Do you make your own fish/invert/crustacean food?

[Melody]

Would you? Could you? Have you? Will you? ;)

Want to? Check out the recipes (http://www.canadianaquariumconnection.com/forum/showthread.php?t=12)!

[CACAdmin]

So far, I haven't made any food for my fish, shrimp or snails (I don't call feeding them some of the veggies I steam 'homemade food'). All my creatures, however, love your 'Bottom Bites'. After reading your recipe for gelatin food, I am giving it some thought. However, I don't know if I'll ever get around to it... at the moment it's just that... something to think about. ;)

[Melody]

I just started experimenting with the gelatin foods so I can further experiment with it as a way to get fish to eat med's. Its quite easy compared to the Bottom Bites and certainly faster. I'd defiinitly recommend the method or similar gelatin methods to those wanting to try their hand at homemade foods.:yes:

[thegrandpoohbah]

I dehydrate zuchinni slices and feed them to my BN pleco. Does that count? I find that they stay stable in the water far longer than just tossing in a fresh slice. Plus, the fresh zuchinni goes bad if I don't eat the rest of it. This way one zuchinni will last pretty much a whole year.

[BC_Kron]

I make my own food often. I blend any number of fresh/frozen/dry ingredients,(peas, brine, krill, bloodworms, earthworms, seafood, spirulina, as well as any of my favorite flake/pellets) adding a bit of water along the way. I like to pour some of the mixture into bloodworm trays and freeze, then I add gelatine to the remainder, and put in ziplock bags, laying flat to set(1/4" thick), All the fish love it. I like put larger single chunks in my cichlid tanks so individuals can get bites as large/small as they want. It is a very rich blend, that will benefit your fish greatly. And as Mel says, it's very easy!

cheers;Bill

[Melody]

Mr. GP, that certainly does count in my books! Anything that takes preparation is making your own.:smile:

Mr. BC_Kron, I hope you don't mind, but I copied your post to our recipe thread. If its a prob I'll remove it and I won't sulk... much. :;):

Thanks for sharing the methods to your madness everyone!

[Pamelajo]

I dehydrate zuchinni slices and feed them to my BN pleco.
I find that they stay stable in the water far longer than just tossing in a fresh slice.

Great idea I hate having to remove the left overs the next day when they are getting yucky. I dehydrate my homemade snail food, but never thought about doing it for veggies.

[Melody]

I've never done just veggies either, I'll have to give it a whirl! :thumbup:

[baycitybettas]

Back in my "cichlid days" (and I mean WAY BACK) I made a ton of food. I can honestly say my babies were unreal. Adult colour and excellent growth. I combined regular high protein staple with my "secret weapon" high protein gelatin and lots of HIGH volume water changes. Worked like a charm ;)

Now I mostly cook for the snails and the hermit crabs. I have found that like anything variety is the key. Combine that with LOTS of fresh water and you will have success-whatever you breed.

[Melody]

:bump-3: I am seeing a definite trend towards making our own foods so I'd like to keep this poll going to hear from new members. I think it's fantastic that so many people are making the effort and the fish can't help but benefit as long as they're getting everything they need.

Don't forget to add your recipes/variations to the recipe thread (http://www.canadianaquariumconnection.com/forum/showthread.php?t=12)!

[PintoHawk]

I found liquid baby vitamins at the grocery store on sale, so I grabbed 'em and used 'em last time I made food, BUT that was the first time I had tried using gelatin and it did NOT work at all, it's a gross mess and doesn't hold together in the tank like it was supposed to, I am not sure what I did wrong. The first time I tried making food, it was mostly veggies in the recipe and it held together for several minutes in the water - the second time was more protein ingredients plus the vitamins, so I was wondering would I be able to mix the two and re-freeze and maybe it'll come out better? Or will I end up with a huge mess, or ruin the nutrients by freezing them all again? I am sort of frustrated because I used some really good ingredients but it isn't holding together, the one with gelatin is gooey unless it is frozen solid, and when frozen it is very difficult to work with. Suggestions?

[Katalyst]

Make it? No...Order it from Pam and Melody's kitchen yes. :laugh:

[Melody]

I found liquid baby vitamins at the grocery store on sale, so I grabbed 'em and used 'em last time I made food, BUT that was the first time I had tried using gelatin and it did NOT work at all, it's a gross mess and doesn't hold together in the tank like it was supposed to, I am not sure what I did wrong. The first time I tried making food, it was mostly veggies in the recipe and it held together for several minutes in the water - the second time was more protein ingredients plus the vitamins, so I was wondering would I be able to mix the two and re-freeze and maybe it'll come out better? Or will I end up with a huge mess, or ruin the nutrients by freezing them all again? I am sort of frustrated because I used some really good ingredients but it isn't holding together, the one with gelatin is gooey unless it is frozen solid, and when frozen it is very difficult to work with. Suggestions?

I have very little experience with the gelatin foods. I would guess that you'd do better if you tried adding more gelatin and remixing it, but that's one big guess.

[Melody]

Make it? No...Order it from Pam and Melody's kitchen yes. :laugh:

Yup, you're the one making me stink up my kitchen this week in fact!

[Katalyst]

Yup, you're the one making me stink up my kitchen this week in fact!

Its not my fault the fish prefer your cooking rather then mine! :laugh:

[Melody]

LOL I'm sure they'd love yours too, you're just too smart to stink up your house for days!

[Katalyst]

LOL I'm sure they'd love yours too, you're just too smart to stink up your house for days!


I swear they like your bottom bites and Pam's critter crumbs far more...I drop bottom bites in and there's complete war in the tanks. I drop my homemade food in and there's an immediate mad dash and then the 'what heck is this crap?' look. Followed by the 'Hey lady fork out the dough and get us the good stuff' look-honest!

The only animals that never seemed to complain about my food were the snails lol.

[Melody]

LOL Mine like Pam's food too. Maybe they smell it cooking at your house and don't like the scent either. :twitcy:

[James]

I buy all the different food I feed. Main food for Ted and Alice is Hikari Chichlid Bio-Gold.
Besides, I consider buttering my toast as gourmet cooking, and if no one will eat my cooking, no way I would make my pets eat it.

[Melody]

Looks like your cat is eating well :laugh: .

[Melody]

:bump-5: It seems like everywhere I go, I see posts about this. That's fantastic!

[susankat]

I make different gel foods also. One has more ingrediants that the shrimp need, one for the herbivores and one for the carnivores. There is also one that need both the high protein and veggies.

The secret to making the gel food is to use enough of the gelatin, I freeze zuchinni slices and green beans for the bns and they seem to hold better in the water without getting mushy and they sink better. Never have any left in the morning so there is no mess to clean up.

I also used to make my cats food using buffalo meat, but thats another story.

[Melody]

Gel mixes would be perfect for carnivores, I hadn't thought of that. Someone once asked me if I made a food for carnivores and I replied that I don't have to because God does :laugh: . Their requirements are much easier to accomodate, but variety is important for them too so that's a perfect solution.

Do you use gelatin or Agar Agar? I tried the latter because it adds it's own benefits but... well let's just say I tried it and leave it at that...lol...it wasn't pretty. Many people do use it successfully though.

I've only done the gelatin a few times but it's the most practical method for most people. I received so many questions about it that I added a post in the recipe thread based mostly on what I've read. The voice of experience would be much more beneficial if you'd like to add a recipe and or suggestions to the thread. :yes:

[susankat]

I use gelatin. Also if you use fresh shrimp with the shell on it will gel the food also. I'll get my recipes typed out and posted soon.

[Melody]

The shrimp shell gels the food? Well now you've gone & intrigued me...lol...I've never heard that one before.

The gelatin recipes will serve the membership much better than my parroting and limited experience I'm sure, thanks very much. :notworthy: