Food List for Your Oscars and Other Fish

[callen]

We here at the WC have put together a food list, recipes and other information to help you to have happy and healthy fish.  Whether they are Oscars, other American Cichlids, Pleco and so on.

To start we have put together a general food list that you can feed separately or add to any of the recipes.

After almost a year of research and talking to some of the top Aquariuses in the hobby that own Oscars, other American Cichlids, Pleco etc...  Here is the list of foods to help you own a happy healthy fish.  Please remember everything in moderation and the more variety the better.


Meaty Foods

Pellets
Shrimp
Krill (if freeze dry be sure to soak it in some tank water first to not cause swelling in the stomach)
Scallops
Clams
Squid
Crayfish
Crab & lobster
Fish - Cod, salmon, silver-sides, minnows, flounder. haddock, tuna just to name a few
Bloodworms
Brine shrimp
mysis shrimp
snails


Insects & Worms

Insect Larvae
Crickets
Meal Worms
Earthworms
Wax worms
(Always be careful they have not been exposed to any chemicals)

Veggies, Fruits & Nuts

Peas (frozen right out of the bag...no need to de-shell them)
Algae wafers
Zucchini
Squashes
Carrot's
Garlic
Mango's
Orange's
Pear's
Bananas
Papaya's
Peach's
Grapes
Spinach and leafy lettuce (not iceberg)
Peanuts
Pecan's

Feeding your fish many of these foods when they are younger will help not to have a picky eater when they are older.

IMPORTANTJust a note on beefheart and meats from warmblooded animals of what we buy in our stores. If you must and feel you want to feed beefheart or other meat, make sure they are organic.  Research is now being done that animal meat that have been injected with antibiotic's and hormones can effect your fish.  Many fish are becoming immune to antibiotics that we use to help cure common bacterial infections.  Also my research showed that when the fish are younger 2-4 inches can tolerate it well but as they get bigger the fishes digestive system slows down and has a harder time breaking up the meat and possibly causing blockages and other digestive issues.  But with that said as long as a well rounded diet, organic meat (personally I'd find other foods) is given your fish should not have any problems.

Martin A. Moe states ...Fish are cold blooded and all digestion reactions takes place at 70 to 80F, the temp of aquarium water.  Thus they may not be able to efficiently digest or use the types of fats present in the flesh of warm blooded animals.  They are much better off with the flesh of animals that are similar to their normal prey.

A few little tips when feeding...

It's always good to underfeed then over feed and always take out any uneaten food to help your water quality.

As your fish get bigger you will find you can feed every other day and or every 2-4 days.

Feeding a good pellet food that has whole fish rather then fish meal is always a plus.  With the pellet food it is always a good idea to look at the vitamin levels.  A good source of vitamins like C and B's will add color, energy and keep their immune system high.  With that said if you do feed a lot of the foods from the above list you won't have to worry to much about the vitamins as they will get it from the foods.

Thawing and refreezing of seafood

From the Dept. of Health

Thawed - but Cold 45 Degrees or Lower

Fish and Shellfish - Yes can be refreezed - if odor is normal - If there is any off odor - discard  

Also stated that it does deplete the nutrients but if thawed properly and refreezed in the right wrapping or container it's ok.

The recipes that have been posted can be modified and changed to your liking or should I say to your fishes liking  

In closing we here at WC are always interested in new recipes and if you have tried other foods that are not on the list.  Please feel free to post and we will be happy to add it.

Happy fish keeping,
The Staff At WC

[Katt]

Katt's Recipe's

OK here is a recipe i made that all my fish love.
I'm a old time cook so really don't use cups or TBS in less I have to. So I just add until it looks right.

Cod, 1 medium size
shrimp, 4 handfuls
mussels, 5
squid,  5
clams, 5
6 octopus babies at  2 inches in size
Carrot's, peas 1\3 a can, or some frozen peas and carrots mix.
Broccoli, just a piece.
Garlic, a few drops
1 1/2 pack of gelatin

In a mixer add the fish and a spoon or two of water, mix, take out.
Mix the shrimp and rest of sea food. Add a spoon or two of water as needed, Don`t add to much water.

Then in the mixer add the carrots, peas, cooked broccoli, garlic juice .
In a mixing bowl add everything.
Then make the gelatin and add to rest.
smooth out on wax paper ( thin ) cover with more wax paper, freeze.
and that's it.



OK here is the one I made last night... with just some food I had on hand...might as well add it too.

Fish and Shrimp

1\2  Cod
Shrimp, about 3 hand fulls.
Peas and Carrot's,  just added a few of each.  ( don't add to much or the Oscar wont eat it)
child liquid vitamins, 2 drops. (with no sugar)
1, pack of gelatin

Put the fish in mixer and moss it. Add 2 spoons of water.
Then in mixer, mix the rest. add a spoon or two of water.
Mix all together.
Make the gelatin, add to mix.
Spread out on wax paper, ( thin )  put wax paper on top and freeze.

The fish went nuts for this one.

[Stormbringer]

Stormbringer Famous Mix

Here's a recipe I made 

1lb of white fish (cod , pollack, saithe etc)
1lb of prawns
1lb of vegetables (I used cauliflower, broccoli and carrots)
2 mugs of pellets (usual 1,s your O eats ) just add enough water to the pellets so they are soft
2 capsules of pure garlic extract (pierce the capsules and squeeze the liquid out)
blend all the ingredients together just adding enough water to allow it to blend together
add 2-3 packs of gelatin again using only enough water to dissolve it and add to mix
when all blended/mixed, line a baking tray with grease proof paper (wax paper)and pour mixture into it so its under 1/2" thick you will need to add multiple layers as this mix makes a lot of food , place in fridge till set , remove layers from tray gently and score heavily so that you can break cubes off easily and place in freezer till frozen  , you can then bag it up in freezer bags  etc  and break off what you need per feeding.

My fish love it even Garfie who wont eat veggies any other way 

Happy Fish Feeding!
Alan