algae gel food mix reviews & discussion

[cellodaisy]

When you make your batches, how much do you use at one time? Hope I didn't duff on it. My apologies if I didn't you justice. We'll see. I may even place in the fridge for a few minutes as well.

I usually use a tablespoon of mix at a time, but I have done smaller amounts with no problem. As I've said, I usually put the mix into a drinking glass, add the (warm) water, let it sit a minute, then nuke it all together. Sometimes I've been impatient and poked it early and gotten some on my fingers, but I've never had a problem with it setting once it was fully cooled.

How bout another question....

If it's not quite right, can it be re-heated? Maybe add a skosh of water?

Absolutely. You can melt and re-set agar to your heart's content. Eventually, you'll break down all useful nutrients in the veggies, but I would think you could go 2 or 3 rounds at least without too much loss.

 

[James0816]

well...just checked again and even in the fridge, it wasn't set. It was almost to that "rubbery" point you mentioned but not quite.

Command decision. Put mix back into jar, added 1 tbsp water and placed in microwave. Nuked first on 10 seconds. Didn't get to the 185 mark. Nuked for 30 seconds and this time saw it almost bubble over.

Took out and stirred very well.

Poured back into molds, on tiles and wrap.

We'll see how this one goes.

 

[cellodaisy]

One quick tip for everyone: instead of poking the gel, try feeling the container (mold/slate/whatever). If the container is still warm, the gel probably isn't set yet. That way you can avoid the green slime fingers.

 

[James0816]

Round 2: After performing the nuking, it appears that this time it worked.

* NOTE TO SELF AND OTHERS * Nuke or boil the mix as a whole. Don't just add boiling water to the mix. Or just make sure the boiling water is mega hot. ;o)

Gel on tiles appears to be set. Dropping the first tile in a tank now. Will check at the top of the hour.

 

[cellodaisy]

Round 2: After performing the nuking, it appears that this time it worked.

* NOTE TO SELF AND OTHERS * Nuke or boil the mix as a whole. Don't just add boiling water to the mix. Or just make sure the boiling water is mega hot. ;o)

Gel on tiles appears to be set. Dropping the first tile in a tank now. Will check at the top of the hour.

Fantastic! I will clarify the instructions going forward. This is exactly why I needed guinea pigs!

 

[James0816]

So a few more "just for my own knowledge" questions if you don't mind.

How long have you been using this and how did you learn of it?

Just a little history.

 

[cellodaisy]

So a few more "just for my own knowledge" questions if you don't mind.

How long have you been using this and how did you learn of it?

Just a little history.

Well, let's see...

I've been feeding my turtle a veggie-salmon jello (gelatin-based) for over a year. It's fine and is much better for her than commercial turtle foods, but it's a pain that it has to be kept frozen and I don't like how quickly it melts and breaks apart in the feeding tub.

Fast forward to a few weeks ago when I got my otos. I knew that I needed to make sure they were getting enough algae, and I knew that a lot of fish foods used spirulina (algae), which is fairly easy to obtain given its popularity as a health food supplement.

I'm vegetarian, and had learned about the properties of agar in my search for a vegetarian gummi bear recipe.

Put it all together, and the spirulina + agar plan emerged. I went to get supplies and was dismayed at the high cost of spirulina. But they also had spinach, which I know to be high in many nutrients. Problem solved! And wouldn't you know it, they had calcium citrate too. Perfect for my turtle.

I've been feeding the spirulina + agar mixes for almost a month. My critters love it, and I love how easy it is to work with. I've still been feeding the veggie-salmon-gelatin stuff to my turtle and there's a lot left in my freezer, but I'm honestly thinking about tossing it because the new stuff is so much easier.

 

[platytudes]

Well, I made my mix and I have to say, I absolutely love it!

I put it in the freezer to speed up the setting (and because I needed the counter space to make dinner) and took it out after watching some TV. It was frozen solid, but after a few minutes it was perfect for cutting into squares. I now have a whole yogurt tub full of squares! (Just to recap, I added freshly pureed watercress, one egg, and a few drops of liquid vitamins to my mix.)

The fish really like it, although since I made mine differently than how you all made it, it seems to have a different consistency. Mine slowly crumbles apart as it sinks. I actually like it this way, although if I were making one strictly for an invert tank or for a tank primarily with bottom feeders like loaches, I would prefer it to stay firm, as intended. As it is now, on the way down everyone gets some, and what's left on the bottom is there for the snails and lower strata swimmers (like kribs and barbs) to eat. They definitely peck at it with gusto!

Just for comparison's sake, I gave them 1/2 a cube of frozen Tubifex earlier today (the pet store was out of bloodworms) and they liked it, but no more than they liked this stuff. I think that's fantastic, and just goes to show the quality of the ingredients

By the way, Megan, I too am a vegetarian - I try to remember my fish aren't and not wince at the thought of feeding them fresh liver and such

 

[cellodaisy]

Well, I made my mix and I have to say, I absolutely love it!

Great! I'm so glad!

I put it in the freezer to speed up the setting (and because I needed the counter space to make dinner) and took it out after watching some TV. It was frozen solid, but after a few minutes it was perfect for cutting into squares.

Yep, I've done that. I get impatient, put it in the freezer, get distracted, find it frozen, float it in hot water to thaw... fortunately, the hot water out of my tap is not hot enough to melt it, so once it thaws I'm good to go.

Just for comparison's sake, I gave them 1/2 a cube of frozen Tubifex earlier today (the pet store was out of bloodworms) and they liked it, but no more than they liked this stuff. I think that's fantastic, and just goes to show the quality of the ingredients

Good to know!

By the way, Megan, I too am a vegetarian - I try to remember my fish aren't and not wince at the thought of feeding them fresh liver and such

Absolutely. I won't ditch Milo's old food until I have an omnivore version of the new stuff. I have a choice about what I eat, but my animals don't. It's my job to meet their nutritional needs as completely and naturally as possible, no matter what my personal dietary choices are.

 

[bayst]

This sounds like such a fantastic recipe! I'll have to order some soon!

Funny, re. the vegetarian thing-- I am exactly the same way philosophically when it comes to my diet and my pets, but I was still thinking of using agar to make snello, as gelatin actually makes me sad and a bit grossed out. I'm so thankful that you did all the hard work! lol!

One question that my newbie brain is trying to understand: You chose calcium citrate for your recipe; does it have benefits over calcium carbonate or the reptile calcium supplements? Thanks for sharing all of the info on this and for offering it to those of us (and by that, I mean me!!!! lol) who are too busy/not resourceful enough to make it from scratch! Very exciting!

(BTW, agar makes a fantastic jello type human dessert too! My aunt makes a cinnamon agar "jello" with mandarin slices tossed with "jello" cubes, and it is *really* yummy and refreshing!)