How the heck do you use a turkey baster?

[davidrupe]

Ok, so I am Culinarily Challenged. Everybody keeps saying that they spot feed with a turkey baster. What am I doing wrong.

I take my baster, squeeze the top and suck up a bit of frozen food mixed with water. It goes into the tube but IT DOESN'T STAY THERE!! It drips out, even when I don't let go of the squeezy thing. How do you use these things?

 

[Yaktop]

you need a smaller baster or suck up more water. you need enough to form a vacuum inside the baster so that the only way it comes out is when you squeeze it.

 

[~Flighty~]

Most of them leak, I put mine into the water fast so the food stays in it. It also helps to seal the junction between the bulb and the long part with sillicone or teflon pipe tape so air doesn't leak in. Teflon tape is good because it is still easy to take appart and clean periodicly.

 

[Aquadiva]

It also helps to seal the junction between the bulb and the long part with sillicone or teflon pipe tape so air doesn't leak in. Teflon tape is good because it is still easy to take appart and clean periodicly.

Absolutely brilliant !!!

 

[~Flighty~]

Absolutely brilliant !!!

I need that right now. I have mush for brains since I'm only getting sleep in 1-2 hour incriments. Upshot is, I've gotten so good at changing diapers, I can almost sleep while I'm doing it.

 

[denvig]

Also hold it stright up and down untill you get it in the tank. If you tilt it it may run out.

 

[marco67]

As you take some time and get better with it, you can keep slight pressure on the bulb. That way keeping enough suction to hold the contents in. (if that explination makes sense?)

 

[JustDavidP]

I'll tell you what NOT to do...

Don't suck up foodstuffs that are still somewhat frozen in hopes that they will "stay in there better". First of all, the extreme cold is NOT good for whatever you are target feeding. Second issue, the food will get stuck in the end as you are trying to "dispense" it.... I've been there, done that. You squeeze harder and *POP* shoot a frozen silverside into your BTA like a 30/06 They HATE when that happens.

 

[blajoie]

Oh and one more thing. DO NOT BUY A METAL ONE. I cracked my older one the other day and needed one but could only find a metal one(supposedly it was Stainless). So being as stupid as I am I bought it(only $1.89 at walmart) Sure it came with some cool brushes to clean it, but...........the fish think it is some type of GIANT KILLER FISH. Ive never seen them that scared before. Lesson learned.

 

[JustDavidP]

wouldn't want to put anything metalic in my tank anywhoooo....

 

[The Jester2]

OK lets put this to sleep. Defrost the frozen food in water. Take another small cup of water when your ready to feed add the thawed food/water to the other Now you have more volume. Suck all that into the baster. Then hold the baster tip up all the fluid will drop to the bottom (bulb) you can then squeeze the bulb to remove all the air that is in the baster. Once all the air is out the fluid will stay in the baster. It's just like using a syringe. If fact that is what I use instead of a baster. I have access to large syringes. The work a lot better then basters.

 

[~Flighty~]

I try not to get food into the bulb because you can't see if pieces are stuck in there and there are some crevaces at the union. Rotted fish food can pass diseses to the fish. I hold the cup with thawed food and water over the tank while I use the baster, so if a little drips, no big deal. Holding the baster straight will help too.