How long does fish food last?

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cichlidcichlid

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Jun 15, 2006
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I have three containers of fish food underneath my tank that have to at least be 2-3 years old. They are taking up space and if they are no good then I will toss them. One of them was from my torn down planted tank, a gold fish pond, and a miscellaneous container of spirulina flakes. I do not want to become a pack rat, but at the same time do not want to be wasteful.
 

Glabe

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nerdyrcdriver

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Sep 1, 2011
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I was told that anything over 9 months is bad. But from answers I got here when asking the question is after 9 months it looses its nutritional value to them. It is just filling their tiny stomachs without any nutrients they should be getting from the food.
 

platytudes

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Nov 4, 2006
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When I have food that is so old like that, I give it to my friend, who has a pond full of natural fish. His mosquitofish and bluegills have grown really enormous on the 5 lb bucket of Spirulina flake that I got as part of a package deal! I didn't know how old the food was, but it had no smell at all so I'm assuming quite stale. Also, it was stored outside in a shed so I figured it had to have been zapped of nutrition by then.

So anyway, if you know of a place with a goldfish pond or anything like that, I would maybe dump it there...or put it in the compost maybe. If not, just toss it and next time buy smaller containers so they will get used up quicker :)
 

londonloco

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Oct 15, 2009
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I keep my food in the freezer, lasts forever, at least for me it does :) If it's been stored in a cabinet, I would toss it.
 

fishorama

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Jun 28, 2006
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I vote 6-12 months...with freezing a good option, Yes, it degrades as the fats & protien ages but it's not a lost cause if you feed other foods too.
 

TheFishBoss97

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Feb 12, 2011
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+1^ on freezing;)

i have these tetra crisps with each one a diff. color representing diff. nutrients, it could probably still feed a koi pond with 10 adult koi for 6-8 months with 2 feedings a day
its from when i first started fish keeping 2.5 years ago.......lol

still only done using 10% of it.........****, its huge:)
 

iheartbettas

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Sep 9, 2010
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6-9 months if you are a non- pack rat
1-2 years if you are a pack rat
Forever if you are a hoarder

I'm still using betta medly from my first betta which was over a year ago and the fish still seem to go after it.
 
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