It is important to introduce a variety of foods once you have established a pair.  A variety will improve the overall nutrition of the diet.  Broodstock must be in top condition in order to produce spawns with high hatchability and survival rates. Broodstock should generally be fed a minimum of twice per day and some breeders feed four times per day!  

I am personally fond of purchasing fresh/frozen seafood at the supermarket.  I vary my purchases (depending on season and what’s on sale!) so as to offer a variety.  Prawns, oysters, mussels, squid, smelt, octopus, and clams are typically used.  I will also add dried seaweed (Nori) and supplements on occasion, such as vitamins or Selco. Prawns, mussels, oysters, and clams are shelled and cut into smaller pieces and mixed with the other seafoods.   The mixture is placed in a sealable freezer-safe plastic container that is allowed to freeze (in the freezer) into a solid block.  It takes in excess of 24 hours to freeze solid enough so it will not come apart when you grate it, so prepare it well in advance of when you will need it.  Feedings are accomplished by allowing the frozen block to slightly thaw (about 20 minutes.) The block is then grated using a food ( cheeze ) grater  until the desired amount of food is ready to be fed.  The grating method provides various sized morsels.  The frozen block, being a mixture allows for a constantly varying diet.  I will occasionally feed dry flake food (spirulina).

There are a variety of prepared foods available.  Some are quite excellent, however, all manufacturers do not practice a “truth in labeling” and you are feeding unnecessary “fillers” to your broodstock, so some caution is advisable.  Regardless of whether you prepare your own feeds or by commercially available products, variety is the key to good nutrition.
 
 
 

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