How to Make Aquarium Fish Food

It's no secret: well-fed fish are happy, vibrant and healthy. While many aquarium fish are fed a diet of commercially prepared flakes or pellets, you can offer your fish a diet that is nutritionally superior by preparing it at home. Homemade diets, if prepared properly, will help develop coloration, stimulate growth and support healthy reproduction. Knowing how to prepare a homemade diet begins with understanding what fish you have and what they eat naturally in the wild. This article will outline the best way to prepare food for your goldfish and related species.

Things You'll Need

  • 6 oz. can of shrimp, clams, sardines or beef heart
  • 2 oz. fresh or frozen spinach, peas or kale
  • 1 oz. grated carrots
  • 3 tbsp. brewer's yeast or wheat germ
  • 1 tbsp. liquid vitamins
  • 5 ml. cod liver oil
  • 2 oz. of unflavored powdered gelatin
  • Saucepan
  • 3 plastic ice cube trays
  • Blender
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Instructions

    • 1

      Blend 5 oz. water with the yeast and the liquid multivitamin, baby cereal, spinach, carrots and shrimp into a puree. This is the base of the recipe. Pour the mixture into a bowl and let stand.

    • 2

      Boil an additional 10 oz. water in a saucepan. This will be used to create the gelatin that will hold the food together. Pour the boiling water into a heat-resistant bowl.

    • 3

      Combine the unflavored gelatin and the hot water in a bowl and mix with a wire whisk until smooth. Let stand until the temperature reaches a warm---not cool or cold---temperature. This will allow you to incorporate the food base into the gelatin easily.

    • 4

      Mix the blended contents from the blender into the warm gelatin with a wire whisk and ensure that the mixture is smooth and uniform.

    • 5

      Pour the mixture into an ice tray and allow the mixture to cool in a refrigerator. The average cooling time will vary with each refrigerator, however it usually takes several hours for the mixture to cool completely. After cooling, the food cubes are ready to feed to your hungry fish.

    • 6

      Cut each cube into bite-sized chunks suitable for your fish and freeze the remaining portions for later use. Larger pieces can be used for larger fish such as koi and larger shebunkins, while smaller pieces should be used for regular sized goldfish of all varieties. You can add larger pieces to the aquarium if you will be gone for a few days.