are these loaches good for snakeheads?

[zmo63]

I remember this discussion a while back about larger fish not eating loaches because of a toxin they secrete. I'm not sure if that's all loaches... it seemed like the consensus was that no one really knew what it was.

[shari2]

I'd second starsplitter's advice on finding someone who supplies fish to the ornamental trade. With 300 you might get a decent price for them.

I realize that such a large bunch would also seem to be a good source of free food for your snakeheads, but for several reasons dojos might not be the best option.

1. They are fast and sound like they are a bit large for your babies as yet. I'm not sure how fast snakeheads grow, but the dojos do grow rapidly to a largish size - 9 -10 inches.

2. They will extend their spines if attacked. Large birds who also eat them have been found dead with loaches lodged by the spines in their throats.

3. The slime coat issue is also to be considered.

Lastly, dojos are fun fish in and of themselves.

[tender]

At the risk of sounding a bit rude: What kind of a (stupid) question is this on a LOACH-forum? I`m not saying its wrong or right to feed them to youre snakeheads as that is part of a much bigger discussion in the aquatic world in general. But posting youre question here is as stupid as asking christians if it is wise to convert to Atheism! My point beeing: everybody will advise you to either save/replace the loaches or find tons of reasons as to why it is potenially dangerous to use them as live food.

Conclusion: find another forum to post this question! You probably won`t get an independent or unbiased answer to youre question here.

Kind regards
Marius Podolski

[Batch]

If I were closer, I'd buy them from you in a heartbeat! They sell for $7 each around here.

Batch

[andyroo]

IME most serious snakehead keepers provide live only as treats. Dead food is also much safer- pathogens/parasites and defensive structures/spines, much more controllable and much less costly.
There are lots of methods of weaning. Try chunks of fish-filet on a stick to get started. Frozen (thawed) squid tentacles are great for this. When you see their teeth you'll see why i don't suggest feeding from your fingers.

[Auntsally]

If you cannot wean your snakeheads off of live loaches, why not rehome the snakeheads? end of problem. Most of us do our best to avoid our charges eating the smaller ones!

[Gary Stanton]

I suppose when the snakeheads get too big you'll be frying them up?

[tina]

i took all ur advise,thx for that
i took it to a lfs and tried to sell them and buy food for my snakeheads....the guy gave me dried shrimps in exhange fos those loaches...
then i took them and tried to feed the SH's the shrimps...they wont even lok at it!!! i let them starve for 2 days and they still wont accept dead food!!
i had to toss in one of my guppies to c what's wrong with them and they snatched it up within micro seconds...
so i had to go back to my lfs and return the shrimp and told him what i am trying to feed...after he listened to me and knew i had snakeheads he gave me 3 bags full of the SAME loaches {dojo} but this time they were smaller...like 2 cms...
i put a few in my tank and they dissappeared within minutes and my snakeheads started to look happy and roaming

to all the ppl who thought asking this question on this forum was stupid....i asked this question on the snakeheads forums too,they are confused as to weather all loaches had those spines u say...so i came to the forum with loaches experts and fans

[oilhands]

I suppose when the snakeheads get too big you'll be frying them up?

What is the big deal? These loaches are apparently commerical available in large numbers. We aren't talking about endagered specics here. I love MY loaches and I would be very sad if I caused their death (to say nothing of what I would do to somebody who intentionally harmed them), but frankly I don't care what you do with YOUR loaches. I guess I must be some sort of monster for not joining the "2-minutes hate" on Tina.

Why be rude simply because you wouldn't take the same course of action if the fish were yours?

[tender]

What is the big deal? These loaches are apparently commerical available in large numbers. We aren't talking about endagered specics here. I love MY loaches and I would be very sad if I caused their death (to say nothing of what I would do to somebody who intentionally harmed them), but frankly I don't care what you do with YOUR loaches. I guess I must be some sort of monster for not joining the "2-minutes hate" on Tina.
Why be rude simply because you wouldn't take the same course of action if the fish were yours?

Well, in some countries (like mine) this is actually illegal and there are reasons for why it is illegal. One cant use an argument like "natures course" because in nature the predator and victim dont get forcefully trapped into a tank from which there is no escape. Major difference from nature I would say.

[tina]

What is the big deal? These loaches are apparently commerical available in large numbers. We aren't talking about endagered specics here. I love MY loaches and I would be very sad if I caused their death (to say nothing of what I would do to somebody who intentionally harmed them), but frankly I don't care what you do with YOUR loaches. I guess I must be some sort of monster for not joining the "2-minutes hate" on Tina.
Why be rude simply because you wouldn't take the same course of action if the fish were yours?

Well, in some countries (like mine) this is actually illegal and there are reasons for why it is illegal. One cant use an argument like "natures course" because in nature the predator and victim dont get forcefully trapped into a tank from which there is no escape. Major difference from nature I would say.

its illegal coz some ppl with no jobs or work to do go on a camping abt animal rights or so
and no one said its nature's course or something,but if u wanna force that into the argument then we can discuss it...sharks hunt with more intellegence than other predator fishes,u cant blame the sharks for being unfair coz of their intellegence...and we are a part of nature,humans aint supernatural....but we are more intellegent than others...so we will use our intellegence just as the sharks will use theirs...
talking abt fishes,its the survival of the fittest
and oilhands made a pretty good point there,if u read that carefully u would understand rather than dragging an "nature's course" argument in there when he did not mention it...
im feeding my snakeheads these loaches not because i hate these loaches but for the following reasons
1.My snakeheads wont eat dead food {read my earlier post}
2.these loaches are the only live feeders i get here
3.they are CHEAP...rele rele cheap...like 90-110 fishes a dollor
4.because most of the forum's ive asked that question on abt how to feed my snakeheads alternate foods did not help...including THIS forum...

I suppose when the snakeheads get too big you'll be frying them up?

depends...if i can afford to update my tank everytime i think i need to then i will keep them....if i cant and i like my fishes i will give them to someone who can keep them...or if i dont rele fall in love with them then why not fry them and invite my friends ova for dinner? after all its just a fish ffs....dont talk like ur a vegetarian...i dont treat my fishes or pets as my own babies...having said that i dont puncture their eyes to have fun and torture them
and another thing...dont "suppose" anything on my behalf coz u aint that smart and u eat meat....even if ur a vegetarian then stop eating eggs ,they are killing of unborn chickens...or dont brush ur teeth,u knw thoothpaste contains bone powder...who knows how many animals were killed to make that toothpaste
or get over ur issues

[oilhands]

What is the big deal? These loaches are apparently commerical available in large numbers. We aren't talking about endagered specics here. I love MY loaches and I would be very sad if I caused their death (to say nothing of what I would do to somebody who intentionally harmed them), but frankly I don't care what you do with YOUR loaches. I guess I must be some sort of monster for not joining the "2-minutes hate" on Tina.
Why be rude simply because you wouldn't take the same course of action if the fish were yours?

Well, in some countries (like mine) this is actually illegal and there are reasons for why it is illegal. One cant use an argument like "natures course" because in nature the predator and victim dont get forcefully trapped into a tank from which there is no escape. Major difference from nature I would say.

Ok. Illegal would be a good reason.

We are keeping these fish in relatively tiny glass and acrylic prisons...not a big deal right? Shortened life spans, small chance at reproduction, etc. etc. We are fine with this apparently...yes?

In addition to "fish only" tanks we have a family turtle. We feed him Rosy Reds (flathead minnows), on occasion, which he enjoys greatly. Are you suggesting it is unfair to the Rosy Reds and that I am in engaging in unethical behavior in so doing? How about if we crowd around the tank and cheer the turtle on and laugh and shout when he makes a kill?

Sorry to say I just don't get it. Fish eating other fish is one of the things I liked about aquariums long before I started keeping fish myself.

[Emma Turner]

Moderator's edit:

I am locking this thread as it is going nowhere. There are clearly always going to be different cultural attitudes/differences of opinion on feeding live foods, which people will people will never agree on, and I feel it is now getting too personal.

Emma Turner