Mash Recipe

[cmhollis]

Just made a new batch of mash for the fish. They go crazy for this recipe, and my fish are very fat and healthy. Plus I can make 6 months worth of food for about $25 or so.

Anyway, I thought I would share the recipe:

- 1 bag oriental seafood salad (contains shrimp, squid, etc). You can get this at an Oriental Market for about $3. I get it from Martins Oriental Market in Norwich
- 10 cubes frozen krill
- 10 cubes frozen bloodworms
- 10 cubes frozen Formula 1
- 10 cubes frozen Formula 2
- Couple tablespoons frozen cyclopeeze
- Couple tablespoons frozen mysis
- Pinch of Spirulina flakes
- 5 - 6 fresh littleneck clams
- 10 - 12 fresh mussels
- 6 - 8 fresh shrimp (with the heads on if you can get them)
- Some fresh fish blood if you can get it. You should be able to get this from a fish market if you call ahead.
- small scoop of DT's oyster eggs
- 2 sheets of Nori for your Tangs and other grazers
- Justin from F&F also adds some chaetomorpha to his mash. I forgot to do that this time.

I shell the clams and mussels over the food processor so that all the juices fall into the mixer.

Blend it all up in a food processor. Do not liquefy it. This will cause the finished product to be too fine for your fish to eat. Put into small freezer bags, flatten, let out excess air and freeze. At feeding time, put the appropriate amount into a little cup with some tank water and let it thaw for a few minutes. I then use a toothpick to stir it up so that there is a good mix of large and small pieces. Add to tank, sit back and watch the frenzy.

Mike

 

[BigWaz]

and you feed them this everyday? Do you feed anything to your corals on top of this? This sounds awesome

 

[JonTarutis]

Mike-
Nice mix! You ever try the mini ice cube trays?
BigWaz-
You shouldn't need anything else for corals.
Jon

 

[cmhollis]

Jon,

Hadn't thought about the mini ice cube trays. That is a good idea that I use when this batch is gone.

Big Waz,

Yes I feed them this mix twice a day.

 

[sequential]

Maybe at one of the upcoming meetings we can do a group mash. It would cost those without an existing supply of some of the items much more than $25 to make.

 

[cmhollis]

Sequential,

You are correct, Initially it will cost more than $25. But once you have the staples, you can get 3 - 4 batches of food out of them. The oriental mix, fresh shrimp, clams, and mussels can be had be $10 or so.

Not a bad idea about a group mash. Talk to Gobey and maybe we can set this up for am upcoming meeting.

Mike

 

[ReefSurge]

I/ve been making mash for about 3 years now. Very easy to do, and fairly cheap. For those that have an abundance of corals, you also add phyto or green water they call it and some others:

Selco
garlic
Echinacea
vegetables and fruit
golden pearl
squid
salmon
octo
scallops

 

[cmhollis]

Reefsurge,

Good points. I should have mentioned that the frozen Formula 1 & 2 has garlic added to it. I have also added Selcon in the past, I just didn't have any this time.

Good call on the phyto. I think that I will do the soda bottle/air pump setup and get some going.

 

[LeslieP]

Sounds a lot like what I do - and I also add the selcon and some fresh garlic. the fish go nuts over it and with the small and large pieces, the fish and corals are taken care of at the same time. Although, when I buy scallops to put in, I have to buy enough for honey to make a scampi - he hates that the fish eat better than he does!

 

[BigWaz]

i would totally get in on the group mash