Question on food!

[krislewis3]

I feed my discus a varity of foods, freeze dried black worms, freeze dried brine shrimp, frozen beef hart, tetra bits, and two nutritious flake foods, from Kens fish. The problem is the flake food. Although the fish love it, It rapidly turns to powder in the container., which the fish have no interest in, and makes a mess in my tank. Can someone out there suggest a non-flake food that has the same benefit as the flake food? Kris

[Second Hand Pat]

Kris, another approach with Ken's flake food is to place a small amount of each flake in a small container and mix the flakes well. Then feed from the container vs the large bags. This will reduce handling the flake in the large bag and therefore reduces turned the flake into a powder.

[krislewis3]

Kris, another approach with Ken's flake food is to place a small amount of each flake in a small container and mix the flakes well. Then feed from the container vs the large bags. This will reduce handling the flake in the large bag and therefore reduces turned the flake into a powder.

Pat, yes, I already use a very small container, rather than the bag, and it does help, however, I still end up with powder in the bottom of the small container, which gets wasted. Isn't there a non-flake food that would deliver the same nutrients? Kris

[Second Hand Pat]

Kris, how about Forrest's pelleted food.

[nc0gnet0]

Can someone out there suggest a non-flake food that has the same benefit as the flake food? Kris

It is the one problem you will have with flake food. Some might save that powder and put it in their BH mix, others might feed it to young fry. If you want flake alternatives I have found both of these to work well:

http://www.brineshrimpdirect.com/c183/BSD-Marine-Slow-Sinking-Pellets-1-MM-c230.html

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=8126&cmpid=03csegpl&ref=6111&subref=AA&CAWELAID=525406410&CAGPSPN=pla&catargetid=530005150000113568&cadevice=c (small pellets)

[tonytheboss1]

:bandana: NLS Discus Formula pellets & Dainichi Cichlid - Color FX pellets are a couple of healthy alternatives. I use both along w/ various flakes & a number of other frozen, freeze dried & live choices. Flakes crumble, that's their nature. "T"

[DISCUS STU]

I also use the flake scraps to add to my beef heart mix which I collect in a ziplock and store in my fridge. Truth is with flakes, there's always going to be some shake left.

Or you may want to forgo flake altogether. Sounds like the rest of their diet is very good anyway.

[OC Discus]

Here is a link to Cobalt Discus Pellets. Cobalt pellets are the nearest thing I've found so far to a true beefheart mix (vitamins, veggies, etc) in commercial pellet form. Some have said their fish didn't eat the blue, probiotic pellet, but mine have had no issues with them. They are only 45% protein, so supplementing with fdbw or fdbs might be a good idea. If anyone knows of a better beefheart "Mix" available commercially please share it with us. By "mix" I mean a staple, all in one food like John Nicholson uses.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=26572&cmpid=03csegpl&ref=6111&subref=AA&CAWELAID=530005150000040349&CAGPSPN=pla&catargetid=530005150000113568&cadevice=c

[krislewis3]

Thank you guys for all of your suggestions.... I'm planning to try one of the flake alternatives that are suggested!! Kris

[Larry Grenier]

My young discus immediately took to these 50% protein pellets http://www.brineshrimpdirect.com/GP-800-1000-Micron-Juvenile-Diet-c26.html