raising other fish and need to cull then they're a great treat.

[@CichlidBros]

I’d disagree with the hunter mode part of this. Did you see the clips in the video of the monster fish striking at frozen foods? Doesn’t get any better than that.

[@richardgiacomotti404]

👍👍👍

[@garg4531]

Honestly most feeder fish you buy in pet stores are unhealthy for fish. They carry diseases and most of them are goldfish and minnows, which aren’t the most nutritious option and deadly enzyme. Livebearers are a better choice since they’re easy to breed at home and don’t have the latter issue Of course there’s still the ethical issue of using feeders and how it’s unnecessary (and arguably cruel) for the most part since even many predatory fish can get by on prepared foods and usually eat invertebrates (It’s a different story in the saltwater hobby tho, where you have predatory fish like lionfish, eels, and groupers that are wild caught and will have to be trained to eat dead frozen foods, since they’re used to their prey being alive and moving) Those are just my thoughts anyways based on my own research

[@timadams306]

Just the risk of disease would keep me from doing it. I feel like crickets would be safer lol

[@timadams306]

Just got my group of Uaru in their temp feed out tank. What great fish

[@austinmorales6260]

How do you feel about feeding crickets 🦗?

[@CichlidBros]

Should be fine. Haven’t ever given them to my fish

[@ZacEstes14]

Dont do it lol the risk out weighs the reward!!!!!

[@CichlidBros]

💯💯💯

[@clevelandmclean6797]

Absolutely not. Sorry

[@CaseyAnthony9234]

I remember they used to be 10 cents just a few years ago, now they're like 30 cents.

[@sciaessentials3341]

I hate feeding minnows to my tropial fish, but I raise large predator fish, and some are very stuborn and will not accept anything but live fish. So the choice is let them die, or feed them temporarily live feed and later try to wean them off the live feed.

[@CichlidBros]

Fair enough. Weaning them off is a good idea. Frozen silversides, gobies, or shrimp is always an easy alternative

[@servandopatlan6150]

Not all diseases are curable and some are disfiguring. I have seen many a beautiful Oscar fish with ugly holes in their head flesh caused by feeder goldfish. I have also seen expensive koi get hole in the head disease from feeder goldfish getting dumped into the koi pond. There is no cure for hole in the head disease and diseased fish often do not die so now you have a bunch of big Expensive disfigured fish to look at.

[@gerap5]

If you think that's cruel. Having a stingray in that tank is even more cruel. How does a prison cell sound for you?

[@CichlidBros]

Haha sorry to trigger you with some facts pal

[@sandyloyst1811]

FeederFishLivesMatter

[@ThegoatedD]

Ninthickasulehmagnay

[@BrittanyBauer-py6in]

It is an animal curely i love feeder Gold fish at carved have feeder goldfish way pretty fish

[@puliraja4801]

My friend killed many of his fish with feeder fish feeding habit. He killed an adult arowana by feeding an infectious gold fish.

[@CichlidBros]

Sorry to hear that. Hope we can all learn from things like that

[@wabalaka1565]

Dry food is trash in my own experience. It worth the hassle to use frozen food instead

[@YoutubeenjoyerYoutube]

Better option is to breed your own feeder fish

[@bradnasarzewski932]

I disagree with some of what you are saying. Feeding live feeder goldfish is something I don’t do but rosie minnows is something I do for my Oscar. By nature these fish are predators. I do feed him pellet food as well but it’s always best to add only what predator can consume in just a couple of minutes.

[@CichlidBros]

What do you disagree with?

[@OtiAdventureToller]

UK, it's not allowed....

[@UKnwa]

What? Did you make that up?😂

[@OtiAdventureToller]

@@UKnwa no, it's illegal 🤷

[@UKnwa]

@@OtiAdventureToller no it is not 😂

[@OtiAdventureToller]

@@UKnwa animal welfare act 2006, but you keep pretending 🙄

[@johngrow7381]

I find the way feeder (comet) goldfish are treated as a stain on the hobby. I understand how nature works and I'm not a "snowflake". I think it's unnecessary for many of the reasons you stated in the video.

[@CichlidBros]

Agreed

[@BParker55]

Noone tell him about farming. He might have a heart attack lmao

[@CichlidBros]

Good one buddy!

[@TetrisKing]

I mean people raise cows and pigs to be slaughtered. Those animals are way smarter than fish.

[@CichlidBros]

Should we do the same to fish? When there are better alternatives?

[@TetrisKing]

@@CichlidBrosI don’t feed live fish to my fish but I also don’t see it as cruel to do so.

[@JustAnotherAsianGuy2]

truthfully nobody should be keeping fish ..... and live feeder is ok ..... it makes them be a fish

[@andrewderksen3342]

I feed these to my ducks 🦆 sometimes ... I never buy feeder fish ...at all I do however Catch minnows at my local lakes Wild caught fish are at least healthy 🤔 I do this mostly to make life fun for my predator haps and 🦚 👍

[@nova5224]

This guy stands on the shoulders of giants and doesn't even realise it. F0 fish often wont eat anything but live fish, many to the point where they will die. If the owners of these F0 fish don't feed live feeders and breed them then the masses in the hobby (him) won't get the chance to own them, F1 fish take to pellets much, much, much easier than F0 fish. He basically gloats about being able to "guarantee" these fish will eat eventually. He is wrong. Oscars are in the hobby because once upon a time people took the time to collect, feed them by the required means and bred them.

[@CichlidBros]

Haha such a weird take, but hey buddy you do you

[@nova5224]

@@CichlidBros It's literally the truth. Do you think your fish are from the wild or do you think better fish keepers did the work and bred them? It's terrible for the hopbby that youtube and the likes of you is where people get their information from nowadays. Just a decade ago forums were thriving and the fishkeeping community could speak directly to the men who spent their lives going out, collecting these fish and breeding them for the first time. But hey, you have a youtube channel so you can make bullshit claims like 100% of fish can be made to eat other food, which is just blatantly bullshit. It's dogshit advice from some amateur who obviously knows fuck all. I wonder, do you even understand the terms F0 and F1? Maybe I'm just talking above you...

[@nova5224]

@@CichlidBros Also, just to point out how garbage your "advice" and "facts" are. All forms of live food carry the same risks. Mealworms, which you have said is fine, can introduce parasite and disease, are crammed into a container and many are already dead... Do better.