preservation

[Zephyr]

Any one else use tilapia?
I don't believe it contains a lot of thiaminase, and it's about 3x cheaper than trout.

[Snake lover 3-25]

never even heard of it...

[Zephyr]

AKA St Peter's fish.
Apparently...
DUN DUN DUN...
Guppies contain bacteria that produce thiaminase! *Gasp.*
Maybe other livebearers have these too!
Thiaminase - The Aquarium Wiki

[Loren]

is there a way to preserve dead fish... without taking away their smell? i use the feeder minnows that die to scent pinkies...

I use an ice cube tray, fill it with water and put one or two fish per ice cube and freeze it. Then just thaw out a cube in luke warm water when its time to scent. I have been doing that for my ribbon and little checkered, although just tonight they both took unscented pinks for the first time.

[Lori P]

Note to self: should I ever visit Loren, never, never ask for ice in my drink...

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

note to self: agree with lori.

[Zephyr]

I usually just cut the fish in half *pre killed, lol* and smear the guts all over pinkies if I need to scent. NEVER fails. A tad barbaric, but you get to see some neat feeding responses.

[Snake lover 3-25]

I poked mine (that were already dead) with a fork LOL

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

oh yea? I squeeze the brain fluids out of pinkies onto fish when I feed the babies. It helps them become accustomed to the pinky smell and they usually accept pinks right off the bat once they are big enough.

I crush all the fishes heads with my tweezers before giving them to the babies

[Loren]

oh yea? I squeeze the brain fluids out of pinkies onto fish when I feed the babies. It helps them become accustomed to the pinky smell and they usually accept pinks right off the bat once they are big enough.

That is a very good way to start scenting.

My ribbon snake and my little checkered garter both just took their first totally non scented, thawed pinks this week. I had been using guppies for scenting. I like to have the head end of their meal taste like what they like(frog or guppy), then leave the tail end of their mouse natural, so the last thing they taste is mouse.