General Care Discussion :: Live fish to feed a turtle?

[Seroster]

So I've been thinking I want to get some little fish for my guy/gal to chase around and/or eat every once & a while, but I'm not sure what type or size to feed him/her?

I've heard a lot of bad things about "feeder fish" and some good things about Rosie Red minnows. I thought about trying a bait store for minnows, but I figured those would be classified as "feeder fish" and probably not well taken care of. I figured a pet store might be a better option to buy higher quality fish to feed em, but when I found them at a pet store, the only rosie reds I saw were in a terribly unhealthy looking, over-crowded fish tank with several other species of what looked to be generic "feeder fish". Thusly, I was un-inspired to purchase them. I think my local Walmart had some in a healthier looking environment, but buying fish from Walmart just seems like a questionable idea.

As such, I was wondering if anyone had experience and/or suggestions pertaining to buying fish to feed their turtle? Also, I've heard breeding fish to feed to your turtle is relatively popular, so I was curious if anyone had experience with that? I figured i might use my old 15-20 gal that we just upgraded my turtle out of to do such things in, and I doubt I would need much more than that & a filter, considering they're just going to be turtle fodder. So, anyone got feedback or suggestions?

[blackforces get you]

rosie red minnows are the way to go. go to a regular pet store and they should give you some there

never ever goldfish. they'll chunk your turtles. i had that problem....and it takes a while for them to lose the weight. although mines are very hyper little creatures so they lost the weight after about a week

stay away from goldfish! the water gets dirty quickly too. scales and their poop is really really bad. and the water will smell like fish because of it. its hard to get the smell out too. so don't feed them fish as much

[Seroster]

Yes, i had no intention of feeding em goldfish, but "feeder fish" tends to apply to any fish that was raised to be fed to other pets. Usually they aren't well taken care of as I understand it, and often have parasites. SO...

[SINI5T3R]

You have a small chance of getting any sort of parasites from feeder gold fish or other types of feeder fish. I have NEVER had a problem with it and ive used feeder fish, goldfish and minnows and other types for a VERY long time and nothing like that.

I myself just use Goldfish, there cheap, and there just as good as other fish in my eyes, I know others will disagree with that, but other fish that are said to be better are just so small compared to a 14cent goldfish lol...

[planet.caravan]

I have fed my turtle feeder minnows and had no problem with parasites

She was also fed goldfish (while not under my supervision) and was also fine, I still recommend staying away from them though
The only thing I got from the goldfish feedings has been a permanent resident for the past 5 months!

[vear]

Minnows are about 12 cents at the petsmart near me. There's still one in the tank after 7 months, and getting bigger... Tomi chases him around but can't catch him. heheh. I do breed my own guppies too... there's a sticky about how to do that. It's really not that hard at all.

[SINI5T3R]

Minnows are about 12 cents at the petsmart near me. There's still one in the tank after 7 months, and getting bigger... Tomi chases him around but can't catch him. heheh. I do breed my own guppies too... there's a sticky about how to do that. It's really not that hard at all.

Yeah ive had that happen with gold fish. I have had a few goldfish in there for about a month and MAN do they get big FAST!!! there like tripple the size but they also have a really good food source lol, TURTLES! messy eaters

[roo450]

i feed my res tez the little neon fish,look great in the tank and he loves them