what's your beef heart recipe?

[Raven]

hello
lately ive been loking into making beefheart mix for my fish. i found several recipes so i sort of made up my own and wanted to know if anyone had suggestions or had a better one. i ve read the thread about garlic so i guess it cant hurt to put in a couple of crushed cloves.called my local butcher and all they have are deer hearts but i guess it can do.the lady looked at me funny when i asked for hearts but i explained(shee probably though i was into witchcraft.EEEK!) anyways here the recipe i plan on making

1 deer heart( all veins and nasties removed, finely chopped and rinsed
spinach( chopped up)
spirulina flakes
big cocktail shrimp(de-shelled and chopped and rinsed)
broccoli heads ( only the little balls)
4 cloves of garlic(crushed)
2 centrums(crushed i guess)

im supposed to run this through a food proccesor until everything is fine(should not look like pancake batter). then add in some gelatin and freeze flat in a baggie. when i need to get some just break some off and thaw. ive read about leaving the shells on the shrimp as ''roughage'' but im not sure this is very good for the fish. could you enlighten me on this and tell me if you had suggestions or changes that i should make in the recipe.thanks

[Mettle]

The shells on the shrimp are good for them. I always fed my SA/CA cichlids shrimp with shells on and the same with my piranha. Adds some extra to the recipe. Especially if you're putting it through a blend, anyway.

[Raven]

well ill be feeding tht mix to fish under 4 inches (kriv,af butterfly, gouramies ) . you think they can digest it?

[Mettle]

My 2" piranha did and so did the oscars I had when they were that small as well. My geos have also eaten it. I can't make any guarantees, but I personally don't see a problem.

If you're planning on feeding an African butterfly flish something that's not live - make sure the store you buy it from proves to you that they're on non-live food.

[luvfishies]

I'd skip the spinach (lots of oxalic acid in it, which inhibits calcium digestion) and use Kale or Dandelion leaves instead.

Paprika is a good additive, as are skinned grapes, believe it or not.

Definately add the shells of the crustaceans back into the mix. They're a great source of trace minerals and calcium. It's all going thru a blender/processor anyways, so no need to worry about them being able to digest it.

[Raven]

My 2" piranha did and so did the oscars I had when they were that small as well. My geos have also eaten it. I can't make any guarantees, but I personally don't see a problem.

If you're planning on feeding an African butterfly flish something that's not live - make sure the store you buy it from proves to you that they're on non-live food.

i was planning on feeding it small criquets to suplemment the beef heart.

[Raven]

I'd skip the spinach (lots of oxalic acid in it, which inhibits calcium digestion) and use Kale or Dandelion leaves instead.

Paprika is a good additive, as are skinned grapes, believe it or not.

Definately add the shells of the crustaceans back into the mix. They're a great source of trace minerals and calcium. It's all going thru a blender/processor anyways, so no need to worry about them being able to digest it.

ok. il try kale or dandelion leaves. ive read about paprika in a couple of recipes but never seen grapes. what do they both do?