Saltwater feeder fish

[Jasontkd]

Does anyone keep and breed any smaller species of saltwater fish or shrimp to use as feeder fish in a predator tank? I am starting a predator tank, and I would like to feed my fish live food, but freshwater feeders are not healthy, and just continually bying saltwater fish for them to eat is expensive. So, I was wondering if anyone keeps saltwater feeders and if so, how do you set it up? what species do you use? how do you do it and keep them in a smaller tank so you don't have to set up another entire reef tank?

[wharyat]

When I still had my peppermint shrimp. I would have spawns every full moon, I was able to raise around 30 at one time in a seperate 10 gallon; sold them all for $2 a piece. Took about 3 months to grow to full adult size. Search around on google to find a good breeding site.

Normally you need a breeding pair to have spawnings, but they are hermaphrodetic and will sometimes spawn with just one shrimp.

[rachyl756]

Look into 'volcanic shrimp' you can find info on seahorse sites. They're adorable, I have a 10 devoted to them .... no seahorses just trying to raise seahorse food cause they're cool!

Rachel

[reefhut]

fresh water mollys are exellent,they'll live in salt or fresh water

[XxN00bxX]

They are a tad too high in fat, and cause over expanded livers

[Junkzoo]

Just go frozen,,,,Silversides are a good food,,i use those and will also use Tilapia filets,,cut up into slivers,,,any non oily fish will work,,
Got a 180FO with "eaters" for fish in it,,,the oldest fish in there is prob 15 yrs old,(snowflake eel-'bout 3 ft)and a Clown trigger, Volitan lion,Porc puffer, etc. none of these have had "live" anything since i've had them,,(none of them are under 12 yrs in my care)
They will eat:
frozen anything(silversides/cube frozen/krill/squid/mussels/fish filets from the store etc.)
pelleted food
stick food(Tetra food sticks/cichlid food)
trout chow
all soaked most times in Selcon,,,
Don't worry,hunger will win on getting a "predator" fish to feed,,,might have to use a feeding stick on some fish,,'specially if the other fish tend to bother them at feeding time, spooking them away from getting food.
Some times i have to get my lion's attention b4 i drop food in,,he might miss it.
The sinking pellets i use (New Life,i think is the name) does not fall apart after hitting the water, so it'll last in the tank for a long time(1/2 hr) so my Clown Trigger has a ball looking for the pellets,instead of inhaling everything at the surface,,,,
IMO, i would not worry that much about keeping live feeders for your tank, spend your time/energy on getting your fish eating frozen/prepared foods,,,it'll be better in the long run anyway,,,