Feeding and Nutrition :: feeding feeder fish?

[Pito007]

If I put some minows in my tank, and my turtle dosnt eat it right away, when I feed the fish the next day, would it be ok if my turtle eats some fish food as well?

how long do feeder fish usally last before they get eaten?

[kgielda]

I put 5 in my tank 2 weeks ago. The first week he didn't touch them, but since Saturday, he has eaten 4. So I think he figured it out. I was actually wondering if 4 fish in 5 days was too much for him-- if I should only put in 1 a week?

PS- I live in Jersey too... Mantua (Gloucester County)

[Kallistos]

It depens on the turtle Pito, there are some turtles that won't even go after the fish...ever. I've never fed my feeder fish, they usually get eaten quickly, or the scavenge around like my Pleco does, so I don't really know if feeding the feeder fish is necessary.

[Bascomb]

A note of caution when feeding your turtles feeder fish. They are a good for a well balanced diet. However, some carry parasites. The best way to feed them feeder fish is to freeze them first. I would suggest that you freeze them over night to make sure that you have killed any of the parasites, Lay them out one by one in a piece of wax paper and feed them to your turtle later. They don't have to chase them and you can make sure which turtle is getting them. b.

[Pito007]

If theyre frozen then my turtle wont get the exercise from chasing them.

[FLhaven4strays]

I don't give my feeder fish food...they scavange for scraps the turtles leave & do just fine.

[SpotsMama]

Three minnows lived in Spot's tank for about a year and I never fed them. I feed Spot in his tank and the fish would get nibbles of his food and also cleaned up his waste after him. The minnows were nice and fat and healthy.

A few days ago the biggest minnow disappeared. I guess Spot finally ate him though I didn't see it happen. There were some silvery flakes on the bottom of the tank for awhile. It was kind of sad.

[Pito007]

I feed my turtle in a seperate tank, but would feeder fish be able to feed on other stuff in the tank like algae or turtle poop?

[mikee]

Pito007 -- Your point about excercise is well taken, however my main concern is the neutrition and keeping parasites away from my little critters. I mostly feed them pellets by hand and I make them swim for it. I am not sure how much excercise they need.

[N4784N R4613]

If you have the recommended size tank, then they get plenty of exercise from just swimming.

[Pito007]

I think my turtle gets enough exercise jumping of his basking platform to avoid me.

[Tenodera]

I always feed my turtle in another tank so I feed my fish a little bit of fishflakes every other day.