My first D.I.Y Discus Food[Pic's & Vid's]

[Departure]

So I decided to try and make some discus food today, It was an interesting experience and made quite a mess.


[Foods Used]
Garlic Cloves
http://i62.tinypic.com/2zta8fm.jpg

Spirulina Powder
http://i62.tinypic.com/25jwaa1.jpg

Banana
http://i61.tinypic.com/2e3z6f8.jpg

Canned Peas
http://i60.tinypic.com/9tz4gz.jpg

Carrots
http://i57.tinypic.com/6jqb6o.jpg

Beef Hart
http://i57.tinypic.com/205uxco.jpg

Fish Fillets
http://i61.tinypic.com/juffk3.jpg

Green Pawns
http://i57.tinypic.com/s49r9j.jpg

Salmon
http://i61.tinypic.com/2ll0xet.jpg

Frozen Raw Pawns(In lue for shrimp)
http://i57.tinypic.com/15odt2d.jpg


[Equipment Used]
Mixing Machine
http://i60.tinypic.com/10yq2ol.jpg


[Process]
Meats before mixing
http://i59.tinypic.com/2rp5w0w.jpg

Mixing
http://i59.tinypic.com/e5s8jl.jpg

Half way, still needs more mixing
http://i61.tinypic.com/2642pg4.jpg

Packaging
http://i61.tinypic.com/25z56k1.jpg



As you can see from photos it came out very green, maybe used too large of a table spoon of Spirulina powder. Anyway I tested it before throwing the bags into the freezer to see if the fish like it, I am glad to say they LOVED IT, took out phone camera and recorded the second helping of the food, for both the discus and my flower horn, They had eaten a test piece just 5 minutes before I filmed the second helping. The thing I didn't like is the amount of mess it makes in the tank, If someone knows how to fix this could they please post a solution..

[Results]
Flower Horns Second Helping
--- Removed only allowed 1 video per post ---

Discus Second Helping

http://youtu.be/FzNM4IArsR8


[Conclusion]
While it was fun making my first discus food, I just wish it didn't make such a mess of the tank. If someone can point out and give advice how to over come this problem I would appreciate it, Other wise I might stick to pellets and frozen foods in the future as it will be easier to maintain the tanks that way.


[Credits]
Merrilyn's beef heart recipe.
http://www.discusforums.com/forum/showthread.php?3985-Merrilyn-s-beef-heart-recipe


[EDIT]
Just realized I have used "Hart Foundation Approved" Beef and not beef hart as originally thought the package was, I hope this doesn't effect the discus, If someone could comment on using lean beef instead of beef hart and let me know if its still okay to feed to the discus...

[rickztahone]

Very nice. Can't say I've ever seen a mix so green, but so long as they like it, that is all that matters.

[limige]

Thanks for sharing!

[niqhil]

Can you tell us the approximate cost / lb for your home made discus food. Also how did you decide on the amount/proportion used for each ingredient ?
Thank you for sharing .. the discus seem to like it :)

Edit - Both my questions were answered in the credit link !

[Clarkey]

Good to see its Aussie peas and other ingredients. Don't want Hep A with that imported stuff!

[tommytuna]

When is gelatine needed

[limige]

you can use it to try and help the mix stay together.

[Tankster]

Great job - I am tempted to try this as I just found a local supplier of beef heart. If you can find a Lotte market (asian grocer) you might find actual beef-heart.
http://www.lotteplaza.com/branch/branch.php?lan=ENG


You did not actually use "Beef Heart" but Beef Diced, Heart Smart. It is lean beef, that is heart smart, but not actually beef heart.

No worries though as Hans uses lean beef and not beef heart in his "beef-heart" mix.

The reason most will try to get beef heart is that is has the lowest fat content of any beef you can buy. The reason being, discus can't process the fat.

[Luis138]

How about lean turkey? Can that be used instead of beef heart?

[Departure]

When is gelatine needed

I didnt add any gelatine. Used banana to bind it together

[limige]

well, don't feel bad, mine turned out very green as well. I think it was the lb of spinach that did it.

mine contained
2lb ground cooked venison
1lb shrimp
1lb salmon
1lb spinach
8 containers of baby carrots
7 containers of baby peas
4 tbs of baby oatmeal
2 tbs of yellow cornmeal
4 tbs of spirulina powder
1 tbs of carophyll pink
2 tbs of garlic powder
2 tbs of paprika
3 black bananas

ran it threw the grinder twice and put it on cookie sheets to freeze.

spinach was nasty, I bought frozen stuff and it had stems in it. was a headache. as soon as I added it the mix went green. when I added the carophyll pink it gave it a mixed tone. honestly most stuff was not measured so those are guesstamates.

find out soon if they will eat it, lol.