ClownReef®
Tue, 12th Jun 2007, 09:39 PM
Diet is a huge factor when it comes to a healthy fish. Essential fatty acids and vitamins are very important to ensure our fish health and well being.
Feeding fish is not throwing in a few flakes into the tank and forgetting about it. It goes beyond that. All fish have different nutrition requirements which need to be met in order to avoid more serious problems (such as Head and Lateral line erosion (HLLE).
For example, we all know tangs are grazers, and a 100% meaty diet isn't the best choice. Same goes for angels, whose diet also includes sponges and mussels.
The goal of this post is to give everybody an idea of what constitutes a healthy and balanced diet for your fish and also to show you how to make some of the best recipes out there.
First we need to see who eats what (these are fish readily available in the hobby). To name a few:
Herbivores:
-Tangs
-Angels (this includes both dwarfs and regular angels)
-Rabbitfish
Don't get me wrong! They all enjoy a nice clip full of nori! but it does NOT complete their nutrition needs.
Omnivores
-Most fish (except fish with specialized diets such as dragonets, some butterflies and pipe fish among others).
Supplements are always important. They boost our fish's immune system and ensure their well being, while also providing vitamins and essential nutrients.
Here is a list of some great supplements:
Garlic Xtreme:* Garlic Xtreme helps boost your fishes' immune systems and encourage proper feeding with natural, nutritional garlic. Garlic Xtreme contains no artificial ingredients or steroids, and is safe for all species of marine and freshwater fishes, plants, live corals, and other invertebrates.
http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/8837/garlicaj8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
-Selcon: *The only aquarium food booster to feature Omega-3 fatty acids in a concentration suitable for the serious saltwater aquarist. Also contains Vitamin B12 and stabilized Vitamin C to enhance immune system function to prevent and reverse disease. It can also be used directly in reef aquariums to benefit filter-feeding invertebrates.
http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/2274/seleconoq9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
-Kent Marine Zoe: It is a great liquid multi-vitamin and minerals formula.
http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/685/zoexe9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
-Biovit: *Biovit is a multivitamin compound suited for fish and invertebrates. Regular use of this unique formula enhances growth, strengthens immune systems, and increases the willingness to spawn. Contains Vitamins B1, B6, B12, E, and other essential elements.
http://img47.imageshack.us/img47/4550/biovitvz5.gif (http://imageshack.us)
As a great food recipe i would suggest Eric Borneman's Famous Food recipe. It is very easy to make and it is VERY well balanced. Every single inhabitant in your tank, from fish to coral, will enjoy this recipe.
Ingredients
* 1 whole fresh sea fish
* 10 whole shrimp - I squeeze the heads
* 1 pound fresh mussels - cracked and scraped out
* 1 pound fresh clams including clam juice
* 1 8 oz container fresh oysters
* 1-2 fresh or frozen squid, whole
* 1 package frozen sea urchin cubes
* 1 12 oz package artemia (brine shrimp, frozen), thawed
* 6 types of dried seaweed (Nori, Wakame, Hijiki, Dulse, Ano, etc.) - available at Whole Foods market, health food stores, Asian markets.
* about 2g powdered sea greens/antioxidants or immune boost complex
* 2 tbsp. marine flake
* 2 tbsp. VibraGro
* 2 tbsp. powdered spirulina
* 1 tbsp Super Selco
Optional (found frozen in Asian markets)
* ark shells
* periwinkles, etc...
Method
* Blend coarse ingredients in food processor
* Mix in fine ingredients (Artemia, powders, flake, Selco)
* Freeze in flats
This makes a LOT of food...approximately 10-12 quart size Ziploc flats.
OPTIONAL: I also make a pigment complex of multiple fresh and health food purchased pigmented animal and plant sources ( such as vegetables with rich colors, carotenoids, etc), mixed with some of the fish food, liquefied, and fed to corals at night.
A great way to portion the meals are by using ice cube trays, and for smaller cubes my personal favorite (http://www.wdrake.com/WalterDrake/Shopping/ProductDetail.aspx?CID=Kitchen&SCID=Refrigerator+% 26+Freezer&ProductID=1004526&SiteNum=0) trays. You can also use egg crate to create smaller cubes.
I would HIGHLY recommend Ocean Nutrition (http://www.oceannutrition.com/product_marine.php?lang=en&file=marine_formula.php &head=) Foods. They offer various high quality products.
http://img123.imageshack.us/img123/6331/96273788im3.gif (http://imageshack.us) http://img123.imageshack.us/img123/9132/44727552ht5.gif (http://imageshack.us) http://img264.imageshack.us/img264/704/51630349mg5.gif (http://imageshack.us)http://img264.imageshack.us/img264/1316/83850674mf4.gif (http://imageshack.us)
Another great product that i highly recommend for every reef is CYCLOP-EEZE®:
* A dietary supplement for saltwater fish for dramatic improvement of color, growth, and disease resistance. Deep frozen and vacuum sealed in plastic pouches to prevent freezer burn, oxidative degradation, and also to preserve maximum nutrition. Deep Frozen CYCLOP-EEZE® are selectively-bred, bio-engineered micro-crustaceans containing the highest known concentrations of Omega-3 fatty acids and natural carotenoids. Can also be used as an artemia replacement. Natural attractants stimulate feeding even by sick fish
http://img512.imageshack.us/img512/8063/lg18831fs34925d003dc1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
For more information about feeding your fish, visit Melevs Fish food section (http://www.melevsreef.com/food.html) from his great website.
Remember, studying our fish's nutritional needs goes a long way. Just like us, they have food preferences. Hope this made it a little bit easier for everybody.
Best,
ClownReef®
*Pictures and Product info taken from Live Aquaria (http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/NavResults.cfm?N=2004+22763&ref=3969&subref=AA&cm_ mmc=LiveAquaria_DFS_Links-_-Fish_Supplies-_-LiveAquaria_Gen_Page-_-Vitamins_and_Supplements)
Feeding fish is not throwing in a few flakes into the tank and forgetting about it. It goes beyond that. All fish have different nutrition requirements which need to be met in order to avoid more serious problems (such as Head and Lateral line erosion (HLLE).
For example, we all know tangs are grazers, and a 100% meaty diet isn't the best choice. Same goes for angels, whose diet also includes sponges and mussels.
The goal of this post is to give everybody an idea of what constitutes a healthy and balanced diet for your fish and also to show you how to make some of the best recipes out there.
First we need to see who eats what (these are fish readily available in the hobby). To name a few:
Herbivores:
-Tangs
-Angels (this includes both dwarfs and regular angels)
-Rabbitfish
Don't get me wrong! They all enjoy a nice clip full of nori! but it does NOT complete their nutrition needs.
Omnivores
-Most fish (except fish with specialized diets such as dragonets, some butterflies and pipe fish among others).
Supplements are always important. They boost our fish's immune system and ensure their well being, while also providing vitamins and essential nutrients.
Here is a list of some great supplements:
Garlic Xtreme:* Garlic Xtreme helps boost your fishes' immune systems and encourage proper feeding with natural, nutritional garlic. Garlic Xtreme contains no artificial ingredients or steroids, and is safe for all species of marine and freshwater fishes, plants, live corals, and other invertebrates.
http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/8837/garlicaj8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
-Selcon: *The only aquarium food booster to feature Omega-3 fatty acids in a concentration suitable for the serious saltwater aquarist. Also contains Vitamin B12 and stabilized Vitamin C to enhance immune system function to prevent and reverse disease. It can also be used directly in reef aquariums to benefit filter-feeding invertebrates.
http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/2274/seleconoq9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
-Kent Marine Zoe: It is a great liquid multi-vitamin and minerals formula.
http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/685/zoexe9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
-Biovit: *Biovit is a multivitamin compound suited for fish and invertebrates. Regular use of this unique formula enhances growth, strengthens immune systems, and increases the willingness to spawn. Contains Vitamins B1, B6, B12, E, and other essential elements.
http://img47.imageshack.us/img47/4550/biovitvz5.gif (http://imageshack.us)
As a great food recipe i would suggest Eric Borneman's Famous Food recipe. It is very easy to make and it is VERY well balanced. Every single inhabitant in your tank, from fish to coral, will enjoy this recipe.
Ingredients
* 1 whole fresh sea fish
* 10 whole shrimp - I squeeze the heads
* 1 pound fresh mussels - cracked and scraped out
* 1 pound fresh clams including clam juice
* 1 8 oz container fresh oysters
* 1-2 fresh or frozen squid, whole
* 1 package frozen sea urchin cubes
* 1 12 oz package artemia (brine shrimp, frozen), thawed
* 6 types of dried seaweed (Nori, Wakame, Hijiki, Dulse, Ano, etc.) - available at Whole Foods market, health food stores, Asian markets.
* about 2g powdered sea greens/antioxidants or immune boost complex
* 2 tbsp. marine flake
* 2 tbsp. VibraGro
* 2 tbsp. powdered spirulina
* 1 tbsp Super Selco
Optional (found frozen in Asian markets)
* ark shells
* periwinkles, etc...
Method
* Blend coarse ingredients in food processor
* Mix in fine ingredients (Artemia, powders, flake, Selco)
* Freeze in flats
This makes a LOT of food...approximately 10-12 quart size Ziploc flats.
OPTIONAL: I also make a pigment complex of multiple fresh and health food purchased pigmented animal and plant sources ( such as vegetables with rich colors, carotenoids, etc), mixed with some of the fish food, liquefied, and fed to corals at night.
A great way to portion the meals are by using ice cube trays, and for smaller cubes my personal favorite (http://www.wdrake.com/WalterDrake/Shopping/ProductDetail.aspx?CID=Kitchen&SCID=Refrigerator+% 26+Freezer&ProductID=1004526&SiteNum=0) trays. You can also use egg crate to create smaller cubes.
I would HIGHLY recommend Ocean Nutrition (http://www.oceannutrition.com/product_marine.php?lang=en&file=marine_formula.php &head=) Foods. They offer various high quality products.
http://img123.imageshack.us/img123/6331/96273788im3.gif (http://imageshack.us) http://img123.imageshack.us/img123/9132/44727552ht5.gif (http://imageshack.us) http://img264.imageshack.us/img264/704/51630349mg5.gif (http://imageshack.us)http://img264.imageshack.us/img264/1316/83850674mf4.gif (http://imageshack.us)
Another great product that i highly recommend for every reef is CYCLOP-EEZE®:
* A dietary supplement for saltwater fish for dramatic improvement of color, growth, and disease resistance. Deep frozen and vacuum sealed in plastic pouches to prevent freezer burn, oxidative degradation, and also to preserve maximum nutrition. Deep Frozen CYCLOP-EEZE® are selectively-bred, bio-engineered micro-crustaceans containing the highest known concentrations of Omega-3 fatty acids and natural carotenoids. Can also be used as an artemia replacement. Natural attractants stimulate feeding even by sick fish
http://img512.imageshack.us/img512/8063/lg18831fs34925d003dc1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
For more information about feeding your fish, visit Melevs Fish food section (http://www.melevsreef.com/food.html) from his great website.
Remember, studying our fish's nutritional needs goes a long way. Just like us, they have food preferences. Hope this made it a little bit easier for everybody.
Best,
ClownReef®
*Pictures and Product info taken from Live Aquaria (http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/NavResults.cfm?N=2004+22763&ref=3969&subref=AA&cm_ mmc=LiveAquaria_DFS_Links-_-Fish_Supplies-_-LiveAquaria_Gen_Page-_-Vitamins_and_Supplements)