what is the optimum diet for a young GSP?

[GSPdragon]

I know when they are older you can feed shell on shrimp, mussels, various other seafood etc but what should I be feeding my small/young GSP? I've only had him for a couple days and so far all he's had are messy blood worms & brine shrimp... is there anything I can give him besides snails for his teeth? The two closest LFS's didn't have any small snails (I'll be checking other further away larger ones this weekend) is there a specific type/size snail for young GSP's? Anything else that is easier to find that would work?

Thanks so much!

[ChesapeakeSwellfish]

How small is he? About 1-1.5" is usual in LFSs. Juveniles can take the same foods, just smaller quantities. They love shell-on shrimp pieces (cut them frozen to keep the shells on), mussell meat (mine love hard clam abductor muscle - like a mini-scallop). Its not a bad time for them to learn to hunt snails & the tiny snails will live in the tank if the GSP is still in FW or very low BW. The salinity will quickly reach a point at which pond snails or ramshorns will not survive.

[lisalisa]

My GSP's were 1/2 an inch a purchase, and I fed them small snails from my breeding tank(~80% of their diet), blood worms, and freeze dried krill.

[ChesapeakeSwellfish]

1/2"! I've never seen them so small - they must be so cute!

[lisalisa]

They sure were..but they're growing up so fast

[GSPdragon]

thanks for the responses, I'll get some shell on shrimp to cut up for them and go on my little snail hunt soon LOL

speaking of the salinity, he is still in FW as I just used biospira to cycle the tank, how long should I wait before I start adding the instant ocean and how much should I start with so I don't distrupt the bacteria (ie how many tablespoons per gallon, or what reading on my hydrometer?)

Thank You!

[GSPdragon]

one other question, what is the difference between freeze dried krill and the brine shrimp? Should I get the krill and stop the frozen brine shrimp?

[Pufferpunk]

Totally different animal. Forget the brine shrimp. Excellent feeding ideas on both GSP articles in our Library.

[ChesapeakeSwellfish]

GSP - I answered your salt question in response to your post in the "Brackish Tanks"