Pros vs Cons of beefheart

[Skip]

daily water changes.. is probably more important that the actual food you feed them.. *genetics helps too*..

but good food WITH Daily water changes is Optimal..

[manbearpig]

JMHO
Pros:
Promotes fast growth
High in protein
Low In Fat
Cheap
Easily Accessible (US at least)

Cons:
Messy
Fowls water quickly

[dpboyer]

Where do you get cheap beefheart? I'm getting back into fish (and discus) after a 10 year break... 10-15 years ago when I had discus I made my own food, but I remember even then that BH was nearly impossible to find. I would like to start making my food again (if my wife will let me... last time I made it, my finger got caught in the grinder and we had to go to the ER... she will not let me live that one down), but I dread driving all over town trying to find a source of BH.
Please point us in the US to these "Easily Accessible" and "Cheap" sources of BH.

[Luis138]

Where do you get cheap beefheart? I'm getting back into fish (and discus) after a 10 year break... 10-15 years ago when I had discus I made my own food, but I remember even then that BH was nearly impossible to find. I would like to start making my food again (if my wife will let me... last time I made it, my finger got caught in the grinder and we had to go to the ER... she will not let me live that one down), but I dread driving all over town trying to find a source of BH.
Please point us in the US to these "Easily Accessible" and "Cheap" sources of BH.

Where in planet Earth are you located?

[Solid]

I also had a pretty hard time finding it in my area. I eventually found it at 2 places. 1 a local high-end butcher shop but it was pretty expensive. And the 2nd place was an Argentinian Market where it was very cheap. I have heard many people buy it at Fiesta supermarket, which is like a Mexican supermarket. I have also heard you can order it at some local supermakets (like wholefoods) meat department. So check any ethnic food places in your area and/or try a good butcher.

[blueluv]

I've bought beef heart from Albertsons. The manager from the meat department would order it and they would also clean it and ground it up for me.

[MendoMan]

Downey, California. You should have no problem finding it at a Mexican market. I get it at a Mexican market in northern California.

[Kirbs]

I just buy it from Josie! It's alot easier and I get to visit her and Miranda for a while!

[manbearpig]

Where do you get cheap beefheart? I'm getting back into fish (and discus) after a 10 year break... 10-15 years ago when I had discus I made my own food, but I remember even then that BH was nearly impossible to find. I would like to start making my food again (if my wife will let me... last time I made it, my finger got caught in the grinder and we had to go to the ER... she will not let me live that one down), but I dread driving all over town trying to find a source of BH.
Please point us in the US to these "Easily Accessible" and "Cheap" sources of BH.

Maybe I am just lucky but I have a butcher shop about a mile from my home that happens to slaughter. I spoke to the owner and I buy it in 20lb lots, he cleans it very well and grinds it for me. Last time I was through I paid 95.00 for 20 lbs processed.

[dpboyer]

Where in planet Earth are you located?

10-15 years ago I was in Madison, WI... Now I live near Atlanta, GA.

[alron2]

If you have a Winn Dixie or Publics they can order it.
Ron

[Driftwood Mike]

After reading all the comments decided to watch the video and it does come across as an infomercial. Was there anything ingredient wise that might be beneficial to add to one's mix to improve on it?

[Chaz88]

Most of the time when people talk about feeding beef heart to other types of fish everyone goes on about how bad it is for them. What is different about discus that makes them an exception?

[John_Nicholson]

It is a fine food for most fish. I have raised lots of different types of cichlids on it. Malawi's cannot handle the protein level though.

-john

[brewmaster15]

I know guys that swear by beefheart and have since before the dinosaurs..okay exaggerating. These breeders and hobbyists raise great fish on it. Massive Hatcheries use it...or some other heart meat. I used to make it by the hundreds of pounds..I used it and I sold It to others that still ask me for it!

I also know many that dont use it and either never have or have but moved away from it. Some of these guys raise some darn fine fish as well. I use it to a very small degree these days...but I am not currently running a hatchery.

If you take those 2 facts at face value... my take home is this..yes you can feed it..yes it works...but its not necessary as a discus food. ...add to that I would never feed it in a tank with substrate or plants...its too messy.You also need to do large and frequent water changes.

Discus do well on quite a few different kinds of food ...some work better for one hobbyist than the other..not sure thats the fault of the fish though ...more likely the fish keepers husbandry and preferences.

Hth,
al