Protein Supplements?

[BaylorPerez]

So lately ive been using some algae wafers with 40% Crude protein(dont know what the Crude means), and blood worms for some mild protein for my cories, yet i am wondering if their are other Protein foods i can feed my cories as i am now able to supply them with veggies every so often for a treat same as with the blood worms. But i know that my shrimp pellets have protein in them for which i feed them every so often, yet i want a protein supplement meant for bottom feeders (specifically catfish)

 

[Far_King]

Catfish pellets
 
I use these and a tub lasts ages and I have four tanks all with substrate fish http/www.amazon.com/Catfish-Pellets-Aquarium-Food-400G/dp/B004V4EK5W/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1457685970&sr=8-9&keywords=catfish+pellets

 

[Zante]

I make my own high protein food for my discus and the corys in the tank enjoy it very much.
 
I use about half a kilo each of

• fish (any mix of fish will do)
• shellfish (again any will do)
• shrimp (very good for binding)
• fruit and vegetables

which are processed in a meat mincer (the fruit and veg are blended). The fish and shellfish have to be raw and fresh, as in not frozen.
To that base I add spirulina, garlic, astaxanthine, salmon oil.  A heaped cup of whey protein bumps up the protein content. It has to be unsweetened, unflavoured and at least 75% protein (i found a supplier that has 80%). To that I add a couple of handfuls of flake, granules and/or freeze dried artemia, daphnia, bloodworm and/or anything else to soak up the liquid.

Bind everything with pure gelatine and you get nice loaves once set that can be sliced into single meal portions and frozen.

These quantities take me two or three hours of work to prepare and last me about 4 months of feeding daily to 20 discus and tankmates.

 

[Byron]

So lately ive been using some algae wafers with 40% Crude protein(dont know what the Crude means), and blood worms for some mild protein for my cories, yet i am wondering if their are other Protein foods i can feed my cories as i am now able to supply them with veggies every so often for a treat same as with the blood worms. But i know that my shrimp pellets have protein in them for which i feed them every so often, yet i want a protein supplement meant for bottom feeders (specifically catfish)

 
Almost any sinking food intended for substrate feeders will contain protein, even the "veggie" types.  Protein is not something you want to overfeed, and most foods contain somewhere in the 30-40% protein range which is sufficient.
 
Shrimp pellets are favoured by cories.  The algae wafers you feed sound good (veggie-based foods are important for fish whether omnivorous or carnivorous).  Raw vegetables have basically no protein, but they have other benefits, and if your cories eat them, fine (mine won't).  I also feed as a third sinking food the Nutrafin tablets.  I have found that my substrate feeders, whether cories, loaches or cichlids, all love these.  It may be the earthworm in them.  Most prepared foods are good in nutrients, though I tend to stay with certain brands like Omega One, New Life Spectrum, and the Nutrafin tabs.
 
Byron.

 

[BaylorPerez]

should i use the omega one fish flakes as well(they seem to sink after a couple minutes in the tank water anyway), as well as for the shrimp pellets, do snails eat them as well? it seems that the pond snails love them even though they are abit big for them.

i ask because i want to feed my cories something different daily, rather than shrimp pellets every day and algae wafers

 

[Byron]

should i use the omega one fish flakes as well(they seem to sink after a couple minutes in the tank water anyway), as well as for the shrimp pellets, do snails eat them as well? it seems that the pond snails love them even though they are abit big for them.

i ask because i want to feed my cories something different daily, rather than shrimp pellets every day and algae wafers

 
I have never found cories to be interested in flake foods that may have sunk, though some say differently.  The sinking foods are especially intended for substrate feeders, so if that is all you have, I would stay with sinking foods.  If you have upper-level fish (tetra, etc) then use both flake and sinking.  Be careful not to overfeed any of these.  A variety is probably a good idea, I use three brands (thre flake, three sinking) alternated so each (both flake and sinking) is fed twice a week.  I do see a preference from some fish, especially the flake, so this is probably a good idea.  I don't think you need do a different food every day; for one thing, it means opening several packages of food, and they do start to deteriorate once air gets to them.  This is not going to be a problem in a few weeks, but with seven different foods I could imagine them lasting for months if you are just feeding a few fish.
 
Which brings me to the snails...yes, they will eat any food not eaten by fish, and then they (snails) will eat the poop from the fish which is the real benefit.  This breaks down the organics faster so the bacteria can get at it quicker.
 
I find that flake foods are usually eaten within a couple minutes.  Sinking foods however can remain for hours, with the fish clustered around them.  That is fine, but again do not overfeed.  When I feed especially the veggie rounds that seem to last a long time, inevitably the cories will push one into a corner, and in no time there will be an enormous cluster of snails.  Fine.
 
Byron.

 

[BaylorPerez]

yea my algae wafers seem to attract my Mystery snails once they are in a corner(1 or 2 get into a corner) while the other 2 i drop into them seem to be munched on for a couple hours by my 2 cories