The Puffer Forum

Ok- here's a question for you guys.

So I get my blood worms in those little cubes. But they are WAY too much for my little puffers to eat. I give some to the puffs, some to my bettas... and there is still a TON left over. Anything possible to preserve them? Any chance I can get blood worms in something smaller in those cubes? I know they come in bricks too, but it's so hard to break those things up!!!!!

Suggestions?

I get a few cubes and cut them into fours and put them in a ziploc freezer bag. You only thaw out a fourth, so there is less waste than thawing out the whole thing . I only have 1 little guy, so I quickly had to find a way to not waste a whole cube

must be a big knife you cut those cubes with!!!!! I was thinking about taking a chisel and hammer to them!!

I just have the little cubes and I just use a regular butchers knife

Does help if you run the blade under hot water and warm the metal, cuts easier

BumbleinGrey wrote:Does help if you run the blade under hot water and warm the metal, cuts easier

AWESOME tip! I will try this!! I can't believe I haven't thought of that before!

I also use a knife with sharp notches, cuts better. I would suggest cutting a lot at a time, as it's annoying to cut once a night. I do this for my 20G.

A well sharpened, strait edge kitchen knife will easily slice these cubes. It's a shame properly sharpened knives are a rarity in the modern world, while "never needs sharpening" ginsu knockoffs are the norm

Nick wrote:A well sharpened, strait edge kitchen knife will easily slice these cubes. It's a shame properly sharpened knives are a rarity in the modern world, while "never needs sharpening" ginsu knockoffs are the norm

Amen to that. Saving up to get a set of Henckels.. I believe that's the brand I've been eyeing up

They're excellent knives, the "fine edge pro" series are the best knives currently on the american market $ for $. The "forged pro" and "forged synergy" are quite expensive, but worth it, if not abused(no cutting down on metal or ceramic/porcelain) they will go months and months between sharpenings. The "fine edge synergy" are the only henckles knives I know of that are junk, avoid them at all cost. The fine edge pro are actually really easy to resharpen with no real skill and a simple under 20$ commercial pull-through sharpener, and will give many, many years of use with only quick monthly maintenance. Another good tip for keeping your knives in great condition is to never put them in the dishwasher - they vibrate their edges against other metal bits in there, getting dull very fast. Just rinsing the knives with some hot water then pulling them through a dishtowel to dry them before replacing them in the block is all the cleaning they really need, they are a polished stainless steel that will hold no germs which would need dishwashing to remove if simply rinsed and wiped immediately following use.

lol I'm at the mercy of my parents' knives But I think I can manage.. haha....
*note to self for when I move out: Get good knives*

They''re safer, too, result in far fewer "accidents" where you cut yourself because the knife isn't actually cutting what you're putting it to. A basic set of 3 fine edge pro henckles knives is one of the best ways to spend under 50$, and the 5" utility knife, #31462-135, runs under 15$ and can do nearly any basic kitchen task from paring fruit, cutting chicken, defatting steaks, to chopping vegetables for a salad.

I have a pair of scissors that I use. I cut the cube in half when it's frozen. Put 1/2 back in the freezer. Then the 1/2 that's out, I pick off some bloodworms for my guppies and betta, then give the rest (most of the 1/2) to Chomper my gsp.

You can also keep it thawed out in a small container in your fridge for up to 2 weeks. I usually soak it in Garlic Guard when I do that.

Nick wrote:They''re safer, too, result in far fewer "accidents" where you cut yourself because the knife isn't actually cutting what you're putting it to. A basic set of 3 fine edge pro henckles knives is one of the best ways to spend under 50$, and the 5" utility knife, #31462-135, runs under 15$ and can do nearly any basic kitchen task from paring fruit, cutting chicken, defatting steaks, to chopping vegetables for a salad.

umm...do you work for Henckle?
just joshing
If you have a Petco near you, they sell frozen foods in these little tabs (like sudafed) and they are pretty easy to cut when still frozen, but the gumdrop-sized "serving" probably won't be too much. I cut it in half and drop half in my DP tank and give the other half to my GSP.

They _should_ pay me, with the recommendations I give for them. Knives are one of my hobbies(I also cook, they go hand in hand) and the prevalence of "never needs sharpening" fake knives is one of my pet peeves.