Supermarket Shrimp for my Brittle Star

[M@]

All I have is a 14" or larger brittle star. He has quite the tast for flesh. Right now I try to give him chunks of frozen brine shrimp. The problem is that half the shrimp melts and floats off. I know this can't be good for the water so I'm looking for something with larger chunks.

Can I buy shrimp from the store and cut that down to manageable sizes. Or would there be preservatives that would harm the star?

If so how can I feed this SOB

 

[Acrylics]

I always fed mine raw shrimp from the market and he was always thankful, mine lived to terrrorize the tank for years.
I did notice that my snails and shrimp started to live longer after I started this regimen, go figure

James

 

[Anonymous]

Almost any kind of seafood would probably be appreciated. Just make CERTAIN it's raw, NOT cooked! If it's restaurant/human consumption grade food, it's the best you can get for it.

 

[hdtran]

Every book I read says "feed them raw seafood." I can see seafood (nutritional profile matches what they eat in the wild, as opposed to feeding them radicchio or foie gras). But why can't you feed them cooked seafood?

Idly curious,

 

[Anonymous]

You can, but it doesn't have the same level of nutrition, vitamins, etc, IIRC.

 

[Quigonsean]

But why can't you feed them cooked seafood?

I don't imagine that Old Bay would do good for the water quality if you go with shrimp. breaded fried fish the oil'd pollute the tank.

 

[hdtran]

Getting rapidly OT, but in other words, scampi with extra garlic pesto isn't going to de-ich the tang... 8)

 

[Acrylics]

Prolly not, but would be a nice way to sit and watch the tank.
I have shared cooked salad shrimp with mine though, which he was more than happy to do tricks for.
Granted, may not be the best nutritionally but will keep him from eating other critters for a little while.

James