Homemade Food...

[reefrunner69]

Ok, I'm gonna make some homemade fish food in a day or so, I'm going to add some fresh fish and clams and shrimp..etc...I have a redlipped blenny (eats algae off the rocks everyday and likes meaty foods) a 6 line wrasse (hunts down pods & stuff all day and loves the foods added to the tank) and a maroon clown. I was gonna add some nori, but not sure if it's necessary, anyone see any reason to add any greens to the mix for those fish?

I'd also like some technique advice, how do you mix it? I will be using a small food processor.

Oh yeah, I don't have any selcon, and won't be able to get any before I make the food, is there a terestrial vitamin I can use to add to the mix? Like "One A Day" or Geritol , I got some Fintstone chewables lying around too

Thanks,

 

[Anemoneman]

I would skip the Filntstones, artificial sweeteners.
The food processor will work fine. I would add some nori for the clown and blenny's sake. I add a human vitamin tablet, smashed up to a powder. I also like to add some unflavored geletin to hold it together longer after it's in the water. I've considered adding octopus or squid but can't get it around here in small quantities. You probably have better luck.

Have fun!

Mark

 

[reefrunner69]

I add a human vitamin tablet, smashed up to a powder.

Any particular one? Or just a generic all purpose multi-vitamin?

 

[Bang Guy]

Kevin,

I use a blender. A food processor would be a VAST improvement over a blender IMO. I have to stop blending at the precise moment or it's either too chunky or the consistancy of pudding. For my fish I need some chunks that can fit in my Banggai's mouth, and a lot of fine particles for the corals and gobies.

I do not add vitamins for the simple reason that it's too easy to poison them with an overdose. Vitamins A and C in particular. You're using a supplement meant for a 50 pound child and feeding it to an animal that weighs an ounce with an unknown requirement for the vitamins.

I do add Cod Liver Oil. This has spurred spawning in all of my paired fish (Banggai, Chromis, Clowns, and Mandarinfish). Every text I have read indicates that only healthy fish will expend the energy required to spawn. The oil does cause a temporary slick that must be removed via a skimmer.

I also add a large volume of tank water. This makes the end product easy to break apart and gives a more even consistency. For my purposes it also makes the serving size easier to judge.

Scallops seem to be a favorite with my carnivores.

I've stopped adding algae to the mix in favor of providing a sheet of nori directly to the tank (1/2 sheet actually).

HTH

Guy

 

[Alf]

RR,
I use a small food Processor as well they work Great. I do add the nori to my mix. As for Vit. I have no suggestion. I just put in a selcon or zoe for mine. I dont use any Geletin either.

 

[Bang Guy]

I guess I should add that my vitamin rant doesn't include Selcon, Selco, Zoe, Zoecon or any other supplement designed, researched, and specifically tailored for use by marine fish.

I wasn't saying that Children's Vitamins are bad for fish. I'm just saying that I don't know therefore I don't use them.

 

[Anemoneman]

Any particular one? Or just a generic all purpose multi-vitamin?

Just a multi purpose (adult) tablet. Smashed up and added as an after thought really. I didn't consider the amount added to be an overdose. This is only the second batch of food I've made (it makes so much that it lasts for a while) but the vitamins used for the first batch were the same for the second batch.

 

[reefrunner69]

Just wanted to thank everyone for their input, I made the food last week and I must say, for the money spent, it is a vast improvement of what I have been feeding. The fish go absolutely crazy for it and most of the corals are showing better polyp extension.

Here is what I used:
1) 1 small spotted jack (I filleted the fish and removed the skin using the just the meat, the guts {eewww}, and the eyes) I wasn't sure which portions of the fish to use, so...Since I live in a fishing town, whole fish is cheap.
2) 4 large shrimp (bout the 4-5" each)
3) 5 clams
4) 1 sheet of nori (it's all I had)
5) Some frozen formula 2 (it wasn't freezer burnt)
6) Prime Reef flake food (I added to much tank water in the last stage and needed something to thicken it up)
7) 6 Gel caps of Cod liver oil (these are great, they'll last almost forever and you just poke a hole in one end and squeeze)

The mix made up 1 quart size freezer bag about 1/2"-1" thick laid flat, this will probably last me at least 3 months. I paid a grand total of 1.99 for the Seafood, and 1.97 for the Cod liver Oil, the other stuff was already on hand. I would encourage all of you to try this, it has made my fish very happy and saved me a good deal of money for better food than I could buy at the LFS.

 

[Anemoneman]

For ease of cutting onto squares, I freeze mine 1/4-3/8" thick. I put it into sandwich size bags but quart size would work better. Welcome to the home made fish food (HMFF) club. Better food, less money is good for a cheapskate like me.

Mark

 

[Hara]

yep, homemade is definitely the way to go, for both fresh and saltwater.