You can just smash the pellets now. I just toss them in a plastic zip bag and whack it w/ a rolling pin or something of similar weight hehe.. ls also good for stress relief. just don't pound it to dust. also w/ the fish pieces.. when you cut up worms to feed ect soak the fish in the worm slurry a few minutes before you feed to get the smell on them. even in 1k gallons my 2 lil' retics can smell a worm in the water in a matter of 10 secs if that lol and they come zooming to investigate. same goes w/ the pellets. sometimes my guys will take them.. sometimes they won't. just make sure to remove any uneaten food later and otherwise just keep trying.