FOWLR feeding

[Bedrocker]

i know most of you out there are reefers, but I'm sure that someone knows about feeding triggers and non-reef fish. I just started a 75g FOWLR, and before I get fish, I want to know where to get food! Mysis shrimp, ghost shrimp, silversides, etc. I'm not sure if i need to go to AT/SC to get food so often, but where else can I get it locally? Maybe mailorder frozen bulk is the way to go?

Thanks in advance.

 

[itZme]

Mail order frozen food carries a hefty shipping cost because they have to use dry ice and ship next day air. You won't really save enough to make it worthwhile unless you buy several hundred dollars worth at a time. I usually make myself buy a package of some type of frozen food each visit to the LFS since it runs anywhere from $3.99 to $15 depending on what you buy. You can usually add it in with whatever you went there to buy and it's not a big hit to the wallet. Then I used to feed a different type of food every couple days to mix things up a bit until I started to make a mixed frozen food that had all the items I would feed mixed into one package. Now I feed that frozen stuff about 3 days on and 1 day off.

Depending on the types of fish you get you will probably need Mysis, brine, silversides, nori and maybe an all-in-one omnivore food like Formula Two by Ocean Nutrition. If you find a Mandarin or something that feeds on tiny items you can use cyclopeeze or prawn roe to keep them happy.

I normally don't feed any live food but if you want to buy ghost shrimp or raise brine that is cool. Some people soak them in vitamin supplements before feeding.

Most people avoid using flakes or pellets because of the phosphates that are introduced by those products.


HTH
-- Kevin

 

[Bedrocker]

Thanks Kevin. I can figure out where to get the Nori, but which LFS carries the mysis, brine and silversides? Is it only at the reef stores, or is there someplace else local I can go? (I'm east side) I've never seen it anywhere except for the places that cost $20 in gas to get to!

 

[itZme]

i get my nori at wal mart in the asian section. i have seen the other stuff at petco in mentor if that is east enough for ya. you will find it in their freezer.

 

[Big E]

You can get Nori at the Asian section in your Giant Eagle Grocery store. I also buy raw shrimp, clams, scallops at grocery & fish stores.

Dr. Foster-Smith sell frozen food with a flat $20 shipping charge. I buy the Formula Frozen all the time from them. They are the large packs & are like 5.39 @ six or more. These are the large packs........the smaller packs cost almost that same price at local fish stores. I usually buy 8-12 packs. I also buy Hikari mysis from them at the same time. The more you buy the less your cost is. You can also try to get a group of people to buy in with you.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+7927+8159&pcatid=8159

 

[smmscott]

Petsmart and petco have some frozen stuff like mysis and silversides. Also RMS carries some. As well as Jurassic aquatics.

 

[Shark Keeper]

I used to go to Trader Joe's here in Columbus and buy the seafood blend that has squid, shrimp, and scallops I would then blend it with nori and cyclopeze. It ended up being a great combination that the fish loved.

Good luck.....