Variety is key, fish jsut like variety as we humans do. I cant eat mcdonalds everyday, maybe twice a week, i have to mix it up and fish like it that way too.
Good food for Primarily Cichlid Tanks, (I know it's cliche..)
- Thread starter Rocketman
- Start date
I whole-heartedly agree with most all posts supporting
VARIETY in the food given to fish. Let me, however,
point out that one should look at the ingredients you are
feeding!! By variety....I don't think the fish care whether
food comes to them in a wafer, a pellet or a flake!!!
The form the food takes is only a matter of "familarization"
for the fish. The fish will "recognize" what it sees and
remembers it as food (with a bit of instinctive reaction as
well).
Nevertheless, most foods use a "FISH MEAL" as the main
or chief ingredient!!! The rest is mostly binders and
vitamins, etc.
So if you want to feed "VARIETY" ..... LOOK at your ingredient
label..... just like some do for human food!
Omega One (which admittedly I use, sell and recommend)
is the only one I've found which offers a VARIETY of non-
meal ingredients:
Whole Salmon, Halibut, Black Cod, Whole Herring, Krill,
Rockfish, Shrimp, Squid, Clams, Octopus and more!!!
(That's right off their Label!!)
Show me another food which offers that kind of variety
and I'll definately try it too!!
Just thought I'd point out the mis-direction when we
talk "variety"
Bernie
VARIETY in the food given to fish. Let me, however,
point out that one should look at the ingredients you are
feeding!! By variety....I don't think the fish care whether
food comes to them in a wafer, a pellet or a flake!!!
The form the food takes is only a matter of "familarization"
for the fish. The fish will "recognize" what it sees and
remembers it as food (with a bit of instinctive reaction as
well).
Nevertheless, most foods use a "FISH MEAL" as the main
or chief ingredient!!! The rest is mostly binders and
vitamins, etc.
So if you want to feed "VARIETY" ..... LOOK at your ingredient
label..... just like some do for human food!
Omega One (which admittedly I use, sell and recommend)
is the only one I've found which offers a VARIETY of non-
meal ingredients:
Whole Salmon, Halibut, Black Cod, Whole Herring, Krill,
Rockfish, Shrimp, Squid, Clams, Octopus and more!!!
(That's right off their Label!!)
Show me another food which offers that kind of variety
and I'll definately try it too!!
Just thought I'd point out the mis-direction when we
talk "variety"
Bernie
I once saw someone who had a school of piranha he trained to eat dog food pellets... may sound like a stupid question, but would it work for cichlids?
I'm sure you could.... But Why?? The ingredient make-up of
dog food is entirely different than that needed for FISH!!
So, other than maybe to save money... Why would you
rish the health of the fish??
Bernie
dog food is entirely different than that needed for FISH!!
So, other than maybe to save money... Why would you
rish the health of the fish??
Bernie
Well, lets see... Lets take a fish food, TetraFin Five Star Formula:
Wheat Starch, Fish Meal, Screened Cracked Corn, Cracklings, Dried Potato Products, Soybean Oil, Shrimp Meal, Torula Dried Yeast, Wheat Germ Meal, Monobasic Calcium Phosphate, Algae Meal, Lecithin, Artificial Colour, Ethoxyquin as Preservative.
Where the heck do fish eat any of that in the wild, anways? But compare it to cat food (which would have the fish component in it):
Chicken Meal, Ground Yellow Corn, Lamb Meal, Corn Gluten Meal, Poultry Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols and Ascorbic Acid), Ground Whole Wheat, Dried Brewers Yeast, Fish Meal, Corn Germ Meal, Salt, Dried Beet Pulp, Dehydrated Cheese
A lot of it is the same stuff... both have fish meal, both have, wheat and corn meal... seems like it would be fairly compatable.
I'm sure there are certain ingredients... in certain proportions
that could be used and are used in different animal foods,
that overlap;
but they are made entirely different for for each.
Binders are different, vitamins & preservatives are different,
and on and on.
I, personally, don't like to use any "meal" products for fish.
Period.... which is why we feed Omega here, which does
not use any "meal" as binders.
But, if you would rather, go ahead and use the dog food.
I know of some folks that even use it in their ponds for
goldfish. So, if you're convinced all food is the same...
go for it. I just thought I'd point out that there really
are differences... For the most part, you get what you
pay for.
Bernie
that could be used and are used in different animal foods,
that overlap;
but they are made entirely different for for each.
Binders are different, vitamins & preservatives are different,
and on and on.
I, personally, don't like to use any "meal" products for fish.
Period.... which is why we feed Omega here, which does
not use any "meal" as binders.
But, if you would rather, go ahead and use the dog food.
I know of some folks that even use it in their ponds for
goldfish. So, if you're convinced all food is the same...
go for it. I just thought I'd point out that there really
are differences... For the most part, you get what you
pay for.
Bernie
Since I work at a Pet Store and have four tanks I am quite familiar with all those major foods...
A few people mentioned Omega One, and I see why. Does anyone have any prefrences between Omega One, Two, Brine Shrimp Plus, or the frozen food?
Also, just a small little question...Besides live baby Brine Shrimp, what could I feed baby convicts? I suppose it would have to be something in flake form, (I'm talking about the first 4 weeks) so any suggestions? Or just something high in Protein?
A few people mentioned Omega One, and I see why. Does anyone have any prefrences between Omega One, Two, Brine Shrimp Plus, or the frozen food?
Also, just a small little question...Besides live baby Brine Shrimp, what could I feed baby convicts? I suppose it would have to be something in flake form, (I'm talking about the first 4 weeks) so any suggestions? Or just something high in Protein?
We use Freeze-dried Brine Shrimp here or finely ground up
ocean plankton. However Hikari make a pretty good
food called "first bites" .....however, it does use fish meal;
so I tend to prefer the FD Brine or Oc Plankton.
Bernie
ocean plankton. However Hikari make a pretty good
food called "first bites" .....however, it does use fish meal;
so I tend to prefer the FD Brine or Oc Plankton.
Bernie
Are you referring to Omega's Brine Shrimp Plus when you say freeze-dried? I have seen some plankton...most notably those Seeweed select things, (they're packaged in something that looks like frozen food.) Any particular brands?
No, I was referring to the standard freesze-dried BS that
many diff makers put out (like Hikari, etal.); I use a private
label version that I get in from the West coast and pkg it
up here in my store (we get it in bulk and is very fresh supply).
Its quite popular here. One of the chief reasons I use it for babies or young fish is that it can be finely ground up (fingers)
and is very tasty and high in protein (55%+) which is good for
growth rates.
Bernie
P.S. Don't think Omega has a Brine Shrimp Plus??
many diff makers put out (like Hikari, etal.); I use a private
label version that I get in from the West coast and pkg it
up here in my store (we get it in bulk and is very fresh supply).
Its quite popular here. One of the chief reasons I use it for babies or young fish is that it can be finely ground up (fingers)
and is very tasty and high in protein (55%+) which is good for
growth rates.
Bernie
P.S. Don't think Omega has a Brine Shrimp Plus??
