Feeder Fish

(Thiaminase)

**What to feed and what NOT to feed your turtle**

What is thiaminase?

Thiaminase is an enzyme found in some fish species, especially Goldfish and Rosy Red Minnows from local pet shops.

What does it do?

Enzymes catalyze chemical reactions in living cells, and play a role in a body’s biochemistry. Thiaminase breaks down the thiamin (vitamin B1) molecule inside the body of the turtle. If a turtle eats something that contains thiaminase, it won’t get any thiamin out of it. All turtles need thiamin for their bodies to function properly. Thiamine helps convert carbohydrates into glucose and is necessary for the nervous system to work properly. A turtle that is deficient in thiamin will suffer from neuropathic and cardiovascular disorders. There are signs of a deficiency, however, this list is not all inclusive. If you think that your turtle may be showing signs of a thiamine deficiency, contact your local exotic vet. Some signs of a deficiency are lethargy, a paleness of color, or your turtle consistently basks more often than it used to.

What fish have been reported to contain thiaminase?

  • Alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus)

  • Anchovy, Broad-striped (Anchoa hepsetus)

  • Anchovy, Californian (Engraulis mordax)

  • Anchovy, Goldspotted Grenadier (Coilia dussumieri)

  • Barb, Olive (Puntius sarana)

  • Bass, White (Morone chrysops)

  • Bonefish (Albula vulpes)

  • Bowfin (Amia calva)

  • Bream (Abramis brama)

  • Buffalo, Bigmouth (Ictiobus cyprinellus)

  • Burbot (Lota lota)

  • Butterfish, American (Peprilus triacanthus)

  • Carp, Common (Cyprinus carpio)

  • Catfish, Black Bullhead (Amieurus melas)

  • Catfish, Brown Bullhead (Ameiurus nebulosus)

  • Catfish, Channel (Ictalurus punctatus)

  • Cod, Black (species undetermined)

  • Dolphinfish, Common (Coryphaena hippurus)

  • Flagtail, Hawaiian (Kuhlia sandvicensis)

  • Goatfish, Manybar (Parupeneus multifasciatus)

  • Goatfish, Red Sea (Mulloidichthys auriflamma)

  • Goatfish, Yellowstripe (Mulloidichthys samoensis)

  • Goldfish (Carassius auratus)

  • Herring, Atlantic (Clupea harrengus)

  • Jobfish, Crimson (Pristipomoides filamentosus)

  • Jobfish, Green (Aprion virescens)

  • Lamprey, Sea (Petromyzon marinus)

  • Loach, Weatherfish (Misgurnus)

  • Mackerel, Chub (Scomber japonicus)

  • Menhaden, Atlantic (Brevoortia tyrannus)

  • Menhaden, Gulf (Brevoortia patronus)

  • Milkfish (Chanos chanos)

  • Minnow, Fathead (“Rosy Red”) (Pimephales promelas)

  • Moray Eel, Southern Ocellated (Gymnothorax ocellatus)

  • Mullet, Flathead Mugil cephalus)

  • Parrot, Regal (Scarus dubius)

  • Queenfish, Doublespotted (Scomberoides lysan)

  • Sardine, Razorbelly (Harengula jaguana)

  • Sauger (Harengula jaguana)

  • Scad, Bigeye (Selar crumenophthalmus)

  • Sculpin, Fourhorn (Triglopsis quadricornis)

  • Shad, Gizzard (Dorosoma cepedianum)

  • Shiner, Emerald (Notropis atherinoides)

  • Shiner, Spottail (Notropis hudsonius)

  • Smelt, Rainbow (Osmerus mordax)

  • Snapper, Ruby (Etelis carbunculus)

  • Stoneroller, Central (Campostoma anomalum)

  • Sucker, White (Catostomus commersonii)

  • Swordfish (Xiphias gladius)

  • Threadfin, Sixfinger (Polydactylus sexfilis)

  • Trevally, Giant (Caranx ignobilis)

  • Tuna, Skipjack (Katsuwonus pelamis)

  • Tuna, Yellowfin (Neothunnus macropterus)

  • Whitefish, Lake (Coregonus clupeaformis)

  • Whitefish, Round (Prosopium cylindraceum)

What fish are SAFE to feed a Turtle?

  • Amberjack, Greater (Seriola dumerilii)

  • Ayu (Plecoglossus altivelis)

  • Barracuda, Great (Sphyraena barracuda)

  • Bass, Largemouth (Micropterus salmoides)

  • Bass, Northern Rock (Ambloplites rupestris)

  • Bass, Northern Smallmouth (Micropterus dolomieu)

  • Bloater (Coregonus hoyi)

  • Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus)

  • Cisco / Lake Herring (Coregonus artedi)

  • Cod, Atlantic (Gadus morhua)

  • Crappie, Black (Pomoxis nigromaculatus)

  • Croaker, Atlantic (Micropogonias undulates)

  • Croaker, Spot (Leiostomus xanthurus)

  • Cunner (Tautogolabrus adspersus

  • Dogfish, Piked (Squalus acanthias)

  • Eel, American (Anguilla rostrata)

  • Eel, Common (Anguilla anguilla)

  • Flounder, Winter / Lemon Sole (Pseudopleuronectes americanus)

  • Flounder, Yellowtail (Limanda ferruginea)

  • Gar, Longnose (Lepisosteus osseus)

  • Glasseye (Heteropriacanthus cruentatus)

  • Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus)

  • Hairtail, Largehead (Trichiurus lepturus)

  • Hake (Urophycis)

  • Hake, Silver (Merluccius bilinearis)

  • Halibut, Atlantic (Hippoglossus hippoglossus)

  • Kawakawa (Euthynnus affinis)

  • Kingfish, Southern (Menticirrhus americanus)

  • Lizardfish, Inshore (Synodus foetens)

  • Mackerel, Atlantic (Scomber scombrus)

  • Marlin, Atlantic Blue (Makaira nigricans)

  • Mullet (Mugil)

  • Perch, European (Perca fluviatilis)

  • Perch, Ocean / Redfish (Sebastes marinus)

  • Perch, Yellow (Perca flavescens)

  • Pike, Northern (Esox lucius)

  • Plaice, American (Hippoglossoides platessoides)

  • Plaice, European (Pleuronectes platessa)

  • Pollock / Saithe (Pollachius)

  • Pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus)

  • Salmon, Atlantic (Salmo salar)

  • Salmon, Coho (Oncorhynchus kisutch)

  • Scad, Mackerel (Decapterus pinnulatus)

  • Scad, Yellowtail (Atule mate)

  • Scup / Southern Porgy (Stenotomus chrysops)

  • Sea Catfish, Hardhead (Ariopsis felis)

  • Seabass, Black (Centropristis striata)

  • Searobin (Prionotus)

  • Seatrout, Sand (Cynoscion arenarius)

  • Seatrout, Silver (Cynoscion nothus)

  • Skate (Raja)

  • Smelt, Pond (Hypomesus olidus)

  • Soldierfish, Blotcheye (Myripristis berndti)

  • Sole, Common/Black (Solea solea)

  • Sprat, European (Sprattus sprattus)

  • Surgeonfish, Eyestripe (Acanthurus dussumieri)

  • Tautog / Blackfish (Tautoga onitis)

  • Tilapia (various species)

  • Trout, Brown (Salmo trutta)

  • Trout, Lake (Salvelinus namaycush)

  • Trout, Rainbow (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

  • Trout, Sea (Salmo trutta)

  • Tusk (Brosme brosme)

  • Walleye (Sander vitreus)

  • Weakfish, Sand (Cynoscion arenarius)