A high-quality, fiber-rich food | See other How-To Guides
Tropheus and mbuna are prone to bloating. Providing lots of fiber and vegetable matter in the diet is one of the best ways to maintain good health. Commercial, prepared foods are often lacking in fiber and vitamins.
This food is rich in fiber (shrimp shells, veggies), vitamins and includes garlic to help guard against intestinal parasites.
Before you get started…
- Purchase needed items and lay out everything required.
- Never switch fish to a new diet quickly. Introduce a small amount of the food at a time and watch your fish over a period of days to gauge acceptance and consequences.
- This is not a project for kids. As always, use care when using a knife or a food processor.
Step | Pictures |
Tools/Equipmenta. Food Processor b. Paring knife and garlic press c. 8 Zip-loc sandwich bags Measuring cup(s) |
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Ingredientsa. 12 oz. package of med-large frozen raw shrimp with shell, thawed b. Liquid Aquarium Vitamins (HW Multi-vit shown) c. 8 oz. (1/2 pkg) frozen peas d. 3 broccolli stumps e. 2 medium carrots, scrubbed f. 6 leaves Romaine lettuce, washed and trimmed g. 2 packets of Knox gelatin h. 1 clove fresh garlic, peeled |
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Step 1Measure 1/4 cup of very cold water in a measuring cup. Sprinkle the two packages over the surface. Mix with a spoon to a slurry consistency. |
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Step 2Add 3/4 cup of boiling water to the gelatin mixture. Mix thoroughly and set aside. |
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Step 3Place the frozen peas in a heat-proof bowl. Add boiling water to cover. |
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Step 4Make sure the shrimp are thawed out. Rinse and add to the food processor. |
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Step 5Process the shrimp to a paste-like consistency. Some small pieces are OK. |
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Step 6Drain the peas. |
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Step 7Add the peas to the food bowl and process until smooth. |
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Step 8Peel the rough outer layer from the broccolli stumps. |
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Step 9Cut the carrots and broccolli stumps into 1/4 inch pieces. Note— if you do not have a very powerful food processor, you may wish to process these first with a little water and set them aside. |
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Step 10Tear the Romaine lettuce into small pieces. |
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Step 11Add the broccolli, carrots and lettuce to the food processor bowl. Process to small chunks. You may need to stop periodically and scrape down the sides. |
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Step 12Add the gelatin mixture and process until smooth. |
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Step 13Force the peeled garlic clove through the garlic press into the bowl. Add 1 TBS (tablespoon) of the liquid vitamins. |
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Step 14Process until thoroughly mixed. |
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Step 15Spoon some of the food mixture into a ziploc bag until it is one-quarter full. |
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Step 16Lay the filled bag on a flat surface and carefully squeeze out any air. Seal the bag. Keep flat. |
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Step 17You should have 6–8 sandwich bags of food. Lay them flat on a piece of cardboard or a cookie sheet. Refrigerate for 3–4 hours. |
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Step 18The food mix should have firmed up to a jelly-like consistency. Transfer to the freezer. |
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Feed it!Do not thaw the food. Break off small piece of the frozen food and feed your fish. Always take care when introducing new foods. Some fish, especially those used to flake foods, take a while to take interest in this food. |
Photos by Rick Borstein. Demonstration by Rick and Sam Borstein.