Feeding Brine Shrimp

yannifish

Active Member
Are frozen brine shrimp a good feeding option? A lot of people seem to use them, but are they a good food source (in a mixed diet)?
They are just so small, and it seems like because of its small size the fish would miss a lot, which would then just rot in the tank. Does this happen, or no?
 

2quills

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gemmy http:///forum/thread/384522/feeding-brine-shrimp#post_3368567
There is little nutritional value in frozen brine shrimp.
+1 Brine is more of just a meaty treat and shouldn't be used as a main source of diet for most fish.
I feed my tank with the Rod's food (reef blend). It has something for everyone in there so it's a good variety. My fish are all pretty fat and happy from it. They go into a mad frenzy when I throw it in the tank.
 

aquaknight

Active Member
The types of fish you're feeding, matter a lot as to what you're feeding. Obviously a large puffer, or an eel would likely just let brine float on by.
For more of the 'typical' SW fish, clowns, damsels, dottybacks, etc, a simple and more importantly nutritional food, is grated scallops. Buy the frozen bag of 100-200 of 'em, and thaw about 2-3 of them just slightly (soft outside, hard inside). With a cheese grater, grate them into a small cup, and voila! You may have to rinse the grater into the cup to get all the scallop pieces. Then feed like you're feeding mysis. You get very little nasty thawed water into the tank this way as well.
 

yannifish

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by 2Quills http:///forum/thread/384522/feeding-brine-shrimp#post_3368688
+1 Brine is more of just a meaty treat and shouldn't be used as a main source of diet for most fish.
I feed my tank with the Rod's food (reef blend). It has something for everyone in there so it's a good variety. My fish are all pretty fat and happy from it. They go into a mad frenzy when I throw it in the tank.
Okay. I was just curious. The chain pet store in my town doesn't have mysis (at least right now), just brine. I was just curious if brine shrimp would be a good food to add to the diet. Along with what I already feed.
Quote:
Originally Posted by AquaKnight
http:///forum/thread/384522/feeding-brine-shrimp#post_3368714
The types of fish you're feeding, matter a lot as to what you're feeding. Obviously a large puffer, or an eel would likely just let brine float on by.
For more of the 'typical' SW fish, clowns, damsels, dottybacks, etc, a simple and more importantly nutritional food, is grated scallops. Buy the frozen bag of 100-200 of 'em, and thaw about 2-3 of them just slightly (soft outside, hard inside). With a cheese grater, grate them into a small cup, and voila! You may have to rinse the grater into the cup to get all the scallop pieces. Then feed like you're feeding mysis. You get very little nasty thawed water into the tank this way as well.
How much does a big bag of scallops cost? That sounds like a good food source. Are they nutritional?
 

aquaknight

Active Member
Bag is $4-$6. Only need bay scallops, not sea scallops which are usually $10-$15 per bag of like 25.
Great post as far as different nutritional values of foods. It's geared more towards aggressives, but regardless,
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/forum/thread/362353/what-are-you-serving-for-supper-tonight/20#post_3093378
 

meowzer

Moderator
Quote:
Originally Posted by AquaKnight http:///forum/thread/384522/feeding-brine-shrimp#post_3368810
Bag is $4-$6. Only need bay scallops, not sea scallops which are usually $10-$15 per bag of like 25.
Great post as far as different nutritional values of foods. It's geared more towards aggressives, but regardless,
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/forum/thread/362353/what-are-you-serving-for-supper-tonight/20#post_3093378
+1...I buy the $5 bag of bay scallops all the time...I feed the anemones, the bubble coral, the brain, duncans....anything that will hold onto it...and I mush some up and just let it go in the water flow...the tangs just love it....sometimes too much though....they always steal it from the brain LOL
 

aquaman

Member
Before I feed with live brine shrimp, I feed them some good flake food to "gut pack" them. This way the fish are getting a treat and some nutrition as well. Of course this only works on live brine, but they are easy enough to hatch or find.
 

florida joe

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Aquaman http:///forum/thread/384522/feeding-brine-shrimp#post_3368827
Before I feed with live brine shrimp, I feed them some good flake food to "gut pack" them. This way the fish are getting a treat and some nutrition as well. Of course this only works on live brine, but they are easy enough to hatch or find.
I do not think your brine shrimp are eating flake food. There is food you can feed them but it is not flake food.
IMO live brine is most useful when you have trouble getting a fish to start eating. the movement of the brine can entice them to start
gut packing is usually reserved for people feeding live fish to lionfish
 

yannifish

Active Member
Thanks for all the responses. I'll definitely look into the scallops.
Honestly, I really don't want to get into hatching brine shrimp. I might buy some frozen for treats though.
 
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