Flake Food - What To Try Next?

Hi Folks,

If we're discussing alternatives to flake foods, we should at least mention live foods. Although I don't have any cultures 'on the go' at present, I'm a bit uncomfortable about that. TF users will know that I am a member of an aquarist society. Although the members do use dried, processed foods, they also use a lot of live foods. Now, we're talking Daphnia, Moina, Brine Shrimp, White Worms, Microworms, etc. One guy, who has bred more fish than I've had hot dinners, also makes up his own fish feed mixture using prawns, minced fish, etc.

If you are squeamish at the prospect of using/cultivating live foods, it is probably better to stick with tiny creatures such as the first three that I have mentioned above. The easiest (in my opinion) is Daphnia but some people find Moina even easier. Brine Shrimp, as the name suggests, needs to be cultivated in salt water. There is a thing called the Hobby Artemia Hatchery, which I have yet to try. This is what it looks like:

https://www.dohse-aquaristik.com/en/p/21700/Artemia-Hatchery

Many LFSs, such as MA, sell small bags of live fish foods such as those that I mentioned above. Indeed, this is often the starting point for my cultures. It is always wise to check these foods carefully, with a magnifying glass if necessary, to ensure there are no unwanted creatures in the bag.

So, there's lots of options over and above the staple flake food.

JPC