NaCl

This is a really basic question but I'd like to know: If you feed your fish frozen foods, do you let the cubes melt & come to room temp before putting in your tank or just drop them in the tank? Does it matter? I've always fed at room temp.

Thanks,
Sue

Steve113

You're best to defrost them at room temp.

If nothing else, the food can spread a little easier, and it's easier to eat.

The frozen cube may also hurt the fish.

I got lazy one day and threw in a cube of frozen food and my pleco was sucking away at it happily - for a couple of days after, he seemed to have a blister similar to a burn on his mouth. I don't doubt that this was from the frozen cube.

For example - lick your finger and touch the inside of your freezer and tell me if it's sore!

NaCl

Good analagy, Steve. Thanks. I'll keep thawing as I always have.

Shawnie

I put my cubes in a cup with some of the tank water and let them thaw a bit then feed also

Steve113

I tend to keep a shot glass by the fish tank for this purpose.
- saves the wife shouting at me for leaving fishy cups lying around in the kitchen!

Shawnie

I get yelled at daily for that...but I usually leave them on the last tank I fed

FL CommunityFans

I dont think I've ever had a cube stay solid once I've put it in the tank. I run it under some lukewarm warm for about 10 seconds squeezing it a bit, then when I throw it in the tank (usually halves or quarters of the cube) it spreads and breaks all over leaving little worm strands for the fish to do drive-bys at.

Steve113

I find that they will stay solid for a short while - the bigger the cube the longer it will keep it's shape.

My home made food is is a range of sized frozen blocks. The bigger blocks I have made are what hurt my plec so I tend to be a bit more careful now

Angela_96

I put mine in tank water as well, and thaw, then stir w/ a plastic fork and then feed. I keep a different cup for each tank to keep from cross contamination.

Steve113

Mine don't get any of that red carpet treatment - The block gets thawed in a shot glass then chucked in after 1/2 an hour or so Done. No nonsense!

I think it's unanimous:

"Thaw em out and chuck 'em in!"

NaCl

I like the "Thaw & Chuck" method. I think I'll stick to that.

Thanks everyone