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  1. #1
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    Crappie are picky eaters!!

    My 40 Soc-a Lait, (Crappie for anyone not from the south) are very picky eaters. They love guppies and small minnows and will eat 50 of them in seconds. I was hoping to get them to eat a little more diverse diet. I am raising crawfish hoping that they would eat the babies, no such luck. I tried baby crickets, they spit them out. Threw a worm in there, did not even look at it.
    Anyone else have any suggestions on what else to try, or how to pellet train them? I am not seeing much on the net as far as success stories go.
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    “We must reject the idea that every time a law’s broken, society is guilty rather than the lawbreaker. It is time to restore the American precept that each individual is accountable for his actions.” – Ronald Reagan

  2. #2
    Moderator JCO's Avatar
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    Re: Crappie are picky eaters!!

    Where did you get them...check with them to see what and how they recommend you feed them.
    JCO
    Irish eyes are always smiling but
    • "In the eyes of the world, you are only as good as your last success"
    so never forget
    • "MAN IS ONLY LIMITED BY HIS IMAGINATION"

  3. #3
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    Re: Crappie are picky eaters!!

    They fed them small minnows that the hatchery raised. They are not easy to come by where I live in a subdivion, but I have been doing some ditch diving. They are 22 cent a piece at the fish store. The 35 crappie I have will eat 40 minnows in about 8 seconds. At this rate they are more expensive to feed then my kids. About to branch out to ponds on my way home from work.
    I did try tadpoles today with no sucess!
    “We must reject the idea that every time a law’s broken, society is guilty rather than the lawbreaker. It is time to restore the American precept that each individual is accountable for his actions.” – Ronald Reagan

  4. #4
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    Re: Crappie are picky eaters!!

    pellet train.. find a purina dealer near you by searching the purina web site (if there aren't any feed mills near you)
    i found a place a few miles away, and they order whatever i want,
    with crappie, i'd use gamefish food.. high protein (42-47%)
    to feed train, stop feeding live food/bloodworms.. the fish will be fine for a week or two with no problem..
    take some feed, and a ziplock baggie.. i use about 1/2 cup feed, and maybe a little more than 1/4 cup water - you want all of the pellets to absorb some water, so store in a fridge overnight, turning the bag occasionally..
    when you go to feed, lightly squeeze the pellets and drop them in, they'll sink.. you'll quickly figure out how hard to squeeze to make the pellets sink slowly..
    if you can, try to feed a little a few times a day.. once you notice that they are eating (don't rush it) the sinking pellets, stop squeezing some of them so that you have a few soft floaters.. you'll notice them eating these after a bit.. gradually add a little dry food when you feed.. increasing your ratio of dry to wet until you replace the wet.. with bluegill it took me a couple weeks, perch a week.. crappie i'd expect to take 3 to 4 weeks.. but i reckon it can be done

  5. #5
    Moderator JCO's Avatar
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    Re: Crappie are picky eaters!!

    Too bad they aren't Tilapia...they WILL eat tadpoles..
    JCO
    Irish eyes are always smiling but
    • "In the eyes of the world, you are only as good as your last success"
    so never forget
    • "MAN IS ONLY LIMITED BY HIS IMAGINATION"

  6. #6
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    Re: Crappie are picky eaters!!

    Sweet, I will give that method a try, Thanks alot!!
    "I have been looking for how to feed your crappie" pellets instructions. I sure wish I could use Tilipia, wildlife and fish agent told me the laws need to be changed to allow aquaponics Tilipia, but they just dont have time to do it.
    “We must reject the idea that every time a law’s broken, society is guilty rather than the lawbreaker. It is time to restore the American precept that each individual is accountable for his actions.” – Ronald Reagan

  7. #7
    Moderator JCO's Avatar
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    Re: Crappie are picky eaters!!

    Go to you profile and put in where you live and I will look into it.
    JCO
    Irish eyes are always smiling but
    • "In the eyes of the world, you are only as good as your last success"
    so never forget
    • "MAN IS ONLY LIMITED BY HIS IMAGINATION"

  8. #8
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    Re: Crappie are picky eaters!!

    K, I had it there, must have got deleted!
    “We must reject the idea that every time a law’s broken, society is guilty rather than the lawbreaker. It is time to restore the American precept that each individual is accountable for his actions.” – Ronald Reagan

  9. #9
    Moderator JCO's Avatar
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    Re: Crappie are picky eaters!!

    Lookin' Good.. What cha got in the bucket, crawdads?
    JCO
    Irish eyes are always smiling but
    • "In the eyes of the world, you are only as good as your last success"
    so never forget
    • "MAN IS ONLY LIMITED BY HIS IMAGINATION"

  10. #10
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    Re: Crappie are picky eaters!!

    Crappie are picky eaters, they like their food alive and kicking. I'm surprised they didn't go for the crawfish though. We get minnows for about $1/dozen but that's still expensive feeding. Have heard of fish farms that feed crappie pellet food, but not after they have got use to the real stuff. I tried feeeding my Tilapia some left over minnows and they wouldn't touch them. Good luck! If it doesn't work out, just have a crappie fry!

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