Smelt???

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

I was at the grocery store today... and I was looking for frog legs and I came across a bag of smelt... which I had no idea that they sold!!! There are like 50 of them in this bag and they are whole (there were even eggs in one) except for their heads are cut off. The bag was like $4... and they are about 4 inches long each... this is quite a bargain... and my garters LOVED them!!! Even the picky eaters who normally only will accept live fish were eating pieces of these. My water snakes adored them even more!

For those unfamiliar... smelt are a litle freshwater fish that are shaped much like minnows. Basically I am writing this thread to ask... does anyone else use these? Is this bargain too good to be true? They don't contain thiaminase... right?!?! A dozen of live bait fish this size at cabela's cost's 5 or 6 bucks... so getting like 50 of them for $4 is heaven for me!

[ssssnakeluvr]

I was at the grocery store today... and I was looking for frog legs and I came across a bag of smelt... which I had no idea that they sold!!! There are like 50 of them in this bag and they are whole (there were even eggs in one) except for their heads are cut off. The bag was like $4... and they are about 4 inches long each... this is quite a bargain... and my garters LOVED them!!! Even the picky eaters who normally only will accept live fish were eating pieces of these. My water snakes adored them even more!

For those unfamiliar... smelt are a litle freshwater fish that are shaped much like minnows. Basically I am writing this thread to ask... does anyone else use these? Is this bargain too good to be true? They don't contain thiaminase... right?!?! A dozen of live bait fish this size at cabela's cost's 5 or 6 bucks... so getting like 50 of them for $4 is heaven for me!
not sure if they contain thiaminase.....should check for the scientific name and then check the link in the articles page..has a listing of which do and which don't.... not a bad deal tho if they don't!!!!

[guidofatherof5]

Smelt are of the Osmeridae family. According to what I could find on the web, through the link provided they are high in Thiaminase. Sounds like Ocean Perch and trout are safe. Not sure how that prices out. Hope it helps.

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

Smelt are of the Osmeridae family. According to what I could find on the web, through the link provided they are high in Thiaminase. Sounds like Ocean Perch and trout are safe. Not sure how that prices out. Hope it helps.

ugh.

crap!

and my snakes have eaten some!!!

[Stefan-A]

Smelt are of the Osmeridae family. According to what I could find on the web, through the link provided they are high in Thiaminase.
It's true. The only exception I know of, is the European smelt.

[EdgyExoticReptiles]

one time wont hurt

ugh.

crap!

and my snakes have eaten some!!!

[guidofatherof5]

Don't worry about one feeding and don't let those smelt go to waste. I saw a lot of recipes online. I've never eaten them but apparently many have. I'm going to check on the price of Ocean Perch in my area. I'll post when I find out.

[sschind]

Back when I was a kid (30 years ago) I had some relatives that would go "schmeltin" every year. I remember helping clean dozens of 5 gallon pails full of these things. All you needed was a good pair of scissors. Snip the head off, run one blade down the gut, another snip and a quick scrape with the thumb and into the clean bucket they go. I had one uncle who was so fast he could do at least 5 or 6 to every one of mine. The best part was afterward though. Roll em in a little seasoned flour, drop em in a pot of boiling oil, fry em up for a bit and eat. Man, I'm hungry.

[Garter_Gertie]

That's how we eat them here, sschimd. Little snacklettes. I'm hungry, too!

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

ewwww.... they are so gross lol they still have some of their guts in them!! and eggs...

[sschind]

Yeah Gert, I grew up about 75 miles East of you in Chippewa Falls WI. Unfortunately I was too young to wash the fish down with ice cold Leinenkugels beer but I am really hungry (and thirsty) now.

After the initial snip and gut the women folk usually did take them and clean them a little better. I can't say that there were no eggs and guts fried up with them but my mom in particular is pretty diligent when it comes to cleaning up fish and game (I always find bones and and the little knobby ends of the drumsticks in her chicken salad though, she doesn't seem to be as careful with that)