Saltwater Feeder fish confirmed

[MrCote]

I gave my feeder guppies a 2 day acclimation to saltwater from freshwater. I started with 10. 3 died, and I fed 4 to my lion within the first week. I kept 3 of the guppies alive for 2-3 weeks. I fed them marine flake food and they ate it with no problems. I fed 2 of the guppies to my lion and was left with one. So I kept it alone in my small feeder fish tank that is plumbed into my main tank and my sump. I kept it alive for over a month and fed it rugularly and it ate everytime. No signs of sickness and it was 100% healthy in saltwater and it looked great. I decided to feed it to my lion today as I had proved it can be done. With a 3 day acclimation I could probably get a 100% survival rate.

Just thought I would let people know they can be kept in slatwater and remain perfeclty healthy and parasite free making them a lot healthier and nutritional for the fish thats eating them. I had done lots of research trying to find success stories on keeping feeder guppies alive in saltwater and found nothing so here is the proof.

 

[Sherri]

Just curious as to why you chose guppies over mollies? Mollies acclimate a lot more quickly, have a 100% survival rate and breed like rabbits in salt. So I am curious ... why guppies?

Mollies -- if you get the right kind -- are actually brackish water fish - which is why they are easier to acclimate and will breed. In the one study I could find, the big deal with freshwater versus saltwater feeders is the fat content. So goldfish are one of the worst feeder fish there are. Alternatively, ghost shrimp - whether salt or freshwater have acceptable fat levels. I will find the link when I have more time...

 

[MrCote]

I only have a one gallon tank so I do not think mollies will breed in a tank that small. So I just plan on getting a bunch of guppies and feeding them and keeping them healthy so they become nutritional

 

[Cliff Tishler]

If you need guppys I have plenty.

 

[jazzsam]

I used to use ghost shrimp and loved using them BUT they used to be hard to find in NJ. Not sure about up here as I don't have the need.