Convict Cichlid fry as feeder

[waster]

Has anyone ever used convicts as feeder? i know they get that hard fin/spine as adults, but i imagine the small fry could easy be gulped down by an axies does anybody have experience with this?

 

[SludgeMunkey]

Use of feeder fish with axolotls is a bad idea in general. I suspect you will find them nibbling your Axolotl's gills and toes.

From time to time, a small fish is OK as a treat, but really not worth the trouble. Fish should never be used as a staple for axolotls. Earthworms are always best.

For more information refer to these articles on Caudata Culture and The Axolotl Site:

Caudata Culture Articles - Fish with Caudates

Axolotls - Feeding

Caudata Culture Articles - Species Mixing Disasters

 

[waster]

right, ive read those months ago. that is why i am asking for anyone with personal experience. a forum search turned up a couple of people who have but nothing recent. this is why i was posting there was no plan to make them a staple. tons of people here use guppies, mollies, minnows, and shrimps with no issues. hence the question regarding convict cichlid fry it would basically be used as a culling method for the fry. so anyone with experience?

 

[tb1906]

I am also interested if anyone has done this at all. I currently have a breeding pair of convicts. I do not have axolotls yet but i plan on getting them within the next couple of months. I was wondering if you could throw some of the small fry in the axolotl tank as a treat. i doubt the fry are really capable of doing much if any damage if they tried to nibble on the axie.

 

[carsona246]

convicts would need warmer water than guppies. Also they are far more aggressive, and if they did manage to grow up, and many of my baby guppies have, they would be a lot bigger than guppies. I think they would make poor feeders just because of their potential size, and disposition. An axolotl can eat a fully grown guppy, I'm not so sure about a convict.

 

[Nini&AriasAxolotl]

Has anyone ever used convicts as feeder? i know they get that hard fin/spine as adults, but i imagine the small fry could easy be gulped down by an axies does anybody have experience with this?

All my axolotl will eat is fry. I only put 6 in at a time and a specific size. They don't nibble at her they actually hide from her. I do monitor the action as the tank is next to my bed. She'll eat bloodworms but spits out nightcrawlers, redworms & the 6 different kinds of pellets I've tried. She's very healthy and very active and playful unlike what I've read axies that just sit and hide.

 

[Nini&AriasAxolotl]

All my axolotl will eat is fry. I only put 6 in at a time and a specific size. They don't nibble at her they actually hide from her. I do monitor the action as the tank is next to my bed. She'll eat bloodworms but spits out nightcrawlers, redworms & the 6 different kinds of pellets I've tried. She's very healthy and very active and playful unlike what I've read axies that just sit and hide.

Oh and I'm getting ready to start a convict breeding tank for her! I know she'll love it! She enjoys hunting and will soar off her log trying to catch them lol so much fun for her!

 

[wolfen]

Oh and I'm getting ready to start a convict breeding tank for her! I know she'll love it! She enjoys hunting and will soar off her log trying to catch them lol so much fun for her!

unlike guppies, platys, mollys which stay small convicts can grow too big for an axolotl to eat and then becomes a problem (one of the reason goldfish aren't used)
whilst your axolotl is young she will be more active and movement orientated, once she become an adult she will become less active and more of a ambush predator.
guppies etc.. can tolerate the cold temperatures that are required by axolotls, where as cichlids require a warmer environment.