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hi, i was just wondering on the aspects of feeding live foods to my oscar, possibly tadpoles or frogs from the wild and the risks inherited in that.i would like some ideas,and i would like the foods to be alive, i like to watch the fish hunt.any ideas would be great.I have done worms and fish, as well as crickets.

I only recommend you, to make sure that you get disease free Live food for your Oscar. If possible breed some "easy to breed" fish like Livebearers & you'll solve your problem. Catching & feeding frogs would be too risky.

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Member of the Malta Aquarist Society - 1970.
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Breeding platys worked well for me, you could then feed them top notch foods that will be passed onto your oscar





The Amazon Nut...

ok thanks. i was thinking guppies?what do you people think?i know guppies where im from are a bit on the pricey side but they could breed in and old boot.

Guppys work too. I started with them, then switched to platys because they are hardier, and larger in size.

If you like watching them hunt drop a crayfish at the far end of the tank

The Amazon Nut...

were can i find crayfish.i dont think my lfs has them but then again ive never really looked.its winter time here now so i cant go catch them from the stream, and isnt it possible for wild ones to carry parasites?

Yes wild ones can carry parasites. Check the fishstore in the summer.

The Amazon Nut...

ok thankyou

hi just curious but would freezing the feeder or the crayfish kill the parasite internally.i was just curious because i know alot of parasites need a living and breathing host, like the hosts body temperature has to be at a certain point.i know when we rabbit hunt we get home and remove the internal organs then leave the rabbit outside in the snow for a few hours so the fleas and other critters come out of the hair, then we skin and bring inside.my hypothesis is that the parasite in the feeders may die if i freeze them because the body temperature will be too low for them to survive or 2 the temperature will be so low the parastie will leave the body in search of a new host(like the rabbit fleas do). just curious though, and id rather not do it because i like watching them hunt more

"would freezing the feeder or the crayfish kill the parasite internally" - most likely, but other things could survive. It would still be a crapshoot, and you lose the 'wiggle factor' that entices the hunt.

Feeder fish from the stores are of poor nutritional quality, and you don't know what they are carrying. If you breed your own, you control the conditions. A crayfish here or there couldn't hurt for a treat but washed, chopped shrimp pretty nice too.

The Amazon Nut...

ok thanks

to i tried a little unseasoned and cooked steak.my oscar loved it.

Oscars enjoy any food that fits in their mouth lol.

Keep it very occasional with meats as they are more fatty then the fishy treats.

The Amazon Nut...

approximately how often should it be then?

Opinions will vary. Once a week ?




The Amazon Nut...

would freezing the feeder or the crayfish kill the parasite internally?

Not immediately, but after about 3 weeks, frozen fish should be safe from parasites (although freezing does not kill bacteria or viruses).

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ok thank you superlion, thats another good thinkg to remember incase i ever wanted to do it