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Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2013 23:10:41 GMT -5
I know about the scent thing, but I'm over my old fear of feeding wild caught, and since I'm an avid hunter/fisher I thought hey why not feed him the tiny bluegills not worth eating my self. Now my question: are the scales safe and just how much fish do we need to worry about with mercury poisoning and the smelly poops?
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Post by Sherry on Dec 11, 2013 9:12:27 GMT -5
Not sure what bluegills are but I am going to assume they are freshwater? Those are preferable to salt water fish(mercury, etc), and as a rule they simply won't eat it if it's going to be a problem.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 11, 2013 14:05:16 GMT -5
I had it stuck in my head that fish wasn't good for ferrets in general. Is this something we should look into adding to their protein rotation?
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Post by fretki on Dec 11, 2013 15:38:50 GMT -5
fish is ok, some fish have an enzyme (thiaminase) in their guts, a diet consisting of almost only those fish may lead to thiamin deficiency in the ferret... I believe that the ferret is not a species-specialized carnivore like other mustelids, thus a fish only diet can't be the right thing, but it is certainly ok to add fish to their menu plan for variety. I feed fish, not in large amounts and also only once or twice a month... they sometimes also get seafood... yesterday they had half a trout, almost all gone today: they eat the fins, but not always the bones of the head... I had a ferret who was keen of seafood, cracking prawns was something he loved, and I had a ferret allergic to almost all kind of fish, so please watch them closely when introducing new food and start with small amounts  |
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Post by Heather on Dec 11, 2013 15:45:54 GMT -5
Feeding fish is fine but not considered as a main food protein. Polecats eat fish as part of their regular diet, mink eat fish as a priority protein. Part of the don't feed fish issue may actually come from the fact that Marshal uses it as a primary protein in their kibbles. It's an old mink farm recipe and puts gorgeous coats on your ferrets but is technically garbage and makes your ferret stink. The thought then became, don't feed fish or your ferret's will smell bad. Kibble stinks, so the smell comes out in the ferret's coat. You may find that your ferret's stools may be a bit "fishy" on those days but clean the litter box. My guys get fish about once or twice a month. On a whole it is well received
ciao
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Post by Deleted on Dec 11, 2013 16:04:50 GMT -5
Thank you for the clarification. Will look in to seeing how they handle some seafood every so often if we can. We live in a small city in the middle of nowhere, so seafood is rarely if ever cheap.  |
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Post by Heather on Dec 11, 2013 16:07:25 GMT -5
Just watch out for salt or saline content, especially with seafood.
ciao
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Post by Deleted on Dec 11, 2013 17:27:05 GMT -5
Bluegills should pose no problem for the ferrets, neither should their scales. It is highly likely the scales will pass through undigested - much like mouse fur. Bluegills are freshwater and unless from a pond full of pesticide run off - sould be o.k to feed. I wouldn't feed an already dead fish, but one you caught should be alright. I also would freeze it for a couple weeks just to kill any parasites that the fish may have. Then thaw and feed.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2013 1:16:25 GMT -5
Bluegills are small freshwater fish. Freshwater is where mercury tends to accumulate because it allows for the molecules to bond easier. Freshwater is also more isolated than the ocean so thats a problem. The general rule of thumb is the higher on the food chain the fish, the less you should eat. Near me the DNR will tell you that if you catch a wall-eye or large-mouth etc. over x inches to NOT eat the entire fish in one sitting. The ocean is actually a lot safer to eat than freshwater. I fish nearby public/private protected by DNR efforts which means that they dont allow pesticides or any other chemicals to be used nearby.
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Post by Sherry on Dec 12, 2013 9:45:25 GMT -5
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