The Puffer Forum

So here in Wisconsin we have major issues with the invassive zebra mussel.

Would it be possible to bust some of these guys off rocks and feed them to puffers?

Just wondering - as I might be able to get quite a bit of food for very cheap in that case.

kingfisherfleshy wrote:So here in Wisconsin we have major issues with the invassive zebra mussel.

Would it be possible to bust some of these guys off rocks and feed them to puffers?

Just wondering - as I might be able to get quite a bit of food for very cheap in that case.

I don't know anything about feeding zebra muscles to puffers. However, I do know that all lakes and waterways in wisconsin are heavily polluted and under advisory for fishing, and all fish are considered not safe for human consumption. Then when you compound the fact that mollusks and other similar creatures are essentially toxic waste dumps for pollutants due to biological magnification, I would definitely NOT feed anything from wisconsin waterways to your fish.

It is a possibility. Esp larger puffers. I's wait until Neale, Corvus or RTR chime in. AFAIK zebra mussels are toxic to humans as they don't process the waste in the same fashion as other mussels. Puffers, on the other hand, are typically immune to certain strains of bacteria and that buildup makes puffers toxic to eat.

So the ultimate answer thus far, is simply: we don't know. Zebra mussels are fairly new to North America. There has been a bit of study around them but I don't think any one here has done puffer related research.

Know anybody with a river otter?

Sorry, I have not looked into culturing zebra mussels.

I would not suggest feeding any invert collected from polluted waters.

No experience with mussels of any sort, but I wouldn't be comfortable feeding wild-caught food to my fish.

You just never know. And what you don't know can kill you(r puffers).

I find that kinda questionable. ALL molluscs from the world around are long term bio magnifiers and "toxic waste dumps" as filter feeding ones go.

Our oceans are polluted like crazy...mercury warnings on fish - let alone the molluscs that take much longer to grow than some of the food fish. Same sort of warning that is on wisco fish.

I agree with your points, Im just wondering how its different from buying shellfish from the store?

I find that kinda questionable. ALL molluscs from the world around are long term bio magnifiers and "toxic waste dumps" as filter feeding ones go.

Our oceans are polluted like crazy...mercury warnings on fish - let alone the molluscs that take much longer to grow than some of the food fish. Same sort of warning that is on wisco fish.

I agree with your points, Im just wondering how its different from buying shellfish from the store?

I would be feeding these to a fahaka. Also planning on buying different shellfish and collecting crayfish as we have large populations of invasive rusty crays as well.

Do what you want. I have my B.S. in environmental policy and planning. I've spent 5 years studying and learning about wisconsin waterways. No, they are not polluted in the same ways as the ocean (for the most part), and no, fish from the ocean are not under the same advisory, only SOME marine life from SOME select areas of the word's oceans are considered dangerous to eat. ALL fish/aquatic life extracted from wisconsin waterways is considered dangerous for human consumption. If you think its cool for your fish, go for it, I'll stick with frozen.

yes, but puffers metabolize toxins in a different fashion than humans.

This is a VERY interesting question and one that would require some research and testing. Zebra mussels are not like other FW mussels. Invasive, yes. Toxic, yes. Puffer food? Unknown.

I suppose the only way to know would be to get some, wash them, freeze them for 24+hours, thaw them out, and try. However, it is NOT a good idea, as you may end up with a dead puffer.

The freezing would only kill any parasites or nasties, not pollution.

J-P wrote:yes, but puffers metabolize toxins in a different fashion than humans.

This is a VERY interesting question and one that would require some research and testing. Zebra mussels are not like other FW mussels. Invasive, yes. Toxic, yes. Puffer food? Unknown.

this is generally true for organic toxins, not so much man made synthetic chemical compounds.

true, but zebra mussels are different. They are toxic to humans, or we would have cultivated them long ago. you can't compare food fit for human consumption with that fit for puffer consumption.

i think you're still missing the part about INORGANIC chemical compounds. There is a huge difference between the toxicity of naturally occurring organic compounds such as venom and those that aren't naturally occurring such as mercury, teflon, polychlorinated biphenyl, etc. These are chemicals, often heavy metals, that are man made and aren't metabolized, they are absorbed into tissue and blood, and stay there forever and can even be passed to offspring.

Many native WI fishes have already adapted to eating these mussels.

These mussles have a relatively short life span compared to some of the othe freshwater mussels in the state - some of which have harvesting seasons for human consumption. So, you are losing me on the overly toxic part as well.

Not trying to start a fight, just trying to have a real discussion on this matter.

Can you talk more specifically on what you are worried about as far as toxins go?

It would be a good promo for puffer fishkeepers. Not wishing to get political here but we could have a tax credit for finding a way to combat the invasive mussel! LOL