Repashy Superfood (for cichlids)?

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flowerpower

Feeder Fish
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I came across this product on Ted Judy's YouTube channel. I've always found his videos extremely informative and he is an excellent hobbyist but i can't say I've ever seen him endorse a product like this before. Repashy is a gelatin based food which comes in powder form. As you will see in Ted's video, you mix the gelatin yourself like you would Jello.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXmZ4kWb3X4&feature=g-hist&context=G29575a7AHTxHHxQAAAA
If someone could assist with an embed, that would be great.

Now, I've experimented with a few gel based foods over the years. The fish loved any and every concoction that i came up with but it was fed as a treat, never as an everyday staple food. I guess i always feared missing something so i kept up with the standard flakes and pellets.
As for Repashy, i have yet to find any nutritional info. Ted sells it on his site and he says he feeds it to ALL of his fish.
http://tedsfishroom.com/store/products/category/repashy-superfood/
Anyone have anymore info on this product, or gel based fish good in general?
Anyone have any recipes that have worked well longterm??
Drawbacks?
Please share your thought as i intend to start making my own food again. I am also planning on giving Repashy a try.
 

Nemesis

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Looks interesting, and pleasantly simple. You know I'm more than willing to try something new. Let me know if you want to try it out Ed, and I'll go in on an order with you.
 

flowerpower

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hmm sounds cool, I orde red some for my fry to test it out.
Yea, i like the idea of the fry being able to graze all day without having to constantly feed them. Assuming the food doesn't lose nutritional value after sitting at the bottom for a few minutes that is.
 

Nemesis

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Found some info for a few of the products:

“Meat Pie” Carnivore Gel

Meal Replacement Gel for Omnivorous and Carnivorous Amphibians, Reptiles, Fish, Birds, and Mammals.

INGREDIENTS:Whole Krill Meal, Whole Squid Meal, Whole Sardine Meal, Whole Egg Powder, Dried Brewers Yeast, Carrageenan Algae , Konjac, Carob Bean Gum, Dried Kelp, Potassium Citrate, Calcium Propionate, Dicalcium Phosphate,Taurine, Spirulina Algae, Phaffia rhodozyma yeast, Paprika Extract, Calendula Flower Powder, Marigold Flower Extract, Rose Hips Powder, Turmeric Root Powder, Malic Acid, Sodium Chloride, Canthaxanthin, Potassium Sorbate, Magnesium Gluconate, Lecithin, Rosemary Extract and Mixed Tocopherols (as preservatives), Vitamins (Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D Supplement, Choline Chloride, Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Beta Carotene, Pantothenic Acid, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamine Mononitrate, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex, Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin B-12 Supplement).

DIRECTIONS: To make a one cup block of product, add 2/3 cup of water into a suitable microwavable container, add 1/3 cup of dry mix, and stir until blended. Microwave until it just starts to boil (2 to 3 minutes typical) remove and stir. Alternatively, you can heat water in suitable container on stove until it boils, remove from heat, and stir in powder. Let sit at room temp until cool. The product can then be cut into cubes, or used as a whole slab. Whatever is not used immediately can be stored in the refrigerator for up to one month. If long-term storage is required, it can be frozen. You can use more or less water to increase or reduce gel firmness.

Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein min. 55%, Crude Fat min. 8%, Crude Fat max. 10%, Crude Fiber max. 6%, Moisture max. 8%, Ash max. 9%, Calcium min. 1.5%, Calcium max. 2.5%, Phosphorus min. 0.75%.


"Super Green" Vegan Algae Gel

Meal Replacement Gel for Obligate Algae Eaters. Contains no animal protein.

INGREDIENTS: Chlorella Algae, Spirulina Algae, Pea Protein Isolate, Germinated Brown Rice Protein Concentrate, Alfalfa Leaf Powder, Stabalized Rice Bran, Dried Brewers Yeast, Corn Meal, Carrageenan Algae, Konjac, Carob Bean Gum, Dried Kelp, Potassium Citrate, Calcium Propionate, Dicalcium Phosphate, Taurine, Spirulina Algae, Phaffia rhodozyma yeast, Paprika Extract, Calendula Flower Powder, Marigold Flower Extract, Rose Hips Powder, Turmeric Root Powder, Malic Acid, Sodium Chloride, Canthaxanthin, Potassium Sorbate, Magnesium Gluconate, Lecithin, Rosemary Extract and Mixed Tocopherols (as preservatives), Vitamins (Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D Supplement, Choline Chloride, Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Beta Carotene, Pantothenic Acid, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamine Mononitrate, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex, Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin B-12 Supplement).

DIRECTIONS: To make a one cup block of product, add 2/3 cup of water into a suitable microwavable container, add 1/3 cup of dry mix, and stir until blended. Microwave until it just starts to boil (2 to 3 minutes typical) remove and stir. Alternatively, you can heat water in suitable container on stove until it boils, remove from heat, and stir in powder. Let sit at room temp until cool. The product can then be cut into cubes, shredded or used as a whole slab. Whatever is not used immediately should be treated like fresh meat. It can be stored sealed in the refrigerator for a few weeks. If long-term storage is required, it can be frozen. You can use more or less water to increase or reduce gel firmness.

Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein min. 40%, Crude Fat min. 6%, Crude Fat max. 8%, Crude Fiber max. 8%, Moisture max. 8%, Ash max. 9%, Calcium min. 1.5%, Calcium max. 2.5%, Phosphorus min. 0.75%.



"Shrimp Souffle" Invertibrates Scavenger Gel

Meal Replacement Gel for Invertebrate Scavengers of all kinds, Shrimp, Crab, Crayfish, Snails.

INGREDIENTS: Whole Squid Meal, Whole Krill Meal, Whole Sardine Meal, Pea Protein Isolate, Spirulina Algae, Dried Brewers Yeast, Alfalfa Leaf Powder, Stabalized Rice Bran, Whole Dried Egg, Corn Meal, Carrageenan Algae, Konjac, Carob Bean Gum, Dried Kelp, Potassium Citrate, Calcium Propionate, Dicalcium Phosphate, Taurine, Spirulina Algae, Phaffia rhodozyma yeast, Paprika Extract, Calendula Flower Powder, Marigold Flower Extract, Rose Hips Powder, Turmeric Root Powder, Malic Acid, Sodium Chloride, Canthaxanthin, Potassium Sorbate, Magnesium Gluconate, Lecithin, Rosemary Extract and Mixed Tocopherols (as preservatives), Vitamins (Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D Supplement, Choline Chloride, Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Beta Carotene, Pantothenic Acid, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamine Mononitrate, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex, Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin B-12 Supplement).

DIRECTIONS: To make a one cup block of product, add 2/3 cup of water into a suitable microwavable container, add 1/3 cup of dry mix, and stir until blended. Microwave until it just starts to boil (2 to 3 minutes typical) remove and stir. Alternatively, you can heat water in suitable container on stove until it boils, remove from heat, and stir in powder. Let sit at room temp until cool. The product can then be cut into cubes, shredded or used as a whole slab. Whatever is not used immediately should be treated like fresh meat. It can be stored sealed in the refrigerator for a few weeks. If long-term storage is required, it can be frozen. You can use more or less water to increase or reduce gel firmness.

Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein min. 45%, Crude Fat min. 8%, Crude Fat max. 10%, Crude Fiber max. 8%, Moisture max. 8%, Ash max. 9%, Calcium min. 2.5%, Calcium max. 3.5%, Phosphorus min. 0.75%.



I couldn't find info on the "Community Gel", which is the one I think might have fit our needs a little better, but these 3 also look very interesting. All in all the ingredients look pretty good. But let's wait for someone else...cough...cough.. RD... to let us know for sure.

Link to where I goy this info: http://www.store.repashy.com/repashy-superfoods/special/
 

RD.

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Purina has been making specialized powdered "gel" foods for fish for a number of years under their Mazuri line, this certainly isn't an entirely new concept.

Pros - most fish will find it very palatable due to it's texture/softness

IMO, that's pretty much it for Pros.


Cons - For a starter it can be very messy, especially with big fish.

Typically a much shorter shelf life than pellets. (in both the powder form, and once reconstituted in water)

The nutrient levels shown on the package will generally be based on the powder itself, NOT the formula created once mixed with water. As an example, check the following PDF for the Mazuri Omnivore formula. http://www.mazuri.com/PDF/5M70.pdf

In order to ascertain the true nutrient values of the food you need to factor in exactly how much water has been used to reconstitute the powder, into the final product. In the Mazuri formula it's based on a 50/50 mix of their powder, and hot water.

According to Ted's mix, it's based on 2/3 hot water, and 1/3 powder, which equates to the nutrient levels shown on the Repashy labels actually becoming less 2/3, once the product has been mixed in water.

Keeping that in mind, below is the info posted by a distributor for the Repashy "Meat Pie" formula which was designed for carnivorous species of fish.

Meal Replacement Gel for Omnivorous and Carnivorous Amphibians, Reptiles, Fish, Birds, and Mammals.


INGREDIENTS:Whole Krill Meal, Whole Squid Meal, Whole Sardine Meal, Whole Egg Powder, Dried Brewers Yeast, Carrageenan Algae , Konjac, Carob Bean Gum, Dried Kelp, Potassium Citrate, Calcium Propionate, Dicalcium Phosphate,Taurine, Spirulina Algae, Phaffia rhodozyma yeast, Paprika Extract, Calendula Flower Powder, Marigold Flower Extract, Rose Hips Powder, Turmeric Root Powder, Malic Acid, Sodium Chloride, Canthaxanthin, Potassium Sorbate, Magnesium Gluconate, Lecithin, Rosemary Extract and Mixed Tocopherols (as preservatives), Vitamins (Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D Supplement, Choline Chloride, Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Beta Carotene, Pantothenic Acid, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamine Mononitrate, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex, Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin B-12 Supplement).

DIRECTIONS: To make a one cup block of product, add 2/3 cup of water into a suitable microwavable container, add 1/3 cup of dry mix, and stir until blended. Microwave until it just starts to boil (2 to 3 minutes typical) remove and stir. Alternatively, you can heat water in suitable container on stove until it boils, remove from heat, and stir in powder. Let sit at room temp until cool. The product can then be cut into cubes, or used as a whole slab. Whatever is not used immediately can be stored in the refrigerator for up to one month. If long-term storage is required, it can be frozen. You can use more or less water to increase or reduce gel firmness.

Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein min. 55%, Crude Fat min. 8%, Crude Fat max. 10%, Crude Fiber max. 6%, Moisture max. 8%, Ash max. 9%, Calcium min. 1.5%, Calcium max. 2.5%, Phosphorus min. 0.75%.
Now reduce those nutrient levels by 2/3, and what do you really have? 66% water!

That's right, 66% of what your fish consume of that reconstituted food will be water. Now compare that to your dry foods, such as pellets (typically 6-10% water content) and then consider which product is more nutrient dense, and giving you a better bang for your buck. I'm also guessing that this new 'special' dry powder isn't going to be cheap, so factor cost in as well.

Mazuri at least spells that out clearly, so in their (Mazuri's) 50/50 mix a dry powder that consists of 55% crude protein, would become 27.5% crude protein once the food is reconstituted. The Repashy food would apparently be far less than that, as their mix is based on a 34/66 percent dry powder/water mix. Someone else will have to do the math.

And that doesn't factor in the water soluble nutrients, some which will not only be reduced once exposed to hot/boiling water, but also as described for fry, left to sit in your tank all day.

While I'll admit that gel foods can have their applications under certain circumstances, in my humble opinion when it comes to the vast majority of tropical fish, compared to any decent quality pellet, overall this food is a major FAIL.



HTH
 
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flowerpower

Feeder Fish
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Thanks for doing the research Dave & RD.

RD, wouldn't the water content of most any food source be high in a natural setting?
And in varying stages of decomposition as well, no?

The formula I used to use consisted of a mix of the following: whole shrimp, fish filets, various greens (whatever I had in the fridge), spirulina powder, multi vitamin, and a mish-mash of crushed flakes and pellets. And the gelatin powder of course.
It was messy, yes. But they didn't really leave much behind. I think turning the filters off at feeding time might be the answer.

If nothing else, it was a cheap treat that was thoroughly enjoyed by my fish. Very worthwhile imo.
 
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