Cologne Shrimp Food (CSF) by Peter Laden

Just got in my shipment of Cologne Shrimp Food (CSF)! CSF is the brainchild of Peter Laden who specializes in making organic food pellets. Asian shrimp food are not allowed to be imported into the EU due to strict food restrictions, hence European shrimp breeders typically use organic food such as spinach, stinging nettle and spirulina. 

There is a total of 12 containers, each 10g. Below is a list of all that I bought with a translated description taken from the CSF website. Food samples of all 12 are now available.

Bee Fruit

Freshwater shrimp especially need a varied and healthy diet. The new Bee Fruit mix is a combination of various selected fruit, nightshade plants, deciduous varieties, seeds (ground), grains and a serving of protein and algae. Selected different fruits and nightshades for the delivery of carotenoids (carotenes and xanthophylls), an umbrella term chromoplasts (xanthophylls, carotenes = carotenoids) for the supply of color-enhancing substances in yellow, red or orange in fruits and nightshades vorkomme very best grape seed flour with a high ORAC value for the supply of vitamins E, sodium ( minerals) and fiber.

The tomato provides: Vitamin A, B1, B2, C, E, niacin, phytochemicals, and minerals,

especially potassium and trace elements. The red pigment is lycopene, a carotenoid that has an antioxidant effect, strengthening the immune system.

Brown Millet is for the supply of numerous micronutrients and the precious mineral "silicon" responsible. algae of the highest quality proteins and ensure the delivery of amino acids,calcium, magnesium and a high concentration of bioactive agents useful for the construction of the tank.

Astaxanthin has a vitamin-like effect and has a positive effect on the immune system.

Baby Pro

Our tried and true CSF per baby is now available with improved formulation. After exhaustive tests by experienced shrimp farmers, we now bring our new baby CSF per as micro powder on the market. Here now available as stick!

CSF per baby is a food for young growing shrimp.

It is made from natural and carefully processed raw materials. These are personally selected by us and tailored to the needs of our shrimp.

Our selection for the new micro feed CSF per baby fell on the following components:

Spinach, nettle, rice bran, walnut leaves, nutritional yeast, Pollen, amaranth, montmorillonite, birch leaves, Healing earth green lipped mussel and beta-glucans.

Additionally enriched with vitamins, baby supplies CSF per most of your pups in the first few weeks with the most important vitamins and minerals for a healthy and rapid growth.

Macro Pro

Macro pro, is a food drive that is rich in high-quality vegetable and animal proteins. Spinach, nettle, walnut / birch leaves and peppers here are the basic plant components. Bloodworms and brine shrimp here are the animal protein-based components. Gammarids contain a lot of chitin. In the diet they have the function of to support the development of chitin carapace of invertebrates.

Spirulina contains a high percentage of vegetable proteins. Numerous vitamins and trace elements support a balanced diet. Walnut and birch leaves enhance the immune response.

Bee pollen is rich in vegetable protein, unsaturated fatty acids, vitamins, antibiotic substances, (Vitamin B, calcium, potassium, magnesium)

Black seed is rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, has an antibacterial and antifungal, regulates the immune system. It contains essential oils that give the stick a particular flavor.

Astaxanthin has a vitamin-like effect and has a positive effect on the immune system.

This balanced stick is also suitable for the nutrition of dwarf crayfish, Großarmgarnelen and other aquarienbewohnenden cancers.

Poe Pro

Poe Pro is made ​​of high quality ingredients, it contains valuable algae, grasses, Pollen and proteins. Intended as natural state main feed for all live-bearing tooth carps such as eg. Guppies, Platys, heavy carrier, also for any other fish.

Due to the shape as mixed granulate is for all ornamental fish sizes catered for. Of course, for shrimp and crabs, it is an excellent supplementary food! 

Spirulina contains abundant amino acids, vitamins and minerals, carotenoid and xanthophyll.

Chlorella is rich in chlorophyll, carotenoids, essential amino acids, valuable fatty acids as well as essential vitamins and minerals.

Spinach It is rich in vitamins and valuable minerals.

Nettles contain tannins, mineral salts, vital elements - especially vitamins A and C as well as iron, magnesium and potassium, with the nettle have a high level of silicates, which are helpful in shrimp and crabs after molting.

Pollen include calcium, potassium, magnesium, iron, copper, phosphorus, silicon, manganese, and sulfur. In pollen up to 30% protein are included as well as a variety of amino acids and is rich in provitamin A. 

Water fleas are rich in minerals and fiber. 

Gammarus (amphipods) are also a high-fiber food source.

Barley and wheat grass have a rich supply of vital substances. 

Moringo Pro

Here is a stick, which contains as a main component valuable olifera Moringa leaves. This foliage is so rich in content of essential amino acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamins and minerals, it surpasses all our popular vegetable and fruit crops.

Walnut leaves and strawberry leaves with their valuable tannins supported the molting and protected with their antibiotic and anti-fungal agents your shrimp.

Barley and wheat grass contain a variety of minerals, trace elements, enzymes and antioxidant substances.

Wild Garlic Mix

Dill: Dill contains carbohydrates, proteins and fats, trace elements potassium and calcium wild garlic: Wild Garlic contains vitamin C, vitamin K and folic acid and the trace elements potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron and manganese. Parsley: Due to the very high content of vitamin C, pro-vitamin A and potassium strengthens the body in a natural way.

Wild garlic has a comparable effect with garlic, but is milder- contains vitamin C, iron, magnesium

Hokkaido

The Hokkaido pumpkin is a breed variant of the well-known large squash that originated from Japan. The Hokkaido pumpkin contains less water, is not as rich in fibers and still very firm.

Hokkaido pumpkin is rich in vitamins A (beta-carotene) and C, vitamins of the B group (pantothenic acid, folic acid), as well as in the minerals and trace elements magnesium, calcium and potassium.

Most vitamins are below the shell, which is at the Hokkaido pumpkin co-used because it is very nice and tender.

In the invertebrate aquarium he is very popular and very well received by all herbivores. Finally we can offer you the much coveted Hokkaido pumpkin. Now, even in the form of a stick. The stick has the advantage that it quickly swells and through the open is better pelletisation , so that shrimp, crabs and snails can use it faster. He thus does not remain long in the aquarium.

100% free of any Düngemittlen or pollutants. Our pumpkin originates from Germany.

Medicare Mix

From the idea that "prevention is better than cure" , we have developed this food drive, tested and brought to market. Untreated ingredients which gently in a more than balanced have been processed, make him so valuable for our animals. An excessive load on the Auqarienwassers by negative organisms, often leads to more deaths in the aquarium. A regular feeding with the Medicare mix stick counteracts preventive.

Composition:

Nettle, echinacea, dandelion, lemon balm, peppermint, plantain, wild garlic, Marigolds, dill, parsley, cornflower, oats grass

Omnia Pro

Our freshwater shrimps are mainly detritus, they eat into the water fallen leaves and dead plants too, algae pads are diligently handled by them. Therefore, the main components of stinging nettle, spinach, seaweed and walnut leaves.

Paprika is rich in vitamin C and carotenoids get their shrimp a good coloration.

In order to achieve an adequate vitamin supply, deliver the shrimp valuable amino acids and omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, the sticks contain pollen. Pollen strengthen to the immune system because they contain antibiotic substances and digestive enzymes.

With montmorillonite particularly shrimp from the group who received bee shrimp a strong white drawing.

Amaranth is a valuable gluten-free cereal, which ensures an optimal supply of trace elements. It provides a balance of carbohydrates, proteins and essential fatty acids.

Yeast flakes are a healthy treat with a high content of vitamin B.

An adequate intake of silicates (silica) ensures the addition of healing earth, just awkward tomboy shrimp facilitates the conversion in the aquarium maintenance ....

Astaxanthin has a vitamin-like effect and has a positive effect on the immune system. It increases the fertility of their shrimp and enhances the color.

Mulberry

Mulberry leaves are rich in natural calcium, potassium, iron, vitamins, and antioxidants. Mulberry leaves are used especially in the Asian region as food for livestock. The classic use of mulberry leaves as fodder we know from sericulture. Our new improved production processes we have now an even finer, reach and harder consistency of the food sticks.

In a regular feeding with mulberry leaf sticks + were very good color improvements existing Farbpikmente noted in all the shrimp .

Composition:

Mulberry leaf, Montmorillonite, Calcium

Additive: 

Vitamin D3

Wildlife Mix

Our classic we have again improved. Yaki nori now additionally with. Very valuable supplementary feed for shrimps, crabs and Co. Especially for wild-caught and high breeding.

An adequate intake of silicates (silica) ensures the addition of healing earth, just awkward tomboy shrimp facilitates the conversion in the aquarium maintenance ....

100% natural from controlled cultivation without additional flavoring, attractants, preservatives, dyes, additives or artificial added vitamins.

We do not need anything more to write about spinach and seaweed. Additionally, here is a very high quality healing clay, which contains many important minerals.

Yaki nori contain all the essential nutrients such as vitamins, trace elements, especially iodine in a natural composition.

Some Shrimps Photos

Some may be wondering why, with my blog's title of "Showcasting Beautiful Shrimps", I have so little photos of my shrimps. Well, the reason is simple: I do not have a good camera. Currently, my best camera is my Samsung S3. My previous dedicated camera is a compact Fujifilm camera which I bought 7 years ago. It has always been my go-to camera until I realized that my S3 takes better closeup photos of shrimps. I'm eyeing a Panasonic Lumix GX-7 but at approximately S$1,200, it may take a while before my budget allows it.

In the meantime, enjoy some decent photos that I managed to take using my S3.

A closeup of my berried fire black shrimp. You can barely see the eggs underneath!

My berried fire black (in the middle) with the other fire blacks

One of my PBL. The white is really nice, but the black can use some working on (you can easily see a patch of brown on the head)

Another nice PBL

A "backshot" of my PBL

Setting Up An Algae Scrubber

In my PRL and PFR tank, I've having issues keeping nitrate level low (it is around 40 ppm). One way is to keep doing water change but it's too much a hassle and not conductive to keeping shrimps to have water parameters constantly changing. So I've decided to set up an algae scrubber and show you how I did it.

What you need:

1. External breeder box (I got the largest Satellite one with a length of 30cm)
2. Air pump
3. Light (Doesn't matter which kind but the stronger the better)
4. Screens with Algae
5. Aluminium foil

The external breeder box will be used to house your algae and you can't use an internal one as you want to encourage algae growth IN the breeder box, not in your tank (well if you love algae in your tank, then you won't need an algae scrubber....).

You'll need an air pump to drive air into your breeder box.

For light, a powerful halogen lamp is the best but it consumes a lot of electricity and it emits a lot of heat too. Another good choice is a fluorescent lamp but I chose to go with a LED lamp for power saving reasons. Don't worry too much about the wavelength of the light emitted, just go for the one which gives you the most wattage. I chose the 26cm Aquasonic LED lamp as the length is just nice for the breeder box, it can be attached to the box easily, and it's one of the cheapest LED lamp available.

So this is how it will look like at this stage:

Ideally, the lamp should be as close to the water surface as possible but this is the best I can do.

For screens, you can get plastic mesh screens like these:

I had these lying around but I initially got them from Daiso for $2 each. Before using them, make sure to scratch up the surface of the mesh. The algae will be able to take root better on the uneven surface.

To get algae to grow on them, pour some tank water into a container with the screens. Just place them in the sun for a week. It helps if you add fish or shrimp food as the additional ammonia and nitrate will help to encourage algae growth.

My screens don't have algae on them yet

The last thing to do will be to wrap the container in aluminium foil. The foil will serve to reflect light within the container so that every part of the box will be lighted. You can even wrap the entire box AND the lamp so that there is no light leakage but I didn't go that far.

The final product will look like this:

I typically switch on the lamp at 7am in the morning when I leave for work and switch it off at around midnight when I go to bed. Plants can only photosynthesise for 18 hrs a day so it's pointless to leave your lamp on 24/7. I can't comment on the effectiveness of this setup yet as my screens aren't filled with algae but I'll give an update in a few months' time. Hopefully, it'll be able to reduce my nitrate level to zero and keep it that way.

Selling Shrimp Food Samples

I recently got into a shrimp food shopping frenzy and bought way too many shrimp food. While it's possible that I finish using all of them in my lifetime, most will have long expired by them. Hence, I've decided to sell them in samples of 3g using a new digital weighing scale that I got (apparently it's accurate to 2 decimal points). They will be packed in a small ziplog bag as shown below. If you're interested in any of them, please send me an email and we can discuss the transaction. 

The List
Azoo

1. Max Breed:  $1.20
2. Max Growth: $1.10

Benibachi

1. Kale Food: $3

Borneowild

1. Color: $1.70
2. Grow: $2

Dymax

1. Shrimp: $1

Lowkeys

1. Hiden No Esa: $2.60
2. Ultra Supple: $2.70
3. B18 Power Protein (5 pellets): $2.50

Mosura

1. Specialty Crystal Red Shrimp Food: $2.10
2. Graze: $2
3. Excel: $2.50
4. Bioplus: $2
5. Gravidas: $$2.50

Ocean Nutrition

1. Shrimp Wafers: $1.70

Oista

1. Shrimp Food (Free with every 5 samples)

Peters Laden Cologne Shrimp Food

1. 5 Variety Mix: $0.70
2. Bee Mix: $1
3. Power Mix: $1.50
4. Spinach Sticks: $0.70
5. Bee Fruit: $3.30
6. Baby Pro: $2.60
7. Macro Pro: $2.50
8. Poe Pro: $2
9. Moringo Pro: $2.30
10. Wild Garlic Mix:
11. Hokkaido: $2.30
12. Medicare Mix: $1.50
13. Omnia Pro: $3
14. Mulberry: $1.50
15. Wildlife Mix: $2

Totto

1. Exclusive For Crystal Shrimp: $1

Azoo Shrimp Food Review: Max Growth, Max Breed and Max Bio Ball

All three packages side by side

Background

Today, I'll go through all 3 of Azoo's shrimp food products: Max Growth, Max Breed, and Max Bio Ball. They can be found in many LFS and you may notice two other products, Max Shrimp Breed and Max Shrimp Meal, in bottle form. At first I was confused by these products and wondered how different were they from Max Growth and Max Breed (which come in packet form). After comparing the ingredient lists and product descriptions, I conclude that Max Growth and Max Shrimp Meal are the same, and Max Breed and Max Shrimp Breed are the same, just in different sized packagings (the bottled packagings are smaller).

Introduction

Max Growth Food Strips

From Azoo Corporation:

Max Growth

Max Breed Food Strips

Specifically formulated for promoting shrimp’s growth. Well balanced nutrition, suitable for juvenile and adult shrimp. Effectively promote shrimps’ growth, boosting shrimps’ immunity. Rich in spirulina, shrimp meal, kelp and lecithin, providing shrimp’s body color enhancement and stimulating shrimps’ shedding for growth. Specifically made with a stable, not easy to break quality, won’t make the water cloudy.

Ingredients: Fish meal, shrimp meal, spirulina, kelp, brewer's yeast lecithin, barley's powder, oat powder, buckwheat powder, collagen, enzyme, chitonsan, multi-viatmins, minerals

Max Breed

Specifically formulated for promoting shrimp’s eggs laying. Well balanced nutrition, suitable for juvenile and adult shrimp. Effectively promote shrimps' gonadal development, raising the rate of laying eggs. Rich in spirulina, shrimp meal, kelp and lecithin, providing shrimp’s body color enhancement and rapid growth. Specifically made with a stable, not easy to break quality, won't make the water cloudy.

Ingredients: Fish meal, shrimp meal, spirulina, kelp, brewer's yeast lecithin, barley's powder, oat powder, buckwheat powder, collagen, enzyme, chitonsan, gonadotropin, multi-viatmins, minerals

Max Bio Balls

Max Bio Ball in Tank 

Safe/ Stable/ Long Lasting. Contains selected beneficial bacteria and enzymes, effectively breaking down ammonia, nitrite and nitrate in the substrate and water. Slowly breaks down for the build-up of stable and long- lasting bio bacteria colony in the gravel bed. Each ball contains 2×107 bacteria. The bacteria process starts when put in the water.

Each ball treats 50~100 liters of water. Use every two weeks. Put directly onto the gravel bed for use. After opening, properly seal the bag. Keep dry and store in cool place.

Ingredients: Bacillus subtilis, aspergllus olize, bitido bacteruru, protease, α-amylase

My Thoughts

If you've seen the photo I've posted of the Max Growth and Max Breed, and take a closer look at the ingredients list, you'll think that they are almost exactly the same thing. All that's different in ingredients is gonadotropin. Search for it in Wikipedia and it's a protein hormone that " regulates normal growth, sexual development, and reproductive function". In other words, it helps shrimps to grow up normally and to enhance their breeding capabilities. To me, it's like they are the same products, both inciting the same response from shrimps. IMO, there's no point getting both, either one is fine.

The Max Bio Balls is more interesting, and I think it's similar to the Benibachi Crimson Balls. I drop one in my main 2ft tank, and another into my new 2ft tank when it's still cycling. After a week, I can see a film around the ball in my new tank, which I assume to be a biofilm of bacteria. The biofilm disappear within the hour after introducing new shrimps.

The balls are supposed to break down ammonia, nitrite and nitrate, but the level of nitrate in my new tank is still high at 40 ppm without water change. Also, they are not enough to be a food source for even a small amount of shrimps.

Yay or Nay?

If you don't have any staple food and you're looking for one, you shouldn't go wrong with either the Max Growth or Max Breed. However, don't expect any miraculous growth or breeding effect with them.

The Max Bio Balls are pretty pricey at $1 per ball, and they are stated to only work for 2 weeks each. Although they work (not sure about getting rid of ammonia, nitrite and nitrate but they do cultivate bacteria), I'm sure sure they're worth what you pay for it. The Benibachi Crimson Balls may be a better option as they work up to 2 years but they are more expensive at $46 for 10 balls. IMO, plants and water changes are better at managing your water nitrate level.

Quick Introduction To What I Have

Since this is a new blog, I thought I'll start off with my 2 setups and the shrimps in them. In the next week or so, I should have some PBL in my new tank. I'll also add more photos of my shrimps once I've more time to take more shots. For the moment, enjoy!

Tank with Pure Red Line and Painted Fire Red Shrimps

Pure Red Line Shrimps

Painted Fire Red Shrimp

 New Tank with Painted Fire Black Shrimps and Soon-To-Be-Added Pure Black Line Shrimps

Painted Fire Black Shrimps

Other Shrimp Food Review: Mosura Graze

Background

One of the biggest worries of a shrimper going on holiday is his shrimps dying of hunger while on vacation. One alternative is to use a food timer but it's hard to find one that can deliver food in small amounts for shrimps. On my last trip, I used barley straw pellets to great success. Barley straw pellets have the triple benefits of cultivating bacteria for shrimps to feed on, moderating water and not decaying in water. Unfortunately, its biggest drawback is that each pellet breaks down into really tiny pieces that easily clog up your shrimp guard. They are almost impossible to remove from the water as they are just really small, they do not decay, and shrimps do not feed on . As a result, you get one messy tank with a half-clogged shrimp guard.

I came across a thread on AQ that introduced the Mosura Graze and I was immediately intrigued to its potential as a holiday food.

Introduction

From Mosura: 

Mosura Graze is a specially selected growth media for mycelia. Mycelia is the vegetative part of fungi that generates nutritive components such as crude protein, amino acid, crude fat, crude cellulose and polysaccharide, all of which are important for shrimp growth and well being.

Even though the shrimps are attracted immediately to Mosura Graze when it is introduced into the tank, it is perfectly normal to have white flakes left over. These flakes do not polute water and will serve as a medium for mycelia to grow. As a result there will be a constant source of food for the shrimps for weeks (depending on the amount dosed and the amount of livestock), thus making it to suitable to be used as a food supplement during holiday periods.

Ingredients: Processed bean extract

Bought from: Green Chapter

Price: $16

My Thoughts

Although each piece look like a compressed bean, once in water, it will quickly break up in water into a mass of medium white flakes. Like barley straw, these flakes do not decay but unlike barley straw, they do not float around your tank and due to their size, they are easier to remove (but you shouldn't) and shrimps fit on them. It'll take a couple of week for the shrimps to finish them though. 

Each pellet will break down into a large mass of flakes and 1 pellet is usually enough for 30 to 50 shrimps for a couple of week. I normally won't use them as a staple food and prefer to use them only as a holiday food. Hence, each packet should be able to last you a long time (unless you're a frequent flyer).

Yay or Nay? Definitely Yay

I think there is no better holiday food for shrimps. In addition, if you're too lazy to feed your shrimps daily, or have too many tanks to keep track of, then its good to have some Graze in there as backup.