Feeder Fish - Advantages of Using Feeder Fish

Advantages of Using Feeder Fish

The species of fish usually sold as feeder fish are invariably some of the easiest fish for fishkeepers to rear and breed, such as goldfish and guppies. Typically, these species are tolerant of overcrowding and have a high fecundity and rapid growth rate. This makes it easy for fish farmers, retailers, and hobbyists to maintain large populations of these fish that can be sold at a much more affordable price than the more delicate ornamental fish that require better conditions.

In some cases, species of predatory animals, typically large fish such as catfish and cichlids but sometimes also animals such as freshwater turtles, are provided with feeder fish because they accept them more readily than alternatives. Other animal keepers believe that feeder fish are particularly nutritious, being what their pets would eat in the wild. Still others view feeder fish as a stimulating treat that encourages predatory animals to exhibit their natural hunting behaviours. Some animal keepers enjoy watching the hunting and eating techniques involved when one animal eats another.