[fergo]

Hi all,

I am considering getting another lion fish after my last one died (sob sob). now i am thinking of feeding him frozen foods from a bait shop? now my question is? given its frozen would that eliminate the bacteria and viruses that i believe i got from feeding live food?

from my very basic understanding of viruses and bacteria when exposed to extreme cold the virus or bacteria should die as it was not evolved for this temp?

if i am way off base what would you suggest for feeding my lion fish? im after something easy that could be done by someone else if i am away

[leebca]

There's a bit of a 'low profile' scandal going on here in the USA. Many aquarists are unaware of it. Talking about it doesn't make it go away and in essence, since we're dealing with pet food, there isn't a high interest. However, the scandal is about contaminated fish foods.

Some prominent makers of marine fish foods that claim to have 'sterilized' or killed bacteria in the food have been found to contain bacteria. Not only just bacteria, but some of the Vibrio kinds that are deadly to fishes.

The fact is, freezing does not kill bacteria and viruses. As lower forms of life, Mother Nature has provided them with protection. In adverse environmental conditions some bacteria form cysts and lay in waiting for better conditions. Other bacteria can totally dry out and then, with water, come alive again.

Fortunately, freezing does kill many parasites and 'higher life forms' that are considered to be marine fish pathogens.

During quarantine, the Lion Fish should be weaned off of live foods as soon as possible. The Lion fish is a predatory carnivore. It needs to eat the whole organism. By this I mean you don't want to feed it bits of fish flesh or squid flesh, etc. The Lion Fish needs whole foods.

Let's begin by what NOT to feed:
Any freshwater organism
Any brackish water organism

What to feed:
Whole seafoods

The whole seafoods includes, but isn't limited to:
hermit crabs (you can crack open their shells, freeze them, and you and others can feed the trained Lion Fish)
saltwater fishes (frozen whole fishes; some injected with vitamins and extra fats)
krill (and almost any whole shrimp)

You can probably think of more possibilities depending upon what's available to you down under.

[fergo]

hmmmm.... now this worries me alittle.

I understand that i need to feed the whole organism, however getting something small enough for a young lion fish. also there is that bacteria problem?

what to do, i would hate to get another one and have him die again....

the best place i can get whole marine food for a lion fish is a bait shop as its whole and smaller then in markets ect. what do you think about this source for food?

[leebca]

Fish markets and bait shops should be okay. Prepare the food and freeze it to kill off any higher forms of parasites. If the Lion Fish is that small, krill and plankton should be fine. You can chop whole foods up and feed all bits over a week or two. Hermit crabs can be gotten in all sizes.

I wouldn't worry about the bacteria. They are in the air, water, and land. The best you can do is keep the fish as healthy as possible (with proper foods, vitamin and fat supplements) to ward off bacterial infections.

[fergo]

thanks alot,

great help