Maggots

[AmazonFTW]

Are maggots that you buy from fishing shops suitable for feeding fish? There is a smaller variety of maggot called 'pinkies' which I would like to feed to my cichlids.

Thanks,
AmazonFTW

 

[james_fish]

I have used these to feed Filament Barbs and Golden Gourami's before.

But I froze them first, cut them in pieces and then fed them. If you are going to do it, buy white maggot's as the red's and pinked are dyed which could possibly affect some fish, but that's not proven. White's are the natural coloured one's.

James.

 

[rdp50734]

As James said feed the white ones, they are good for the fish! Like James I froze mine to make sure they were dead! I also fed freeze dried mealworms.

 

[Bazza57]

a bloke I knew used to feed maggots to his fish, He used to snip the head of each maggot with scissors to ensure they would do no internal damage to the fish. This sounds like hard work, but he rekoned it was worth it.

This guy keeps large characins (Pacu's included) & is considered an expert in his field - he is a senior "A" class judge on the FNAS circuit. So I guess he knows what he was doing, though I have never bothered feeding maggots to any of my fish.

Personally, I preferred to liquidise beef heart & mix with fish flakes, spoon it into a plastic bag & roll it flat with a bottle, freeze it - could then break off bits to feed to my fish - it conditions them a treat.

 

[james_fish]

Plus, freezing them will allow you to store them for longer. Rather than dispose of them when they turn into 'casters'

Freezing will also obviously not result in a fridge full of flies!

James.

 

[AmazonFTW]

I'll have a look and see if I can buy some of the small white maggots. I don't really want to cause internal dmage to my fish though. Think a 3" Ellioti would be able to handle a maggot? Also I could try chopped worms what would you say are better?

Thanks,
AmazonFTW

 

[Bazza57]

I'll have a look and see if I can buy some of the small white maggots. I don't really want to cause internal dmage to my fish though. Think a 3" Ellioti would be able to handle a maggot? Also I could try chopped worms what would you say are better?

Thanks,
AmazonFTW

Freezing the maggots sounds a lot better than the scissors method. Worms are very nutritious, but messy - I suggest that you semi-freeze them before chopping them. Or why not use both, providing your fish with a varied diet?

I think most angling shops can provide worms if you don't fancy digging the compost heap every week.

 

[AmazonFTW]

Yeah my very local (5 minute walk) angling shop sells worms. I wanted them to be live really, just to see the hunter side of my fish come out. I know it sounds mean.

Thanks for the replies,
AmazonFTW

 

[I Keep Fish]

Yeah my very local (5 minute walk) angling shop sells worms. I wanted them to be live really, just to see the hunter side of my fish come out. I know it sounds mean.

Thanks for the replies,
AmazonFTW

Natura, not mean the slightest

 

[Haveagojoe]

There is a smaller maggot than the "pinkie" which are called "feeders" they a probably about a quarter of the size of a "pinkie", they are usually sold in red builders sand and would need washing first, the easiest way is to sieve them out of the sand with a very fine sieve and then rinse them with water, put them into a bag (sealed as they are brilliant escape artists) and put them in the fridge to slow them down,when cooled flatten the bag so there is no air in it and freeze them and you can snap bits off, whichever way alive or frozen fish love them.