How I make beef heart

[John_Nicholson]

Ok I thought I would put my method on here with a few pictures....

First I take some multivitamins...which ones? Whichever ones are on sale.... and put them in a metal bowl.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/DiscusJohn/2013-10-29090455_zps5502fa14.jpg (http://s2.photobucket.com/user/DiscusJohn/media/2013-10-29090455_zps5502fa14.jpg.html)

I then crush them...

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/DiscusJohn/2013-10-29090650_zps9ec63743.jpg (http://s2.photobucket.com/user/DiscusJohn/media/2013-10-29090650_zps9ec63743.jpg.html)

And pour them into a paper plate for later.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/DiscusJohn/2013-10-29090818_zps25123539.jpg (http://s2.photobucket.com/user/DiscusJohn/media/2013-10-29090818_zps25123539.jpg.html)

I use the cheap throw away cookie sheets. 4 is normally enough.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/DiscusJohn/2013-10-29090954_zpsfb69e0df.jpg (http://s2.photobucket.com/user/DiscusJohn/media/2013-10-29090954_zpsfb69e0df.jpg.html)

Now for the hearts. I start with 2. Roughly 20 pounds total.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/DiscusJohn/2013-10-29091056_zps85b8fe27.jpg (http://s2.photobucket.com/user/DiscusJohn/media/2013-10-29091056_zps85b8fe27.jpg.html)

Open the package and rinse them off. I let the blood drain.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/DiscusJohn/2013-10-29091245_zps0ac571a5.jpg (http://s2.photobucket.com/user/DiscusJohn/media/2013-10-29091245_zps0ac571a5.jpg.html)

I then cut it into manageable pieces and cut them into strips so that I can remove the silver film and fat.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/DiscusJohn/2013-10-29091450_zpscb1c1d8c.jpg (http://s2.photobucket.com/user/DiscusJohn/media/2013-10-29091450_zpscb1c1d8c.jpg.html)

Here is what the trimmings look like.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/DiscusJohn/2013-10-29095152_zps2abbf7d8.jpg (http://s2.photobucket.com/user/DiscusJohn/media/2013-10-29095152_zps2abbf7d8.jpg.html)

Here is what the cleaned BH looks like. I will also be using those bananas.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/DiscusJohn/2013-10-29105442_zpsfabc8444.jpg (http://s2.photobucket.com/user/DiscusJohn/media/2013-10-29105442_zpsfabc8444.jpg.html)

Some of the other stuff. ***NOTE while I did not take a picture I also brown 4 pounds of ground venison and add to my mix**** I cut a slit in the bottoms of the packages so the fluid can drain out before I use it.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/DiscusJohn/2013-10-29105446_zps1a02bc3d.jpg (http://s2.photobucket.com/user/DiscusJohn/media/2013-10-29105446_zps1a02bc3d.jpg.html)


Here is some of the stuff in the processor. This picture shows spinach, bananas, shrimp, and just a little BH. I find that the shrimp is very sticky. I start it chopping and when it get stuck to the sides I drop in a piece of two of BH to get it moving again.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/DiscusJohn/2013-10-29110238_zpsc5c6c5a0.jpg (http://s2.photobucket.com/user/DiscusJohn/media/2013-10-29110238_zpsc5c6c5a0.jpg.html)

I then sprinkle a little of the crushed vitamins on it. I do this every time that I empty the processor.


http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/DiscusJohn/2013-10-29110245_zps8043b49f.jpg (http://s2.photobucket.com/user/DiscusJohn/media/2013-10-29110245_zps8043b49f.jpg.html)

Apparently I got tired of taking pictures at this point because I did not take anymore.....but here is how I finish...I will grind the rest of the ingredients. When I empty the food processor I will sprinkle in some vitamins and normally some flake food. I keep doing this until everything is ground. I them mix it well in the big metal bowl. After this I spread it on the cookie sheet. Once the 4 cookie sheets are filled I take a knife and score the mix into 2 X 5 inch pieces, cover it in foil, and freeze it. After freezing I break it into the 2 X 5 sections and put it in freezer bags for later use.

All in all it is easy and fairly cheap. I have made it a hundred different ways and none of them are wrong. I have used cooked hamburger meat, I have ground up all kinds of prepared foods that I get when I go to fish shops, I have used peas, I have got started and forgotten to use stuff. At the end of the day its not that big of a deal as long as you are providing enough protein for your fish.

Good luck.

-john

[Chicago Discus]

Your hired........ok come over and you can clean my Beef-Hearts.....they are such a pain in the butt to clean.......great mix John......Josie

[Chad Adams]

Thanks John. Making some myself today as well. Lol.

Chad

[John_Nicholson]

Works for me.....All you got to do is get me a round trip ticket, you buy the hearts, and you leave my alone in your fish room for about 45 minutes.....

-john

[William Palumbo]

Good stuff John!...Don't know how you took pics, usually I can't touch nothing my hands get so messy! Like you, other than BH and shrimp, my recipes were never the same. Good tip/trick for adding the vitamins, I will try that next time...Bill

[Allwin]

Thanks John, u kind-of triggered me to prepare BH myself!!! :)

[rdiscus]

Thanks for sharing John

and where do you get whole BHs like that?

[John_Nicholson]

Thanks guys. Ryan I get them from my local little mom and pop store here in Caddo Mills. I tell him I need them and they show up the following Monday. If you want me to get you some let me know. My wife always picks them up but they will run you about $1.00 per pound. I really clean mine well so out of 20 pounds of BH I will get about 10 pounds of really good, clean meat so my cost is about $2.00 per pound for the meat.

-john

[rdiscus]

Thanks John, but kind of far from my place to yours ... $1/pound is fine since the price at Fiesta is up to $1.99/pound now

[Skip]

Thanks John, but kind of far from my place to yours ... $1/pound is fine since the price at Fiesta is up to $1.99/pound now

Really?!?! huh.. i should check my Fiesta..

John.. what happened to the Ground Beef.. and cooking it?

[John_Nicholson]

Skip you can't just look at the pictures you also have to read...LOL. I did add 4 pounds of ground and cooked venison to the mix.

-john

[Skip]

That's what you get for stopping the picture taking. ..its your fault

[John_Nicholson]

Your right Skip...it is my fault......LOL.,I was hoping all of the *** and NOTE would catch your attention.

-john

[Skip]

Your right Skip...it is my fault......LOL.,I was hoping all of the *** and NOTE would catch your attention.

-john

huh.. guess i missed the NOTE on the COOKED Venison.. ;)

[Skip]

either way.. john makes good mixes..

before yall ask.. he feeds fish 2x per day..

[Chicago Discus]

Works for me.....All you got to do is get me a round trip ticket, you buy the hearts, and you leave my alone in your fish room for about 45 minutes.....

-john

Will I have any fish left .....LOL.....you'll probably have boxes ready.,......Josie

[mooncon]

ive tried a lot of recipes and the main things I use are beef heart,shrimp,bananas,garlic,vitimins and peas on the baby food isle.I also hate cleaning the heart it a pain so like you I make sure when I make it I make plenty.Of course if your raising fry that's just a drop in the bucket for you.Ive tried some fancy recipes and found sometimes less is more.It is getting harder to find the hearts I know the butchers at Kroger to see if I can order it but its not on the order sheet they are trying to find a #for it.Funny thing is my wife wont hardly go with me to buy it shes afraid the cashier will think shes going to eat it.

[Skip]

Mooncoon

Fiesta marts have it cleaned already. . Your are in Texas?

[rdiscus]

Mooncoo

Fiesta marts have it cleaned already. . Your are in Texas?

It's not really cleaned ... I have to clean all over again

[mooncon]

The Fiesta by my house hardly ever has it I go to another store by my house,i cant remember the name but its hit or miss if they have it also.

[Skip]

My fiesta told ne to talk to butchers ahead of time. . And they would have what I wanted.. so give them some heads up

[thangnguyen76]

great stuff, I can't wait to test out different recipe because I am getting beef heart from a local whole food market here where I live... Its $4.99 a lb... bummer... :/

btw john... what kind of multi vitamins do you use? I know that some multi vitamins contain vitamin C also know as, L-ascorbic acid, and that will lower the ph of the water, right?

[John_Nicholson]

great stuff, I can't wait to test out different recipe because I am getting beef heart from a local whole food market here where I live... Its $4.99 a lb... bummer... :/

btw john... what kind of multi vitamins do you use? I know that some multi vitamins contain vitamin C also know as, L-ascorbic acid, and that will lower the ph of the water, right?

If the vitamins in your BH mix is lowering the ph of your water then you are not changing near enough water...I would worry about a meteor crashing through the roof and smashing tanks before I would worry about a ph crash from food.

-john

[mooncon]

I have found out that if the heart is not really fresh it seems the fish know and wont really get after it,or it could be a just messed up the time I had to take what was available.John I did not see garlic in your mix did I miss it or do you not use it in your mix.

[John_Nicholson]

I do use it. I know many people will tell you how great it is as a natural way to deworm your fish but in reality that is not how it works. Garlic out into anything is useless. It only works if you were to crush it and add it to your mix at feeding time. You will also need it to be about 1/2 of the total volume fed. Now discus do like garlic and there is nothing wrong with feeding it but all it provides is taste.

-john

[Bill63SG]

Hey John,do yuo grind up your beefheart,or just straight chunks into the food processor?

[John_Nicholson]

Just chunks into the processor but it does a pretty good job of grinding it.

-john

[Bill63SG]

I do the same.ground it the first time,and didnt really see a difference.Just confirming and one less thing to clean.

[twocat]

Why do you brown some of the meat?

Mark

[John_Nicholson]

I want to cook the fat out of the ground meat. I pour it into a metal collandor and let it drain real well.

-john

[dinnese]

I have a question about beefheart receipes. I'm a avid hunter and was wondering if there isn't any reason why you couldn't use venison heart instead of beefheart?

[Bill63SG]

I have a question about beefheart receipes. I'm a avid hunter and was wondering if there isn't any reason why you couldn't use venison heart instead of beefheart?

No reason not to,my understanding is that beefheart is more readly availble to the average person.

[John_Nicholson]

Venison is fine but you will seldom have enough hearts to do the job. Few non-professional hunters deer hunt more than me.....

-john

[ronald sherman]

hey funny thing is now having two discus tank and a third I went too several stores that I would of bet would of sold or ordered them in 2 of them replied that they use too be being regulation are so much stricted they stopped it I explained that I wasn't planning too eat it or use it 4 myself or anyone human, that they are 4 exotic discus 1 guy as much as called me a lier as it turned out he has discus and never heard of it perhap's i'll contact han's and see about getting a pound of his shipped

[Discus-Hans]

John,

for a few dollar you have a electric coffee grinder, use that for the vitamins next time, you will love it.

Hans

[BODYDUB]

Almost makes me want to grab a tortilla and make a taco with this stuff..............

[Meilidiscus]

Thanks for taking the time to photograph and share your beef heart recipe. I am a newbie and have just bought 6 adults about six weeks ago. The seller gave me his remaining BH so I need not have to make them for a while. I have no idea how to make them so your posting is very helpful. Thanks again.

[yim11]

Venison is fine but you will seldom have enough hearts to do the job. Few non-professional hunters deer hunt more than me.....

-john

*cough* tagged out *cough* LOL

I hunt the max Texas offers (without special permits from the state), 5 deer a year, and 5 deer hearts isn't even half a mix. They are great to use, just no way to get lots of them, and I've even talked to the local processor about it.

[twocat]

I have used deer hearts and also deer roast. I find that there is not a lot of fat in the meat and have used it with no problems.

My parents gives the meat to meet so the price is great.

Mark

[mmdiscus1]

I am about to make my first BH for my four five inch discus, thanks John thats very useful. But what are the proportions? How much bh, how much garlic, etc, coudl you share those. I know it differs from person to person, but i want to get an idea of how much meat there should be vs everything else.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[John_Nicholson]

I am about to make my first BH for my four five inch discus, thanks John thats very useful. But what are the proportions? How much bh, how much garlic, etc, coudl you share those. I know it differs from person to person, but i want to get an idea of how much meat there should be vs everything else.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk


There is another thread on here somewhere where I give a recipe but here is some ball park numbers for the mix in this thread.

10 pounds of trimmed BH
4 to 10 pounds of shrimp depending on prices. If I can catch it on sale or not.
4 pounds of cooked/drained ground venision. Completed unnecessary but I normally have it handy.
2 to 4 bananas
2 to 4 packages of chopped spinich
some vitamins, 10 - 15

-john

[Skip]

just use tofu, lots of protein ;)

[mmdiscus1]

Got it, thanx


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Buckshot]

@John_Nicholson how think do you put it on the cookie trays?

[DISCUSMOMMA]

Awesome, I can do this.I want them to grow happy and healthy.love yall ffor giving such gteat info.

[SNap0283]

What prevents this mix from falling apart in the water and being ignored by the fish and making a huge mess? 3/4 of the mix I feed ends up siphoned out and thrown away. Also my fish ALWAYS spit out the greens, is this only a problem for me?

[blueluv]

What prevents this mix from falling apart in the water and being ignored by the fish and making a huge mess? 3/4 of the mix I feed ends up siphoned out and thrown away. Also my fish ALWAYS spit out the greens, is this only a problem for me?

You can use flake food to bind it a little better.

[John_Nicholson]

The raw shrimp and flakes hold it together. I have never had any issue with my fish eating it but then again they don't erally have a choice,

-john

[brewmaster15]

What prevents this mix from falling apart in the water and being ignored by the fish and making a huge mess? 3/4 of the mix I feed ends up siphoned out and thrown away. Also my fish ALWAYS spit out the greens, is this only a problem for me? Whats in your mix?
al

[SNap0283]

The latest i made was
1lb Beef heart
0.5lb fresh cod
1cup spinich
1 banana
0.5cup wheat germ
few pieces fresh garlic
spoonful paprika
handful of flake fish food
couple spoons pellet fish food

i threw it all into food proccessor until it was pasty rolled it out thin precut and froze. I defrost a days worth of food in the fridge. As soon as i drop it in the tank it starts to disolve. fish peck at it and spit most out. Its a total mess! Ive feed them Hans mix and they eat every morsal. these fish are not picky and readily eat just about and food i feed. I feel like they would eat the mix if it didnt turn to dust in the water. Ill try exactly whats pictured here and hope it works!

[brewmaster15]

Hi, on your mix...

1/2 cup wheat germ... thats going inhibit it from sticking together...and isn't needed, IMO

handful of flake fish food
couple spoons pellet fish food for a few pound mix... a 1/2 cup flakes is fine

few pieces fresh garlic not necessary.. garlic powder works the same as an attractant

I defrost a days worth of food in the fridge. don't defrost... just break off a piece and pitch it in,.



also on the processor, many use that.. for me... its too fine. I really prefer a grinder and make the consistency of ground meat.

hth,
al

[SNap0283]

Thanks Al i will try again this weekend. Seems like Johns mix works for everyone so no reason it shouldnt for me.

[John_Nicholson]

Also use some raw shrimp....it is sticky as hell....LOL.

-john

[Altum Nut]

Just throwing this out here....but could it be possible that the mix is being pounded to long in the food processor which is why it turns to dust.
I also use a food processor but I pulse it until hearts and shrimp are pin-head size and not mush.

...Ralph

[brewmaster15]

Just throwing this out here....but could it be possible that the mix is being pounded to long in the food processor which is why it turns to dust.
I also use a food processor but I pulse it until hearts and shrimp are pin-head size and not mush.

...Ralph

Thats a great Point Ralph. If you use a food processor it is real easy to over do it with the processor. Pulse conservatively I guess!

al

[pcsb23]

Just throwing this out here....but could it be possible that the mix is being pounded to long in the food processor which is why it turns to dust.
I also use a food processor but I pulse it until hearts and shrimp are pin-head size and not mush.

...Ralph
I'd say so, when I used to make beefheart I used the old hand cranked mincer with the fine cutter, worked a treat. Agree with adding shrimps too, works well as a binder for the mix.

[Altum Nut]

Is the something like the one you used Paul.
I have one sitting around and should give it a try.

...Ralph

http://i1084.photobucket.com/albums/j411/altumnut1964/images.jpg (http://s1084.photobucket.com/user/altumnut1964/media/images.jpg.html)

[pcsb23]

Is the something like the one you used Paul.
I have one sitting around and should give it a try.

...Ralph

http://i1084.photobucket.com/albums/j411/altumnut1964/images.jpg (http://s1084.photobucket.com/user/altumnut1964/media/images.jpg.html)Sorry Ralph I missed your reply, the one I had (and may still somewhere in a box in the loft) looked like this http://www.nextdaycatering.co.uk/p-32872-vogue-hand-operated-mincer-no-10.aspx?gclid=CPTW6ZzFj8QCFQyWtAod7xgArg

[RogueDiscus]

I haven't used BH yet, but I may give it a try this summer when I have bit more time to make and monitor it. I feed mostly Al's FDBW cubes. I have a good amount of the loose FDBW left from cubes, and was wondering if that would be an OK addition to a BH mix.
Steve

[alron2]

John,
What purpose does the banana serve in the mix?
Ron

[MendoMan]

I haven't used BH yet, but I may give it a try this summer when I have bit more time to make and monitor it. I feed mostly Al's FDBW cubes. I have a good amount of the loose FDBW left from cubes, and was wondering if that would be an OK addition to a BH mix.
Steve
I throw in all the loose FDBW's that come off the cubes.

[Altum Nut]

John,
What purpose does the banana serve in the mix?
Ron

Also adds as a binding agent...however very ripe is what's required.

...Ralph

[RogueDiscus]

I throw in all the loose FDBW's that come off the cubes.

Thanks!

[RogueDiscus]

Hey John,
I think your OP shows frozen, raw, "Ez-peel" shrimp. Do you peel it or just grind it in? Do you use it raw?
Thanks.
Steve

[John_Nicholson]

Raw and I grind it unpeeled.

-john

[John_Nicholson]

Oh and I use whatever raw shrimp is on sale.

-john

[rickztahone]

John, followed your receipe along with a few added ingredients here and there. Let me just put it out there that cutting the fat off of BH is not a fun job! I spent a good 2 hrs cutting the fat off roughly 10lbs of BH, and then dicing it up, and finally mixing all the things together.

I used the following:
~10lbs of BH
4lbs of shrimp
1lbs of cod
frozen peas
3 bananas
flake food
vitamins
paprika

I wish I would have used the spinach instead of the peas. You can see a lot of the little chunks of peas in the mix. In hindesight, I wish I would have had the sense to first break down the peas in the food processor first. Anyway, everything else turned out great. I made a whoping 8 huge zip loc bags worth of this BH. If they don't like how it tastes, then they are out of luck!

I spent roughly $50-$60 on all ingredients. Not bad considering that this should last me a few months.

[Jack L]

John, followed your receipe along with a few added ingredients here and there. Let me just put it out there that cutting the fat off of BH is not a fun job! I spent a good 2 hrs cutting the fat off roughly 10lbs of BH, and then dicing it up, and finally mixing all the things together.

I used the following:
~10lbs of BH
4lbs of shrimp
1lbs of cod
frozen peas
3 bananas
flake food
vitamins
paprika

I wish I would have used the spinach instead of the peas. You can see a lot of the little chunks of peas in the mix. In hindesight, I wish I would have had the sense to first break down the peas in the food processor first. Anyway, everything else turned out great. I made a whoping 8 huge zip loc bags worth of this BH. If they don't like how it tastes, then they are out of luck!

I spent roughly $50-$60 on all ingredients. Not bad considering that this should last me a few months.

LOL, i hear you!
cutting that crap off the heart is a HUGGGGGEEEE PIA.
in fact i got so tired of doing it, i just started to blend it half way through. a lot got wrapped and gooed around the blender shaft. i thought i was onto something, i.e. auto fat and sinew removal. well i was wrong these picky little bast@rds leave the white sinew being for me to pick out. it is mixed in the mix so good i can't see it, but they leave it behind!

[Loosir]

Awesome Ricardo! Does it come with breadsticks?

[rickztahone]

Awesome Ricardo! Does it come with breadsticks?

It should! My wife and mother in law looked at me and told me that the discus eat better than us! I asked if they would like to try some beefheart, and that quickly changed their tune, lol.

After a few days of trying this mix, there is almost NO particles that visually foul the water. However, there are big chunks they leave behind that I hadn't experienced with other BH. This in my mind is probably attributant to me not cleaning the BH enough, although I feel I did a great job.

[alron2]

It should! My wife and mother in law looked at me and told me that the discus eat better than us! I asked if they would like to try some beefheart, and that quickly changed their tune, lol.

After a few days of trying this mix, there is almost NO particles that visually foul the water. However, there are big chunks they leave behind that I hadn't experienced with other BH. This in my mind is probably attributant to me not cleaning the BH enough, although I feel I did a great job.

Try grading the frozen food on a cheese grader to make what looks like worms. I allow mine to thaw about 5 minutes before I attempt to grade it. I get almost 100% of the food eaten.
Ron

[alcastro]

It should! My wife and mother in law looked at me and told me that the discus eat better than us! I asked if they would like to try some beefheart, and that quickly changed their tune, lol.

After a few days of trying this mix, there is almost NO particles that visually foul the water. However, there are big chunks they leave behind that I hadn't experienced with other BH. This in my mind is probably attributant to me not cleaning the BH enough, although I feel I did a great job.

You need to prosses it till it looks like Devils Ham, not that I have ever eaten that junk, like peanut butter, than add other ingredients

[Jack L]

Try grading the frozen food on a cheese grader to make what looks like worms. I allow mine to thaw about 5 minutes before I attempt to grade it. I get almost 100% of the food eaten.
Ron

so you take the frozen beef heart and run it over a cheese grater, then feed the shavings?

[rickztahone]

You need to prosses it till it looks like Devils Ham, not that I have ever eaten that junk, like peanut butter, than add other ingredients

cool, that's a good tip. HOWEVER, I have about a years worth of BH that I ain't throwing away! :). They will eat this thing one way or the other I guarantee it!

[John_Nicholson]

so you take the frozen beef heart and run it over a cheese grater, then feed the shavings?

No need for a cheese grater. I just cut mine up with a knife after it has been out of the freezer for a few minutes.

-john

[stretch5]

if i cant get beef heart can I use rump steak or lean roast meat instead?

[John_Nicholson]

Heart is used because it is extremely lean. I have used extra lean ground meat before but I cooked the meat so that I could drain the fat.

-john

[stretch5]

Heart is used because it is extremely lean. I have used extra lean ground meat before but I cooked the meat so that I could drain the fat.

-john

thanks for that John good info ;)

[DRD2840]

I use a coffee bean grinder to powder my vitamins and Spirulina flake and flake food. It does a great job fast.

[Allapart]

Do you cook the beef heart??

[Akili]

Do you cook the beef heart??You can cook it if you wish, I do not.

[John_Nicholson]

I don't. As a side note I have been able to get salmon fairly cheap lately and have been adding it to my mix as well.

-john

[brian uk]

Ok I thought I would put my method on here with a few pictures....

First I take some multivitamins...which ones? Whichever ones are on sale.... and put them in a metal bowl.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/DiscusJohn/2013-10-29090455_zps5502fa14.jpg (http://s2.photobucket.com/user/DiscusJohn/media/2013-10-29090455_zps5502fa14.jpg.html)

I then crush them...

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/DiscusJohn/2013-10-29090650_zps9ec63743.jpg (http://s2.photobucket.com/user/DiscusJohn/media/2013-10-29090650_zps9ec63743.jpg.html)

And pour them into a paper plate for later.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/DiscusJohn/2013-10-29090818_zps25123539.jpg (http://s2.photobucket.com/user/DiscusJohn/media/2013-10-29090818_zps25123539.jpg.html)

I use the cheap throw away cookie sheets. 4 is normally enough.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/DiscusJohn/2013-10-29090954_zpsfb69e0df.jpg (http://s2.photobucket.com/user/DiscusJohn/media/2013-10-29090954_zpsfb69e0df.jpg.html)

Now for the hearts. I start with 2. Roughly 20 pounds total.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/DiscusJohn/2013-10-29091056_zps85b8fe27.jpg (http://s2.photobucket.com/user/DiscusJohn/media/2013-10-29091056_zps85b8fe27.jpg.html)

Open the package and rinse them off. I let the blood drain.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/DiscusJohn/2013-10-29091245_zps0ac571a5.jpg (http://s2.photobucket.com/user/DiscusJohn/media/2013-10-29091245_zps0ac571a5.jpg.html)

I then cut it into manageable pieces and cut them into strips so that I can remove the silver film and fat.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/DiscusJohn/2013-10-29091450_zpscb1c1d8c.jpg (http://s2.photobucket.com/user/DiscusJohn/media/2013-10-29091450_zpscb1c1d8c.jpg.html)

Here is what the trimmings look like.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/DiscusJohn/2013-10-29095152_zps2abbf7d8.jpg (http://s2.photobucket.com/user/DiscusJohn/media/2013-10-29095152_zps2abbf7d8.jpg.html)

Here is what the cleaned BH looks like. I will also be using those bananas.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/DiscusJohn/2013-10-29105442_zpsfabc8444.jpg (http://s2.photobucket.com/user/DiscusJohn/media/2013-10-29105442_zpsfabc8444.jpg.html)

Some of the other stuff. ***NOTE while I did not take a picture I also brown 4 pounds of ground venison and add to my mix**** I cut a slit in the bottoms of the packages so the fluid can drain out before I use it.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/DiscusJohn/2013-10-29105446_zps1a02bc3d.jpg (http://s2.photobucket.com/user/DiscusJohn/media/2013-10-29105446_zps1a02bc3d.jpg.html)


Here is some of the stuff in the processor. This picture shows spinach, bananas, shrimp, and just a little BH. I find that the shrimp is very sticky. I start it chopping and when it get stuck to the sides I drop in a piece of two of BH to get it moving again.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/DiscusJohn/2013-10-29110238_zpsc5c6c5a0.jpg (http://s2.photobucket.com/user/DiscusJohn/media/2013-10-29110238_zpsc5c6c5a0.jpg.html)

I then sprinkle a little of the crushed vitamins on it. I do this every time that I empty the processor.


http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/DiscusJohn/2013-10-29110245_zps8043b49f.jpg (http://s2.photobucket.com/user/DiscusJohn/media/2013-10-29110245_zps8043b49f.jpg.html)

Apparently I got tired of taking pictures at this point because I did not take anymore.....but here is how I finish...I will grind the rest of the ingredients. When I empty the food processor I will sprinkle in some vitamins and normally some flake food. I keep doing this until everything is ground. I them mix it well in the big metal bowl. After this I spread it on the cookie sheet. Once the 4 cookie sheets are filled I take a knife and score the mix into 2 X 5 inch pieces, cover it in foil, and freeze it. After freezing I break it into the 2 X 5 sections and put it in freezer bags for later use.

All in all it is easy and fairly cheap. I have made it a hundred different ways and none of them are wrong. I have used cooked hamburger meat, I have ground up all kinds of prepared foods that I get when I go to fish shops, I have used peas, I have got started and forgotten to use stuff. At the end of the day its not that big of a deal as long as you are providing enough protein for your fish.

Good luck.

-john

thanks john, youve gone international now, i will be trying this out, will be my first attempt at making my own

[John_Nicholson]

Well don't sweat the little details. There is really no wrong way to do it. Good luck.

-john

[Jack L]

Do you cook the beef heart??

i never have cooked it.

[two utes]

The raw shrimp and flakes hold it together. I have never had any issue with my fish eating it but then again they don't erally have a choice,

-john

Hi John.
Thanks for sharing your method for making beef heart mix.
I made a batch the other day but was unable to get a hold of any fresh shrimp. Instead l used some fresh white bait and pilchards. After freezing it and placing it into my tank l noticed how it fouled up the tank compared to the discus mix l purchase.
Is this because it wasn't bind together with the shrimp?
What else may l use as a binding agent? I'm thinking maybe egg whites or even gelatine powder. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated

[John_Nicholson]

Raw shrimp is very sticky. Fish not so much so I would guess that was your issue. Probably still a good food just hard on your water quality.

-john

[two utes]

Raw shrimp is very sticky. Fish not so much so I would guess that was your issue. Probably still a good food just hard on your water quality.

-john

Thanks John....Back to the drawing board