Algin instead of agar agar?

[aquapeanut 0]

is algin okay to use instead of agar agar when making gel food? it's also algae-derived. has anyone ever tried it?

[dnalex 13,633]

is algin okay to use instead of agar agar when making gel food? it's also algae-derived. has anyone ever tried it?

I have never tried it, and from what I just read, I don't think that this is a good idea.

Algin absorbs water and expands. This is not something we want to happen in the digestive tracts of goldfish, who are already prone to digestive disorders.

Carrageenan is a good alternative.

I would rather you use gelatin over algin.

[Evening 102]

I'm pretty sure Algin doesn't just absorb water indefinitely. The expansion would probably only take place during the preparation phase.

[dnalex 13,633]

I'm pretty sure Algin doesn't just absorb water indefinitely. The expansion would probably only take place during the preparation phase.

This is not necessarily true, because it may not have reached the maximum amount it could absorb at the time.

[Evening 102]

Yeah, I guess that's true. It'd help to learn just how much water it holds, but I don't think it'll be that much of a problem. All starches expand in water, it's just what they do.

[dnalex 13,633]

All starches expand in water, it's just what they do.

Which is why we don't feed them to our fish. When we do, some of them have problems. That's the curse of the pellets, no?

[Evening 102]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but Agar is a starch too is it not?

[dnalex 13,633]

Nope. It's a polysaccharide chain of agarose

Starch is a composed of glucose chains.