Cindy I didn't soak the silversides in anything. I suppose it wouldn't hurt.
If they are the size of mine shown in the pic, they don't need much more than a slither of meat.
I also feed them small thawed chunks of Formula II.
I use a couple wood shiskabob sticks to get it down to them. One to spear the food, the other to help remove it.
Mine were shrinking initially, so I fed them once a week. Now I go a few weeks between feedings. They seem to be doing well.
matt