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Top 5 Feeder Fish for Amphibian Feeding in Canada 2025: An Expert-Verified Guide to Guppies, Minnows and Goldfish to Keep Your Amphibian Healthy

Published on Thursday, August 21, 2025

Live feeder fish are small, cost-effective prey items such as guppies, rosy red minnows, goldfish and mollies that are used to feed larger amphibians in captivity. In Canada, demand for these live prey options is driven by hobbyists, breeders, and academic keepers who prioritize natural feeding behavior, nutritional variety, and enrichment for frogs, salamanders and newts. Consumers in this market look for reliable suppliers, clear quarantine and health protocols, appropriate size options, and regionally available stock to minimize shipping stress and disease risk. Sourcing from reputable Canadian retailers, local breeders, or vetted national chains reduces transit time and supports biosecurity practices, which is especially important given provincial regulations and seasonal availability across the country.

Quick Menu

1. Best Budget Guppies

2. Best Widely Available Minnows

3. Best Larger Prey Goldfish

4. Best Premium Live Guppies Supplier

5. Best Hardy Mollies for Amphibians

1
BEST BUDGET GUPPIES

Big Al's Live Feeder Guppies

Big Al's Live Feeder Guppies

Big Al's is often considered best-in-class for feeder guppies because they breed high-volume, uniform-size stock specifically for feeding, which yields predictable portioning and lower per-feed costs for amphibian keepers compared with retail-sourced fish. Technically these guppies are selected for hardiness and transit survival, reducing losses and the disease risk that can come from mixed-source suppliers.

4.3
★★★★☆

  • Bright tail flare

  • Hardy swimmers

  • Bright tail flare

  • Hardy swimmers

Review Summary

86%

"Buyers commonly praise Big Al's for consistently healthy, well-conditioned guppies and generally reliable shipping; a minority report occasional transit mortality or size variability in some orders."

  • Al-approved energy

  • Small size ideal for juvenile amphibians

  • Al-approved energy

  • Small size ideal for juvenile amphibians

Recreational Enjoyment

Time-Saving Convenience

Big Al's is often considered best-in-class for feeder guppies because they breed high-volume, uniform-size stock specifically for feeding, which yields predictable portioning and lower per-feed costs for amphibian keepers compared with retail-sourced fish. Technically these guppies are selected for hardiness and transit survival, reducing losses and the disease risk that can come from mixed-source suppliers.

  • Bright tail flare

  • Hardy swimmers

  • Al-approved energy

  • Small size ideal for juvenile amphibians

  • Hardy and fast-breeding making regular supply easy

  • Bright tail flare

  • Hardy swimmers

  • Al-approved energy

  • Small size ideal for juvenile amphibians

  • Hardy and fast-breeding making regular supply easy

Order Now

$8-20 CAD

2
BEST WIDELY AVAILABLE MINNOWS

PetSmart Rosy Red Minnows

PetSmart Rosy Red Minnows

PetSmart's Rosy Red Minnows are a market-leader retail option thanks to nationwide availability and very low unit price, making them attractive for hobbyists who need frequent, inexpensive feeds compared with boutique sellers. They trade lower cost and broad access for more variable sourcing and quality control, so while ideal for budget-conscious feeding routines, they can carry a higher biosecurity risk than dedicated feeder breeders.

3.8
★★★☆☆

  • Fat, easy target

  • Cold-tolerant batch

  • Fat, easy target

  • Cold-tolerant batch

Review Summary

74%

"Shoppers like PetSmart's rosy red minnows for their low price and easy availability, but many reviews call out inconsistent health and higher mortality compared with specialty feeder breeders."

  • Retail-guaranteed pick

  • Commonly stocked at major pet retail stores across Canada

  • Retail-guaranteed pick

  • Commonly stocked at major pet retail stores across Canada

Recreational Enjoyment

Time-Saving Convenience

PetSmart's Rosy Red Minnows are a market-leader retail option thanks to nationwide availability and very low unit price, making them attractive for hobbyists who need frequent, inexpensive feeds compared with boutique sellers. They trade lower cost and broad access for more variable sourcing and quality control, so while ideal for budget-conscious feeding routines, they can carry a higher biosecurity risk than dedicated feeder breeders.

  • Fat, easy target

  • Cold-tolerant batch

  • Retail-guaranteed pick

  • Commonly stocked at major pet retail stores across Canada

  • Moderate size suitable for many amphibian species

  • Fat, easy target

  • Cold-tolerant batch

  • Retail-guaranteed pick

  • Commonly stocked at major pet retail stores across Canada

  • Moderate size suitable for many amphibian species

Order Now

$5-15 CAD

3
BEST LARGER PREY GOLDFISH

Aquarium Services Winnipeg Feeder Goldfish

Aquarium Services Winnipeg Feeder Goldfish
🏠 Local Product

Aquarium Services Winnipeg's feeder goldfish are a top choice for larger amphibians that need substantial calories because local production in Canada reduces shipping stress and delivers predictable size classes compared with imported feeders. Financially they come at a higher per-fish cost but lower feeding frequency and handling time, and their coldwater hardiness is a technical benefit for species tolerant of cooler conditions.

4.4
★★★★☆

  • Large, meaty

  • Cold-hardy stock

  • Large, meaty

  • Cold-hardy stock

Review Summary

88%

"Customers report robust, well-sized feeder goldfish from Aquarium Services Winnipeg with low mortality and good value for bulk purchases; a few note limited availability of specific sizes at times."

  • Winnipeg tough charm

  • Larger body size suitable for adult amphibians and salamanders

  • Winnipeg tough charm

  • Larger body size suitable for adult amphibians and salamanders

Time-Saving Convenience

Skill Development & Mastery

Aquarium Services Winnipeg's feeder goldfish are a top choice for larger amphibians that need substantial calories because local production in Canada reduces shipping stress and delivers predictable size classes compared with imported feeders. Financially they come at a higher per-fish cost but lower feeding frequency and handling time, and their coldwater hardiness is a technical benefit for species tolerant of cooler conditions.

  • Large, meaty

  • Cold-hardy stock

  • Winnipeg tough charm

  • Larger body size suitable for adult amphibians and salamanders

  • Often sold in size-separated batches to match predator gape

  • Large, meaty

  • Cold-hardy stock

  • Winnipeg tough charm

  • Larger body size suitable for adult amphibians and salamanders

  • Often sold in size-separated batches to match predator gape

Order Now

$10-30 CAD

4
BEST PREMIUM LIVE GUPPIES SUPPLIER

The Fish Sempai Live Guppies

The Fish Sempai Live Guppies

The Fish Sempai positions itself as a boutique feeder source offering quarantined, disease-screened live guppies that command a premium but lower downstream veterinary risk compared with mass-market options. For amphibian feeding this translates to more reliable nutrition delivery and reduced mortalities, making them a technically superior (if more expensive) choice for sensitive or high-value collections.

4.1
★★★★☆

  • Vivid color pop

  • Quick feeder-ready

  • Vivid color pop

  • Quick feeder-ready

Review Summary

81%

"Reviewers praise The Fish Sempai for clean, lively guppies and prompt shipping with good survival rates; a small number mention occasional smaller-than-expected fish or weekend shipping delays."

  • Sempai-selected sparkle

  • Reputable small-scale supplier focused on healthy stock

  • Sempai-selected sparkle

  • Reputable small-scale supplier focused on healthy stock

Recreational Enjoyment

Skill Development & Mastery

The Fish Sempai positions itself as a boutique feeder source offering quarantined, disease-screened live guppies that command a premium but lower downstream veterinary risk compared with mass-market options. For amphibian feeding this translates to more reliable nutrition delivery and reduced mortalities, making them a technically superior (if more expensive) choice for sensitive or high-value collections.

  • Vivid color pop

  • Quick feeder-ready

  • Sempai-selected sparkle

  • Reputable small-scale supplier focused on healthy stock

  • Varied color morphs and sizes to suit different amphibian prey needs

  • Vivid color pop

  • Quick feeder-ready

  • Sempai-selected sparkle

  • Reputable small-scale supplier focused on healthy stock

  • Varied color morphs and sizes to suit different amphibian prey needs

Order Now

$8-20 CAD

5
BEST HARDY MOLLIES FOR AMPHIBIANS

Canada Corals Feeder Mollies

Canada Corals Feeder Mollies
🏠 Local Product

Canada Corals' feeder mollies provide a hardy, mid-sized feeding option that balances the small portion size of guppies with greater bulk than minnows, offering good protein/fat balance and resilience to varying water chemistry for amphibian diets. As a Canadian supplier they combine affordable pricing with dependable local logistics, making mollies a cost-effective compromise between cheap mass-market feeders and pricier boutique stock.

4
★★★★☆

  • Plump, slow swimmers

  • Brackish-ready hardy

  • Plump, slow swimmers

  • Brackish-ready hardy

Review Summary

79%

"Users appreciate Canada Corals' mollies as hardy feeder fish with generally good live arrival rates, though a minority report occasional health variability or rare parasite issues in batches."

  • Maple-approved mollies

  • Sturdy, hardy fish that tolerate varied water conditions

  • Maple-approved mollies

  • Sturdy, hardy fish that tolerate varied water conditions

Recreational Enjoyment

Time-Saving Convenience

Skill Development & Mastery

Canada Corals' feeder mollies provide a hardy, mid-sized feeding option that balances the small portion size of guppies with greater bulk than minnows, offering good protein/fat balance and resilience to varying water chemistry for amphibian diets. As a Canadian supplier they combine affordable pricing with dependable local logistics, making mollies a cost-effective compromise between cheap mass-market feeders and pricier boutique stock.

  • Plump, slow swimmers

  • Brackish-ready hardy

  • Maple-approved mollies

  • Sturdy, hardy fish that tolerate varied water conditions

  • Good protein source and appropriately sized for medium amphibians

  • Plump, slow swimmers

  • Brackish-ready hardy

  • Maple-approved mollies

  • Sturdy, hardy fish that tolerate varied water conditions

  • Good protein source and appropriately sized for medium amphibians

Order Now

$10-25 CAD

What Research Says About Live Feeder Fish and Amphibian Health

Scientific and veterinary guidance highlights several benefits and important cautions when using live fish as amphibian prey. Research and professional practice emphasize nutritional value, stimulation of natural hunting behavior, and the need for quarantine and supplier screening to limit parasite and pathogen transmission. The most reliable recommendations combine nutritional planning with strict biosecurity and size-appropriate prey selection.

Nutritional benefits: Live feeder fish commonly provide concentrated protein and essential fatty acids that support growth and maintenance in predatory amphibians. Varying feeder species helps reduce single-source nutrient gaps.

Behavioral enrichment: Studies and husbandry specialists note that live prey elicits natural predatory responses, improving feeding acceptance and mental stimulation for many amphibian species.

Disease risk and quarantine: Peer-reviewed literature and veterinary guidance emphasize that quarantine and visual health screening of feeder fish reduce transfer of parasites, bacteria and viruses. Common practice among veterinarians and experienced keepers is to quarantine feeder fish for observation and optional treatment for 2 to 4 weeks before offering them to amphibians.

Size matching and injury prevention: Research-backed husbandry guidance stresses choosing feeder fish that match the amphibian's mouth size and swallowing ability to avoid choking, impaction or injury.

Source quality matters: Studies of captive animal disease outbreaks and practical biosecurity recommendations repeatedly show that certified suppliers, transparent handling, and minimal transport time lower the risk of introducing pathogens into amphibian collections.

In the Canadian context, these feeder fish options combine availability with health-minded sourcing. The five options covered on this page are Big Al's Live Feeder Guppies, PetSmart Rosy Red Minnows, Aquarium Services Winnipeg Feeder Goldfish, The Fish Sempai Live Guppies, and Canada Corals Feeder Mollies. For most Canadian amphibian keepers seeking the best balance of availability, size range and supplier screening, PetSmart Rosy Red Minnows are often the best all-around choice, while Big Al's Live Feeder Guppies and The Fish Sempai Live Guppies are excellent for smaller species, Aquarium Services Winnipeg Feeder Goldfish suit larger amphibians that can handle hardier prey, and Canada Corals Feeder Mollies can be useful when variety is needed. I hope you found what you were looking for; use the search to refine by species, size, supplier or quarantine protocol if you want to expand or narrow your options.

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