Each aquarist who makes his own fishfood (and there are many who do) seems to have a preferred recipe that works well for his fish. The following are two proven homemade foods that have worked well.
Joe Dombkowski: Joe is mostly a cichlidiot, but this recipe would work for many fish that require a high proportion of herbivorous material in the diet. This is Joe’s “tried and true recipe: 50% spinach, 50% beef heart.”
Recipe: Put one pound beef heart into a food processor and grind to a pate. Add one pound frozen spinach and remix. Put mixture into cheesecloth and wring out excess moisture. Put mixture in a plastic bag, flatten, and freeze. Joe breaks off pieces and feeds it still frozen. (Thanks to the “Cichlid Sightings,” column by Jim Stigliano in the Greater Chicago Cichlid Association newsletter, GCCA Cichlid Chatter, January 1999).
Lee Harper: This recipe, adapted from Roger Hoelter’s recipe for Fishfood from a Gelatin Base, was published in the Novem ber 1998 newsletter of the Keystone Killy Group.
Recipe: 2 cans fish-based Friskies cat food or fresh fish (tuna, salmon, whitefish); 1 jar baby food (carrots); 4 packets Knox gelatin in 4 tbs. (or more) hot water. Optional – a bunch of fresh parsley or baby green beans; 1 can drained small cocktail shrimp or clams.
Blend all ingredients but gelatin and water in blender until uniform. Heat gelatin and water, stir until dissolved (do not overheat!); pour into blender and mix for another minute. Pour into small plastic bags and freeze. To feed: grate a quantity of the frozen food and disperse into 1/2 cup water, then feed with an eye dropper or baster.
– GCKA Newsletter, May 1999