Hey all, thanks for all your input and ideas concerning ray nutrition in my previous thread(s). I have a DIY gelatin based ray diet to share.
This can serve to transition rays onto new foods or enhance old ones, the only limit is your creativity. I had a finicky Flower and some wild caught Henlei's that would not budge from worms. I started making batches consisting mainly of worms (account for the moisture) while adding more and more pellet. As this progressed I was at the point where there was little worm, mostly pellet and some Tilapia. I also add Mazuri Gel based Shark and Ray diet, still love the stuff.
Purchase unflavored Gelatin at the grocery. Make sure it is Gelatin, not Pectin. I believe "FLAVORITE" AND "SURE-GEL" are common manufacturers. The gelatin comes in a small cardboard box that contains 4 envelopes (packets) of gelatin.
Tilapia -or- Shrimp
1 cup Hot water
4 packets Gelatin
1 Tilapia fillet -or- 8 whole, peeled Shrimp
4 handfulls of favorite pellet food
I use a blender:
mix hot water with gelatin and pellet. As blender operates cut in Tilapia -or- Shrimp. Blend well then pour into an approved container (not your wifes favorite Pampered Chef stone ware.....my butt still hurts).
Be conservative with the water when making this batch. The Tilapia and Shrimp have moisture that you need to account for. To much water = too little gel and a sloppy mess. The smaller amount of pellet acts as an additional binder while adding essential nutrition.
Pellet based Hybrid Batch
2 cups Hot water
6 packets of Gelatin
6 Handfuls favorite pellet food
1 Fillet Tilapia
Again, I use a Blender:
Mix the water, gelatin and pellets and while blender is still operating, add fillet. Mind the water! Using two cups accounts for the lack of moisture in the pellets. In this case you need to make sure that you have enough water to activate the gelatin and produce a usable batch. Initially I skimped on the water only using 1 cup and ended up with a batch so firm it was more the consistency of gristle. 2 cups and possibly three would make this batch perfect. The pellet is the base here, the Tilapia or Shrimp are the accessory.
*** Use common sense with regards to a hot stove, hot water, blender etc, that is all I am going to say***
Earthworms, Smelt, Prawns, Cockles, anything, can be added or mixed and matched. Making larger batches is most economical. Gel the whole batch then slice into small cubes. Divide this into smaller containers, use some now, freeze the rest. This gelatin based food make feeding very easy, very clean and very reliable. Have someone watching your rays for a week? No problem, just divide the batch into seven ziplock baggies labeled with each day. "Ok Keith, here is Monday, just add eight cubes in the AM, eight in the PM. Here is Tuesday.........etc." The gelatin also serves to contain some of the smells that are offensive to our non-ray afficianato partners, significants, wives, husbands etc. You may start to see some buy-in from them to help feed the rays.
Good luck, enjoy, happy raykeeping.
Respectfully,
FireMedic.
This can serve to transition rays onto new foods or enhance old ones, the only limit is your creativity. I had a finicky Flower and some wild caught Henlei's that would not budge from worms. I started making batches consisting mainly of worms (account for the moisture) while adding more and more pellet. As this progressed I was at the point where there was little worm, mostly pellet and some Tilapia. I also add Mazuri Gel based Shark and Ray diet, still love the stuff.
Purchase unflavored Gelatin at the grocery. Make sure it is Gelatin, not Pectin. I believe "FLAVORITE" AND "SURE-GEL" are common manufacturers. The gelatin comes in a small cardboard box that contains 4 envelopes (packets) of gelatin.
Tilapia -or- Shrimp
1 cup Hot water
4 packets Gelatin
1 Tilapia fillet -or- 8 whole, peeled Shrimp
4 handfulls of favorite pellet food
I use a blender:
mix hot water with gelatin and pellet. As blender operates cut in Tilapia -or- Shrimp. Blend well then pour into an approved container (not your wifes favorite Pampered Chef stone ware.....my butt still hurts).
Be conservative with the water when making this batch. The Tilapia and Shrimp have moisture that you need to account for. To much water = too little gel and a sloppy mess. The smaller amount of pellet acts as an additional binder while adding essential nutrition.
Pellet based Hybrid Batch
2 cups Hot water
6 packets of Gelatin
6 Handfuls favorite pellet food
1 Fillet Tilapia
Again, I use a Blender:
Mix the water, gelatin and pellets and while blender is still operating, add fillet. Mind the water! Using two cups accounts for the lack of moisture in the pellets. In this case you need to make sure that you have enough water to activate the gelatin and produce a usable batch. Initially I skimped on the water only using 1 cup and ended up with a batch so firm it was more the consistency of gristle. 2 cups and possibly three would make this batch perfect. The pellet is the base here, the Tilapia or Shrimp are the accessory.
*** Use common sense with regards to a hot stove, hot water, blender etc, that is all I am going to say***
Earthworms, Smelt, Prawns, Cockles, anything, can be added or mixed and matched. Making larger batches is most economical. Gel the whole batch then slice into small cubes. Divide this into smaller containers, use some now, freeze the rest. This gelatin based food make feeding very easy, very clean and very reliable. Have someone watching your rays for a week? No problem, just divide the batch into seven ziplock baggies labeled with each day. "Ok Keith, here is Monday, just add eight cubes in the AM, eight in the PM. Here is Tuesday.........etc." The gelatin also serves to contain some of the smells that are offensive to our non-ray afficianato partners, significants, wives, husbands etc. You may start to see some buy-in from them to help feed the rays.
Good luck, enjoy, happy raykeeping.
Respectfully,
FireMedic.
