If you’re running out of food for your catfish, try an alternative. Try Silkworm, Lima bean, Cottonseed meal, or day-old chick. Catfish are opportunistic feeders and will eat a variety of small fish. Other alternative food for catfish may include algae, clams, and snails. Saltwater catfish are also attracted to sea grass and other aquatic plants, including sea cucumber and shrimp.
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Silkworm
Recent studies have demonstrated that silkworm can improve the lipid profile of meat, while decreasing the omega-6/omega-3 ratio. The inclusion level of silkworm meal significantly decreased the amount of cholesterol in the meat of channel and blue tilapia, and increased the C18:3 n-3 content of the meat. Further, the levels of C18:3 n-3 in the meat of cats fed with 25% silkworm meal were significantly lower than the control group.
Lima bean
The consumption index of fish fed diets with and without Lima bean flour significantly increased. The lowest index values were recorded for lots receiving the R0 ration, while the highest values were obtained for R50 and R100 rations. The level of substitution had no effect on the survival rate of the catfish fry. Moreover, no significant differences were found in the prices of the different rations. Hence, the use of Lima bean flour as an alternative food for catfish has significant benefits.
Cottonseed meal
While soybean meal is the most commonly used feed for catfish, some researchers have found that it can be used as a substitute. Cottonseed meal is a good source of fiber and can replace about 15% of its dietary intake. In addition, it can be used in combination with other feeds to improve the quality of the diet. Cottonseed meal contains about 7% crude fiber, which is suitable for a catfish diet without supplementing it with lysine.
Day old chick
You can also buy day old chicks from a farmer and feed them to your catfish. If you don’t like the taste of the live chick, you can kill it and feed it to the fish. However, it is important to kill the day old chick first before feeding it to the fish. After killing it, you can then dispose of it properly. You should also use gloves when handling chicken offals.
Tilapia
Despite the fact that tilapia are the most common fish that we eat, catfish don’t like them very much. However, these fish have very similar characteristics to tilapia, including the soft flesh and nutty flavor. Moreover, they contain a high amount of Omega 3 fatty acids, so they are a great alternative food for catfish. Red snapper is an excellent alternative because it has the same texture and flavor, as tilapia, and they cook up moist. When purchasing red snapper, make sure it is fresh, as imported snapper is not a true snapper, but is a different species. Additionally, a true raw red snapper fillet is light pink with a yellow hue.
Snails
Snails are commonly found in almost every fish tank. They are peaceful and great cleaners. Many species are quite beautiful, too! Snails are not suitable for most species of catfish, though Cory Catfish may eat the baby snails and eggs. If your fish is looking for a healthy alternative food source, snails are a good choice. Crushed snails are easy for your fish to digest.
Clams
If you love seafood, consider clams as an alternative food for catfish. Clams are low-calorie, low-fat, low-mercury, and even offer 40 percent of your daily vitamin B12 requirement. Clams are a low-contaminant choice, and according to the Environmental Defense Fund, they provide more iron than red meat. Clam harvesting is regulated by state authorities, so clams can be a sustainable alternative to catfish.
Offal
Catfish love offal as a supplementary food. Offal comes from animals that are considered waste and dumped on the outskirts of the town. It can be purchased as feed for catfish and replaces 20 to 40 percent of the fish meal. But it’s not cheap, so you might want to consider its nutritional value. Before buying offal for your fish, you should know how to clean it and avoid cross-contamination.
