Feeder fish

Typically, these species are tolerant of overcrowding and have a high fecundity and rapid growth rate.

Other animal keepers believe that feeder fish are particularly nutritious, being what one would expect their pets would eat in the wild; some others view feeder fish as a stimulating treat that encourages predatory animals to exercise their natural hunting behaviours.

[1] Some animal keepers enjoy watching the hunting and eating techniques involved when predation occurs.

[2] The primary drawback of feeding live fish is the possibility of contaminating the aquarium with bacteria and parasites.

When bred and held in an overcrowded or otherwise sub-optimal environment, they may also carry bacterial infections and parasites, which can be passed along to fish that consume them.