Proper way to feed frozen fish food?

Discussion in 'Fish Food' started by stauchistory, Aug 14, 2010.

to remove this notice and enjoy 3reef content with less ads. 3reef membership is free.

  1. stauchistory

    stauchistory Feather Duster

    Joined:
    Aug 8, 2010
    Messages:
    242
    Location:
    Spring Grove, PA
    I'm new to SW aquariums and frozen fish food, so please bear with me.

    I currently feed my fish flake food, frozen brine shrimp, frozen Marine Cuisine (made by San Fransisco Bay Brand), and frozen Krill. I am curious about the proper procedure to use when feeding frozen foods to SW livestock. The problems I see with feeding the food frozen are:

    1. Fish can swallow food still frozen, thus causing them injury mouth or internally (cuts or scratches).
    2. Fish can swallow food frozen, causing internal harm due to cold temp of food.
    3. Larger fish could eat frozen chunks of food, causing smaller fish to get none.

    I have seen my Spotfin Squirrelfish eat frozen Krill I just added to the tank, and I swear I thought it was going to choke on it. He has also eaten chunks of the other frozen foods I added before the other fish get a chance to get any for themselves.

    How do others handle frozen foods and feeding them to their fish?

    Appreciate the assistance.
     
  2. Click Here!

  3. SAY

    SAY Ocellaris Clown

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2010
    Messages:
    1,462
    Location:
    San Antonio
    i fill a glass with water from my tank and drop the cube of frozen in to let it defrost. After it defrosts, i strain it and then use a baster to add it to the tank.
     
  4. stauchistory

    stauchistory Feather Duster

    Joined:
    Aug 8, 2010
    Messages:
    242
    Location:
    Spring Grove, PA
    Could you explain the use of a strainer and baster, as opposed to just adding the defrosted food to the tank by pouring it in?
     
  5. Midwayman1968

    Midwayman1968 Spaghetti Worm

    Joined:
    Apr 8, 2010
    Messages:
    193
    I feed portions of frozen mysis shrimp cubes by floating cube in a cup of tank water till its soup.. Then i squirt it into tank w turkey baster
     
  6. dkpnmn

    dkpnmn Astrea Snail

    Joined:
    Aug 6, 2010
    Messages:
    51
    Location:
    Minnesota/Frozen Tundra
    We melt ours in a cup with a little RO water, then strain it through a Brine Shrimp Net. After that we just dump it in the tank. Sometimes I put a little in a Turkey baster and feed the Anemone, but it usually catches food from the flow.
     
  7. stauchistory

    stauchistory Feather Duster

    Joined:
    Aug 8, 2010
    Messages:
    242
    Location:
    Spring Grove, PA
    So is the baster used by everyone primarily for "spot feeding" (is that what it's called???), or to selectively feed specific livestock? Are there other uses for using a baster?
     
  8. Click Here!

  9. dkpnmn

    dkpnmn Astrea Snail

    Joined:
    Aug 6, 2010
    Messages:
    51
    Location:
    Minnesota/Frozen Tundra
    Yeah, the Spot Feeder basters have a smaller opening at the end to avoid dumping too much food at once, and they are usually a little longer than a store one. I use a typical store version for blowing crap off my rocks from time to time, but find the extra couple bucks worth it for the spot feeder.
     
    1 person likes this.
  10. doreen

    doreen Plankton

    Joined:
    Jul 22, 2010
    Messages:
    9
    we defrost our food with tank water in a dish before feeding.
    I haven't liked the idea of the defrosted water going into the tank... SAY and Dkpnmn i like your idea straining it first. will start doing that.
     
  11. stauchistory

    stauchistory Feather Duster

    Joined:
    Aug 8, 2010
    Messages:
    242
    Location:
    Spring Grove, PA
    Got it. I was wondering how a huge turkey baster was used to feed fish and I didn't realize there were smaller versions. +1 for the clarification.
     
  12. dkpnmn

    dkpnmn Astrea Snail

    Joined:
    Aug 6, 2010
    Messages:
    51
    Location:
    Minnesota/Frozen Tundra