Found “Whole Smelt” at Publix Supermarket Today— Same as Silversides?

[JumboShrimp]

I was at the fresh seafood counter at Publix today and they had “Whole Smelt” that look to me like a larger version of the frozen packages of Silversides sold at the LFS. Price-wise I think it worked out to about the same. (The heads were gone, which even my Clown Trigger, French Angel, large Wrasse and Emperor Angel used to have a problem with.) What do you all think— I can say for sure my fish enjoyed them!

 

[LeftyReefer]

same thing

 

[CK00020]

Smelt is a freshwater fish, if that makes any difference

 

[topjimmy]

Smelt is a freshwater fish, if that makes any difference

Was going to say this. Used to catch them when they would run on Erie.

 

[CK00020]

We used to in Lake Michigan

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

As far as I know the answer is technically both yes and no - smelts are technically not silversides from a taxonomy perspective (true smelts are in the order "Osmeriformes", marine "smelts" are in the order "Argentiniformes", and silversides are in the order "Atheriniformes"), but the marine smelts are widely accepted as and considered to be silversides from pretty much any other perspective. As mentioned, true smelts are freshwater, but other fish considered smelts are marine.

I don't know for sure, but given that true smelts are freshwater, I'd be a bit wary of feeding them with any sort of regularity (freshwater and saltwater fish typically have very different levels of protein and fat - I'm not sure about brackish fish, but I know some are fine and others are not ideal) - the marine smelts wouldn't give me any pause though.

 

[Fredinva]

Wish I could find smelt here in sw Virginia! Years ago I ground up smelt and beef heart to feed to my African Cichlids. My four Triggers would love some minced up smelt!!