5/26/08 - Homemade fish food venture

So as mentioned in my update thread, I was talking about attempting to make my own fish food. I got the ingredients the other night and got around to mixing it up last night. I have to say, it was probably the most disgusting smelling thing I've smelled in quite awhile. Here's my "recipe":

2 lbs. raw white shrimp with shell
1 lb. cod
2 cups Omega One Tropical Flake
1 cup O.S.I. Spirulina Flake
2 oz. Ocean Nutrition Formula One Pellets
4 crushed Women's One A Day vitamins
6 crushed calcium citrate + Vitamin D supplements
4 tbs yellow cornmeal
3 egg yolks
2 tbs paprika
3 tbs garlic powder
pureed carrot and banana baby food
6 packages of Knox Gelatin

I basically pureed the meats in the food processor, then mixed everything else in. After I had all the ingredients mixed together, it went back into the food processor for a good blending. I heated this until hot, then added the Knox and spread it out on a baking sheet, let it cool, then cut it up and put into ziploc bags and froze.

I pulled some out this morning to try on the fish and the Challengers went nuts over it, as did the melons. The others not as much, but some seemed more interested than others.

It seems like it's a hit, my only problem with it is that as the fish pick at the chunk, it just kind of dissolves in the water, leaving a bunch of fine debris all over the tank/water. I am not quite seeing how the fish really are getting anything if all they do is pick at it and it dissolves into the water.

Is there something I could/should have done differently or can do in the future or is this just the way homemade food is?

I do have some pictures of the process and the final product I can post as well.

I did this before (still have it in the fridge - I don't use it) and unless your fish are fast enough to eat this what you notice will happen almost all the time... atleast its what I have noticed. My observation is once you put shrimp in food processor there is no way that I have found to avoid the mixture from disintegrating once in water. Try cod fillet and instead of making a paste of it try to shread it like shreaded cheese. If you get a chance try to PM id "Black Water Aquaria" The gentleman name is Mike Deegan. He is a very nice guy and he has a good method. Even search on the forum you might find his method posted somewhere.
Try reduce the feeding quantity that helped me a little. This post will spring ideas from the folks so I can understand too as to whats missing.

Thanks for the input Ashay, I would have thought I might have gotten a little bit more help/guidance on what I did wrong with this. But doesn't look that way.

Too bad it was just a waste of time and money on my part. I better place that frozen food order from Drs after all....

Seems pretty much what I did wrong was just mix/puree it too much. Maybe, if I try it again I'll try the slicing/grating instead. I did use cod filets, I just also used shrimp as well.

Hi Karen,

You must not have checked your pvt msg. I did send you a formula that I have used for 20yrs now. Its simple and does not require cooking or gelitan binding agents. I sent you a link as well to webviatimins.com. Let me know if you did not recieve my msg... Ed

Ed, I did get your message. I do appreciate your help with this. I am going to look into it as an option, definitely. However, I'm not sure where or if I could get the turkey hearts you mentioned. I would have to do some research on that.

Ok, Seems to be a bit easier near Thanksgiving :D

Hi Karen,
I was offline a few days... IF I can comment here..?:)

Your mix is good..but would be best used for fry under 2 months....and only if you are doing really good water changes..

for fish your size... I would try this for a non beefheart recipe...

2 lbs. raw white shrimp...deshelled
1 lb. cod
1 lb salmon
1 lb scallops
1 cup O.S.I. Spirulina Flake
1/2 cup Ocean Nutrition Formula One Pellets
4 crushed Women's One A Day vitamins ( powdered in a coffee grinder)
6 crushed calcium citrate + Vitamin D supplements( powdered in a coffee grinder)
2 tbs paprika
3 tbs garlic powder

Dice the fish and then mix with all ingredients by hand... then a single pass thru a hand crank meat grinder....zip lock bag and freeze..

alternatively, instead of the grinder..mix all by hand and really dice well...then freeze...

If you puree or process fish too much..it'll just fall apart...

When you want to feed..let slightly thaw and then cut on a cutting board.


-al

I think there wasn't much feedback as most use a beefheart based recipe...

Definetly lose the purees and egg...too messy under most circumstances...

Al, have you found that this recipe is cleaner than using a beefheart recipe?

Adrian

Quote:

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Originally Posted by brewmaster15

Hi Karen,
I was offline a few days... IF I can comment here..?:)

Your mix is good..but would be best used for fry under 2 months....and only if you are doing really good water changes..

for fish your size... I would try this for a non beefheart recipe...

2 lbs. raw white shrimp...deshelled
1 lb. cod
1 lb salmon
1 lb scallops
1 cup O.S.I. Spirulina Flake
1/2 cup Ocean Nutrition Formula One Pellets
4 crushed Women's One A Day vitamins ( powdered in a coffee grinder)
6 crushed calcium citrate + Vitamin D supplements( powdered in a coffee grinder)
2 tbs paprika
3 tbs garlic powder

Dice the fish and then mix with all ingredients by hand... then a single pass thru a hand crank meat grinder....zip lock bag and freeze..

alternatively, instead of the grinder..mix all by hand and really dice well...then freeze...

If you puree or process fish too much..it'll just fall apart...

When you want to feed..let slightly thaw and then cut on a cutting board.


-al

I think there wasn't much feedback as most use a beefheart based recipe...

Definetly lose the purees and egg...too messy under most circumstances...

---

2 tbs paprika
3 tbs garlic powder


Al--

Also, can you confirm these amounts are TABLESPOONS and NOT TEASPOONS.

Dan w/ Elite uses liquid baby vitamins instead of the pill form...not sure if this is easier/better?

Thanks, Sherry

Hi Sherry,
Its not cleaner than beefheart based, but it offers a different and possibly better nutritional profile....and some people have an adversion to beefheart or any heartmeat in their fish food.

Tablespoon is what I use...sorry for any confusion.Liquid
Baby vitamens are fine instead...but cost more than crushing your own....I've always crushed human adult multivitamens for my mixes.

hth,
al

Thanks for the input Al. I'm going to give it another shot with your suggestions. I'll keep the previous mix I made though, wishful hoping that I'll have some fry to feed it to one of these days. :D