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CStufft
04-21-2010, 01:33 AM
I am pretty new here, but I thought I'd share my version of homemade gel food.

I got the idea for this from Terri Fairfield after he spoke at our aquarium society. I use raw uncooked shrimp, I personally like it without the shell, it seems that my food processer can grind it up finer. I partially defrost the shrimp and put them into the food processer with some minced garlic. I run the processer until this is the consistency of thick oatmeal. Then I use Level 2 pureed baby food for the fruits and vegetables. I typically go for a ratio of 50 percent shrimp and 50 percent veggies or fruit. I use peach, carrot, peas and green beans. I didn't use any with cereal in them, but I suspect you could. If you don't have babies in your life, Level 2 is the same as Level 1, a very liquid puree, just more of it. I then add in some liquid infant vitamins, and pierce a capsule of Vitamin E and Fish Oil and squeeze it into the food. I add several packet of gelatin to a little warm water and mix. I place it in freezer bags lay it flat and freeze. It is usually about a 1/4 inch thick and easy enough to break off and cut up to serve.

I personally like this because the mixture is really fine and the pieces sink as they thaw. I have fry that take little bites off a thawed chunk.

Hope you this helps someone.

Thanks,
Chris

Cincy Ranchu
04-21-2010, 02:17 AM
Ever add any Vitamins?

How are the Babies?:yess:

tracey_shafer
04-21-2010, 02:36 AM
Ever add any Vitamins?

How are the Babies?:yess:

Its got vitamins in it!
I use supergreen perfect food in mine (something I have for breakfast everyday)
its also a good way to give them antibiotics.

Corrie
04-21-2010, 02:41 AM
Chris, you can add powdered vitamins, spirulina (not much), canthaxanthin etc, selco/con, and on and on
Doctor it up to do different things at different times.

Don't use too much shrimp shells or spirulina, it will muck up your jello.

You need to add a lot more fish oil caps if you're only using one.
Pure Cod Liver oil or squid oil would be better.

Mazuri makes a good premixed gel, and AquaticEco sells one that's Frank Hoff's recipe and is also real good.

Corrie
04-21-2010, 02:58 AM
One more thing.
I just caught that you are using Vit E and fish oil, then freezing it.
Read up on which vitamins are destroyed by heat and/or freezing.
Vit E is one that you don't want to freeze and fish oil is stabilized with Vit E also.
Freezing and vitamins are the main reason that people that use gel food,
do not freeze it.

go here, Frank sells some good vitamin and mineral powders, and a good gel food

https://3kserver7.com/~frank/secure/agora.cgi?cart_id=6160458.31720*JU0yW4&product=VITAMINS_MINERALS

CStufft
04-22-2010, 01:14 AM
Ever add any Vitamins?

How are the Babies?:yess:

I add liquid infant vitamins. The batch of food I make is pretty small, only two 1 gallon zip lock bags 1/4 inch thick.

The baby TVR are looking good. The biggest ones are just starting to turn and color up, looks like some nice orange with white.

Thanks,
Chris