goldfish food question

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Lupin

Lupin

Registered Member
Sep 21, 2006
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Lupin Information Super Highway/Goldfish Informati
thegab.org
Real Name
Paul
Hi Yulin,

What variant are your goldfish? How big are they and how old?

A few tips you can consider before purchasing foods for goldfish:

1. Avoid floating foods. Unless we are talking about pond type goldfish, we have to avoid floating foods particularly flakes and floating pellets since the round bodied fancy variants are predisposed to buoyancy issues once they ingest air which is often included in flakes, freeze dried stuff and floating pellets. A lot of foods tend to expand slowly and once the goldfish attempts to gobble them quickly, the foods expand inside the GI tract including air which when trapped disables its swimming balance.

2. Avoid starchy foods. Check the labels.

The flakes listed such as this one for example work just fine as an example. Top ten ingredients do not comprise mostly of starch which a lot of commercial products do since starch can manipulate protein content and thus are much cheaper to work with.
HBH NATURAL VEGGIE FLAKE PREMIUM: (FORMALY 8 VEGGIE GRAZE)

EXCELLENT FOOD FOR TROPHEUS AND PSEUDOTROPHEUS SPECIES AS WELL AS ANY OTHER HERBIVOROUS FISH.THIS IS THE SAME AS HBH GRAZE EXCEPT THE WITH NO DIES.​

MAIN INGREDIENTS: Spirulina Powder, Soy Flour, Pea Powder, Dehydrated Alfalfa Leaf Powder, Wheat Flour, Wheat Starch, Carrot Powder, Spinach Powder, Fish Meal, Fish Oil, Wheat Germ, Brewers Yeast, Kelp Meal, Zucchini Powder, Kale Powder, Beet Powder, Soybean Oil, Soy Lecithin, Wheat Gluten, Astaxanthin, Natural Mixed Tocopherols (Preservative), Rosemary Extract, L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (source of Vitamin C), Vitamin A Acetate, Choline Chloride, a-Tocopheryl Acetate (source of Vitamin E), Niacin, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin, Thiamin, Biotin, Pyridoxine HCl, Folic Acid, D-Activated Animal Sterol (source of Vitamin D3), Vitamin B12 Supplement, Zinc Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Magnesium Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Citric Acid, Salt​
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Now, if you look at this one. The top ten ingredients listed mostly grain products. They add up too much air for the fish especially as the bacteria responsible for digestion of starches are forced to produce air as the process goes on. Once air is formed, air becomes trapped in the GI tract making the goldfish go floaty.
Wardley Essentials-Goldfish Premium Flakes
Guaranteed Analysis
Crude Protein 34%
Crude Fat 4%
Crude Fiber 4%
Moisture 9%
Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) 200mg

Ingredients
Wheat flour, fish meal, corn gluten meal, wheat germ meal, Brewers dried yeast, dehydrated alfalfa meal, rolled oats, spirulina powder, soy protein concentrate, fish oil, herring meal, soy protein isolate, wheat gluten meal, rice flour, pea protein, crad meal, shrimp meal, lecithin, potato starch, lobster digest, krill digest, astaxanthin oil, spinach powder, chlorophyll extract, carrot powder, garden peas, diced zucchini, anise seed, choline chloride,L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate, Betaine, DL-Methionine, Marigold extract, Ethoxyquin (a preservative), Vitamin A supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Miacin supplement, calcium pantothenate, mendione sodium busulfite complex, folic acid, pyridoxine hydrochloride, thiamine monoitrate, biotin, vitamin b12 supplement, ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, copper sulfate, manganese sulfate, cobalt carbonate, potassium iodate, sodium selenite
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3. Avoid sugary foods. Some vegetables and mostly fruits contain high sucrose levels. They work well as a treat but not as a staple diet. Peas and sweet potatoes are a few of those you need to feed sparingly.

A list of sugary fruits and vegetables can be found here done by Dataguru. If you don't want to click the link, here's the list.

per 100 grams of food.

81.1g-Apples, dehydrated (low moisture), sulfured, uncooked
67.3g-Currants, zante, dried
66.5g-Dates, medjool
66.1g-Litchis, dried
63.4g-Dates, deglet noor
62.2g-Pears, dried, sulfured, uncooked
59.2g-Raisins, seedless
57.4g-Tamarinds, raw
53.4g-Apricots, dried, sulfured, uncooked
47.9g-Figs, dried, uncooked
47.3g-Bananas, dehydrated, or banana powder
43.9g-Tomato powder
41.7g-Peaches, dried, sulfured, uncooked
40.8g-Peppers, sweet, red, freeze-dried
40.8g-Peppers, sweet, green, freeze-dried
39.0g-Prune puree
38.8g-Maraschino cherries, canned, drained
38.1g-Plums, dried (prunes), uncooked
38.0g-Carrot, dehydrated
37.6g-Tomatoes, sun-dried
35.9g-Celery flakes, dried
27.4g-Pears, dried, sulfured, stewed, without added sugar
25.0g-Plums, dried (prunes), stewed, without added sugar
24.3g-Spices, garlic powder
23.4g-Figs, dried, stewed
22.4g-Mushrooms, shiitake, dried
19.6g-Apricots, dried, sulfured, stewed, without added sugar
17.2g-Palm hearts, raw
17.0g-Peaches, dried, sulfured, stewed, without added sugar
16.6g-Pomegranates, raw
16.3g-Figs, raw
16.3g-Grapes, american type (slip skin), raw
16.2g-Figs, canned, light syrup pack, solids and liquids
15.8g-Cherries, sweet, canned, light syrup pack, solids and liquids
15.5g-Tangerines, (mandarin oranges), canned, light syrup pack
15.5g-Grapes, red or green (european type varieties, such as, Thompson seedless), raw
15.4g-Sweetpotato, canned, syrup pack, solids and liquids
15.4g-Plums, canned, purple, light syrup pack, solids and liquids
15.2g-Litchis, raw
15.0g-Grapefruit, sections, canned, light syrup pack, solids and liquids
15.0g-Plantains, raw
15.0g-Apples, canned, sweetened, sliced, drained, unheated
14.9g-Apricots, canned, light syrup pack, with skin, solids and liquids
14.8g-Mangos, raw
14.5g-Pineapple, canned, juice pack, solids and liquids
14.2g-Plums, canned, purple, juice pack, solids and liquids
14.0g-Plantains, cooked
13.9g-Fruit cocktail, (peach and pineapple and pear and grape and cherry), canned, light syrup, solids and liquids
13.5g-Soursop, raw
13.3g-Peaches, canned, light syrup pack, solids and liquids
12.8g-Cherries, sweet, raw
12.7g-Pineapple, canned, light syrup pack, solids and liquids
12.5g-Persimmons, japanese, raw
12.3g-Cherries, sweet, canned, juice pack, solids and liquids
12.2g-Bananas, raw
12.1g-Pears, canned, light syrup pack, solids and liquids
11.8g-Figs, canned, water pack, solids and liquids
11.6g-Apples, raw, without skin, cooked, microwave
11.2g-Passion-fruit, (granadilla), purple, raw
11.0g-Breadfruit, raw
10.9g-Fruit cocktail, (peach and pineapple and pear and grape and cherry), canned, juice pack, solids and liquids
10.7g-Apricots, canned, juice pack, with skin, solids and liquids
10.7g-Blackberries, frozen, unsweetened
10.4g-Tomato products, canned, paste, without salt added
10.4g-Apples, raw, with skin
10.3g-Spices, paprika
10.3g-Peaches, canned, juice pack, solids and liquids
10.3g-Cherries, sweet, canned, water pack, solids and liquids
10.1g-Plums, canned, purple, water pack, solids and liquids
10.1g-Apples, raw, without skin
10.1g-Applesauce, canned, unsweetened, without added ascorbic acid
10.0g-Blueberries, raw
9.9g-Plums, raw
9.8g-Pears, raw
9.7g-Grapes, canned, thompson seedless, water pack, solids and liquids
9.7g-Pears, canned, juice pack, solids and liquids
9.6g-Jerusalem-artichokes, raw
9.4g-Kumquats, raw
9.4g-Oranges, raw, all commercial varieties
9.3g-Pineapple, raw, all varieties
9.2g-Apricots, raw
9.1g-Oranges, raw, Florida
9.0g-Cherries, sour, red, frozen, unsweetened
9.0g-Kiwi fruit, (chinese gooseberries), fresh, raw
8.9g-Tangerines, (mandarin oranges), raw
8.9g-Tangerines, (mandarin oranges), canned, juice pack
8.8g-Grapefruit, sections, canned, juice pack, solids and liquids
8.8g-Grapefruit, sections, canned, water pack, solids and liquids
8.5g-Oranges, raw, navels
8.5g-Cherries, sour, red, raw
8.5g-Blueberries, frozen, unsweetened
8.4g-Sweetpotato, cooked, baked in skin, without salt
8.4g-Orange juice, raw
8.4g-Peaches, raw
8.3g-Tangerines, (mandarin oranges), canned, juice pack, drained
8.1g-Melons, honeydew, raw
8.1g-Mulberries, raw
8.0g-Beets, cooked, boiled, drained
7.9g-Nectarines, raw
7.9g-Melons, cantaloupe, raw
7.7g-Loganberries, frozen
7.6g-Cherries, sour, red, canned, water pack, solids and liquids (includes USDA commodity red tart cherries, canned)
7.5g-Pineapple, canned, water pack, solids and liquids
7.4g-Currants, red and white, raw
7.3g-Grapefruit, raw, white, all areas
7.3g-Spices, parsley, dried
7.3g-Spices, coriander leaf, dried
7.1g-Pears, asian, raw
7.0g-Grapefruit, raw, pink and red and white, all areas
6.9g-Boysenberries, frozen, unsweetened
6.9g-Grapefruit, raw, pink and red, all areas
6.8g-Beets, raw
6.5g-Beets, canned, regular pack, solids and liquids
6.5g-Guavas, common, raw
6.3g-Grape leaves, raw
6.2g-Watermelon, raw
6.1g-Pears, canned, water pack, solids and liquids
6.0g-Rutabagas, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
5.9g-Peas, green, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
5.9g-Papayas, raw
5.9g-Guava sauce, cooked
5.7g-Sweetpotato, cooked, boiled, without skin
5.7g-Melons, casaba, raw
5.7g-Peas, green, raw
5.6g-Rutabagas, raw
5.5g-Beets, canned, drained solids
5.4g-Sweetpotato leaves, cooked, steamed, without salt
5.4g-Peas, green, frozen, unprepared
5.4g-Beets, canned, no salt added, solids and liquids
5.1g-Carambola, (starfruit), raw
5.0g-Sweetpotato, canned, vacuum pack
4.9g-Blackberries, raw
4.8g-Tomato products, canned, puree, without salt added
4.8g-Peas, edible-podded, frozen, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
4.8g-Peaches, canned, water pack, solids and liquids
4.8g-Waterchestnuts, chinese, (matai), raw
4.8g-Parsnips, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
4.8g-Parsnips, raw
4.8g-Apricots, canned, water pack, with skin, solids and liquids
4.8g-Carrots, frozen, unprepared
4.8g-Carrots, baby, raw
4.7g-Strawberries, raw
4.7g-Peas, green, frozen, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
4.6g-Strawberries, frozen, unsweetened
4.5g-Carrots, raw
4.5g-Onions, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
4.5g-Cowpeas (blackeyes), immature seeds, frozen, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
4.4g-Raspberries, raw
4.4g-Tomatoes, red, ripe, canned, stewed
4.4g-Cress, garden, raw
4.4g-Peppers, sweet, red, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
4.4g-Peas and carrots, frozen, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
4.3g-Peppers, sweet, red, sauteed
4.3g-Onions, raw
4.3g-Tomato products, canned, sauce
4.2g-Tomato sauce, no salt added
4.2g-Peppers, sweet, red, raw
4.2g-Lemon peel, raw
4.2g-Peas, green, canned, no salt added, drained solids
4.2g-Peas, green, canned, regular pack, drained solids
4.1g-Mung beans, mature seeds, sprouted, raw
4.1g-Spices, marjoram, dried
4.1g-Spices, oregano, dried
4.1g-Mushrooms, shiitake, cooked, without salt
4.1g-Carrots, frozen, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
4.1g-Corn, sweet, white, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
4.1g-Pepper, serrano, raw
4.0g-Cranberries, raw
4.0g-Peas, edible-podded, raw
4.0g-Tomatoes, green, raw
4.0g-Peas, edible-podded, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
3.9g-Tomatillos, raw
3.9g-Cabbage, red, raw
3.9g-Carrot juice, canned
3.9g-Leeks, (bulb and lower leaf-portion), raw
3.9g-Sweetpotato, raw, unprepared
3.9g-Dandelion greens, raw
3.8g-Turnips, raw
3.8g-Tomato and vegetable juice, low sodium
3.7g-Tomatoes, red, ripe, canned, wedges in tomato juice
3.6g-Cabbage, raw
3.6g-Tomato juice, canned, without salt added
3.6g-Burdock root, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
3.5g-Carrots, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
3.4g-Spices, ginger, ground
3.4g-Peppers, sweet, green, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
3.3g-Cabbage, red, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
3.3g-Pumpkin, canned, without salt
3.3g-Squash, winter, all varieties, cooked, baked, without salt
3.3g-Vegetable juice cocktail, canned
3.3g-Peppers, sweet, red, frozen, chopped, unprepared
3.2g-Cowpeas (Blackeyes), immature seeds, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
3.2g-Spices, turmeric, ground
3.2g-Peas, green, canned, no salt added, solids and liquids
3.2g-Peas, green, canned, regular pack, solids and liquids
3.2g-Eggplant, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
3.2g-Vegetables, mixed, frozen, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
3.1g-Cress, garden, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
3.1g-Seaweed, spirulina, dried
3.0g-Cauliflower, green, raw
3.0g-Taro leaves, raw
3.0g-Pigeonpeas, immature seeds, raw
3.0g-Cowpeas (blackeyes), immature seeds, raw
3.0g-Bamboo shoots, raw
3.0g-Turnips, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
3.0g-Seaweed, agar, dried
3.0g-Okra, frozen, unprepared
2.9g-Squash, winter, hubbard, cooked, boiled, mashed, without salt
2.9g-Cabbage, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
2.9g-Salsify, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
2.9g-Burdock root, raw
2.9g-Tomatoes, red, ripe, canned, whole, no salt added
2.9g-Okra, frozen, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
2.9g-Pimento, canned
2.8g-Mung beans, mature seeds, sprouted, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
2.8g-Peas and carrots, canned, no salt added, solids and liquids
2.8g-Squash, winter, butternut, frozen, unprepared
2.8g-Kohlrabi, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
2.8g-Spices, curry powder
2.7g-Dandelion greens, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
2.6g-Tomatoes, red, ripe, raw, year round average
2.6g-Kohlrabi, raw
2.6g-Squash, summer, all varieties, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
2.6g-Tomatoes, red, ripe, canned, whole, regular pack
2.5g-Squash, winter, spaghetti, cooked, boiled, drained, or baked, without salt
2.5g-Lemons, raw, without peel
2.5g-Radishes, oriental, raw
2.5g-Tomatoes, red, ripe, cooked
2.5g-Pigeonpeas, immature seeds, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
2.5g-Carrots, canned, no salt added, drained solids
2.5g-Carrots, canned, regular pack, drained solids
2.5g-Waterchestnuts, chinese, canned, solids and liquids
2.5g-Carrots, canned, no salt added, solids and liquids
2.5g-Carrots, canned, regular pack, solids and liquids
2.5g-Vegetables, mixed, canned, drained solids
2.5g-Vegetables, mixed (corn, lima beans, peas, green beans, carrots) canned, no salt added
2.4g-Avocados, raw, Florida
2.4g-Cauliflower, raw
2.4g-Okra, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
2.4g-Pumpkin flowers, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
2.4g-Peppers, sweet, green, raw
2.4g-Celery, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
2.4g-Turnips, frozen, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
2.4g-Eggplant, raw
2.3g-Squash, summer, crookneck and straightneck, frozen, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
2.3g-Cabbage, savoy, raw
2.2g-Cauliflower, frozen, unprepared
2.2g-Brussels sprouts, raw
2.2g-Mushrooms, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
2.2g-Mushrooms, canned, drained solids
2.2g-Squash, summer, all varieties, raw
2.2g-Squash, winter, butternut, raw
2.2g-Squash, winter, all varieties, raw
2.2g-Onions, canned, solids and liquids
2.2g-Spices, cinnamon, ground
2.2g-Peppers, sweet, green, sauteed
2.1g-Radishes, raw
2.1g-Brussels sprouts, frozen, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
2.1g-Arugula, raw
2.0g-Chrysanthemum, garland, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
2.0g-Squash, winter, butternut, cooked, baked, without salt
2.0g-Pepper, banana, raw
2.0g-Balsam-pear (bitter gourd), pods, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
1.9g-Bamboo shoots, canned, drained solids
1.9g-Squash, summer, crookneck and straightneck, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
1.9g-Asparagus, raw
1.9g-Mushrooms, raw
1.9g-Chives, raw
1.9g-Chayote, fruit, raw
1.8g-Celery, raw
1.8g-Radishes, oriental, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
1.8g-Mushrooms, portabella, raw
1.8g-Yambean (jicama), raw
1.7g-Brussels sprouts, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
1.7g-Squash, summer, zucchini, includes skin, raw
1.7g-Mushrooms, brown, Italian, or Crimini, raw
1.7g-Spices, basil, dried
1.7g-Spices, sage, ground
1.7g-Spices, thyme, dried
1.7g-Squash, summer, zucchini, includes skin, frozen, unprepared
1.7g-Broccoli, raw
1.7g-Ginger root, raw
1.7g-Cassava, raw
1.7g-Squash, summer, zucchini, includes skin, frozen, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
1.7g-Squash, summer, zucchini, includes skin, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
1.7g-Limes, raw
1.7g-Cucumber, with peel, raw
1.6g-Lima beans, immature seeds, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
1.6g-Mustard greens, raw
1.6g-Pokeberry shoots, (poke), cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
1.6g-Celeriac, raw
1.6g-Beans, snap, green, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
1.6g-Beans, snap, yellow, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
1.5g-Lima beans, immature seeds, raw
1.5g-Broccoli, frozen, spears, unprepared
1.4g-Broccoli, frozen, chopped, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
1.4g-Broccoli, frozen, spears, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
1.4g-Cauliflower, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
1.4g-Cabbage, chinese (pe-tsai), raw
1.4g-Beans, snap, green, raw
1.4g-Squash, summer, scallop, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
1.4g-Lima beans, immature seeds, frozen, fordhook, unprepared
1.4g-Broccoli, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
1.4g-Cucumber, peeled, raw
1.4g-Lima beans, immature seeds, frozen, baby, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
1.4g-Pumpkin, raw
1.3g-Lima beans, immature seeds, frozen, fordhook, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
1.3g-Kale, frozen, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
1.3g-Beans, mung, mature seeds, sprouted, canned, drained solids
1.3g-Broccoli, frozen, chopped, unprepared
1.3g-Asparagus, cooked, boiled, drained
1.3g-Kale, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
1.2g-Beans, snap, green, frozen, cooked, boiled, drained without salt
1.2g-Beans, snap, yellow, frozen, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
1.2g-Okra, raw
1.2g-Lettuce, cos or romaine, raw
1.2g-Squash, summer, crookneck and straightneck, canned, drained, solid, without salt
1.2g-Cabbage, chinese (pak-choi), raw
1.2g-Waxgourd, (chinese preserving melon), cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
1.2g-Potatoes, white, flesh and skin, raw
1.2g-Nopales, raw
1.1g-Nopales, cooked, without salt
1.1g-Chard, swiss, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
1.1g-Chard, swiss, raw
1.1g-Rhubarb, raw
1.1g-Rhubarb, frozen, uncooked
1.1g-Turnip greens and turnips, frozen, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
1.1g-Asparagus, canned, drained solids
1.1g-Cauliflower, frozen, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
1.0g-Balsam-pear (bitter gourd), leafy tips, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
1.0g-Pumpkin, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
1.0g-Garlic, raw
1.0g-Horseradish-tree, leafy tips, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
1.0g-Jute, potherb, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
1.0g-Artichokes, (globe or french), cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
1.0g-Beans, snap, green, canned, no salt added, drained solids
1.0g-Beans, snap, green, canned, regular pack, drained solids
1.0g-Beans, snap, yellow, canned, regular pack, drained solids
0.9g-Lettuce, butterhead (includes boston and bibb types), raw
0.9g-Lima beans, immature seeds, canned, no salt added, solids and liquids
0.9g-Spinach, frozen, chopped or leaf, unprepared
0.9g-Coriander (cilantro) leaves, raw
0.9g-Parsley, raw
0.8g-Broccoli, chinese, cooked
0.8g-Artichokes, (globe or french), frozen, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
0.8g-Cabbage, chinese (pak-choi), cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
0.8g-Turnip greens, raw
0.8g-Beans, shellie, canned, solids and liquids
0.8g-Lettuce, green leaf, raw
0.8g-Turnip greens, frozen, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
0.7g-Chicory greens, raw
0.7g-Pumpkin leaves, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
0.7g-Avocados, raw, all commercial varieties
0.7g-Seaweed, wakame, raw
0.6g-Broccoli raab, cooked
0.6g-Lambsquarters, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
0.6g-Seaweed, irishmoss, raw
0.6g-Beet greens, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
0.6g-Seaweed, kelp, raw
0.6g-Radicchio, raw
0.6g-Collards, frozen, chopped, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
0.5g-Turnip greens, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
0.5g-Spinach, frozen, chopped or leaf, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
0.5g-Beet greens, raw
0.5g-Lotus root, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
0.5g-Yam, raw
0.5g-Seaweed, laver, raw
0.5g-Yam, cooked, boiled, drained, or baked, without salt
0.5g-Taro, cooked, without salt
0.5g-Lettuce, red leaf, raw
0.5g-Collards, raw
0.4g-Soybeans, mature seeds, sprouted, cooked, steamed
0.4g-Spinach, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
0.4g-Spinach, raw
0.4g-Turnip greens, canned, no salt added
0.4g-Spinach, canned, drained solids
0.4g-Collards, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
0.4g-Taro, raw
0.4g-Poi
0.3g-Broccoli raab, raw
0.3g-Asparagus, frozen, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
0.3g-Mustard greens, frozen, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
0.3g-Basil, fresh
0.3g-Avocados, raw, California
0.3g-Seaweed, agar, raw
0.3g-Endive, raw
0.2g-Watercress, raw
0.2g-Alfalfa seeds, sprouted, raw
0.1g-Mustard greens, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
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4. Make sure the guaranteed analysis is appropriate for your goldfish of certain size and age.

Young goldfish tend to require lots of protein intake at 40% or higher which is why you find some goldfish food products that are designed specifically for young goldfish only. Check the labels again.

We have three types of Mazuri gel foods for instance.


As you can see, the 58LK and 5M70 have 57% protein content. That is very high for adult goldfish so what you have to do is choose the 5ML6 which much more appropriate for them. The other two are best used with young goldfish. Adult goldfish just cannot utilize excess proteins which are either flushed out and pollute the water (especially with high fiber content which by the way is very important for all goldfish) or remain stuck in the GI tract (that is not good as it increases incidence of bloat/constipation).

If you opt to try Mazuri, mix the Mazuri powder with homemade gel food that comprises ostly of vegetables so the fiber will be added to help flush out the excess nutrients that they eat which they may be unable to utilize.

I use Hikari Lionhead which promotes good wen development for orandas, ranchus, lionheads and lionchus. It can however be used for other varieties. It has high protein content but unfortunately, very low fiber which is typical for all commercial foods. It's still one of the best nevertheless.

For some cases of floaty goldfish, no matter which commercial food you attempt to use, anything that contains starch will cause such issue so your only option is to avoid it completely and go with gel foods instead. Homemade gel foods can be done or if you do not have time, get some baby foods made mostly of vegetables and mix them up with Knox gelatin, acidophilus capsules, multivitamins (preferably Centrum or Enervon) and calcium supplements (Caltrate).

Your other options are natural foods such as extra aquarium plant cuttings, bloodworms, mussels, clams, scallops, shrimps, daphnia, mosquito larva, chopped earthworms, vegetables and plenty more.

Hope this helps.:)
 
Y

yulinzzz

AC Members
Jul 28, 2009
59
0
6
IL
mine are pond fish comet and koi and about 2-4 in are any of the flake work?

Lupin said:
Hi Yulin,

What variant are your goldfish? How big are they and how old?

A few tips you can consider before purchasing foods for goldfish:

1. Avoid floating foods. Unless we are talking about pond type goldfish, we have to avoid floating foods particularly flakes and floating pellets since the round bodied fancy variants are predisposed to buoyancy issues once they ingest air which is often included in flakes, freeze dried stuff and floating pellets. A lot of foods tend to expand slowly and once the goldfish attempts to gobble them quickly, the foods expand inside the GI tract including air which when trapped disables its swimming balance.

2. Avoid starchy foods. Check the labels.

The flakes listed such as this one for example work just fine as an example. Top ten ingredients do not comprise mostly of starch which a lot of commercial products do since starch can manipulate protein content and thus are much cheaper to work with.


Now, if you look at this one. The top ten ingredients listed mostly grain products. They add up too much air for the fish especially as the bacteria responsible for digestion of starches are forced to produce air as the process goes on. Once air is formed, air becomes trapped in the GI tract making the goldfish go floaty.


3. Avoid sugary foods. Some vegetables and mostly fruits contain high sucrose levels. They work well as a treat but not as a staple diet. Peas and sweet potatoes are a few of those you need to feed sparingly.

A list of sugary fruits and vegetables can be found here done by Dataguru. If you don't want to click the link, here's the list.



4. Make sure the guaranteed analysis is appropriate for your goldfish of certain size and age.

Young goldfish tend to require lots of protein intake at 40% or higher which is why you find some goldfish food products that are designed specifically for young goldfish only. Check the labels again.

We have three types of Mazuri gel foods for instance.


As you can see, the 58LK and 5M70 have 57% protein content. That is very high for adult goldfish so what you have to do is choose the 5ML6 which much more appropriate for them. The other two are best used with young goldfish. Adult goldfish just cannot utilize excess proteins which are either flushed out and pollute the water (especially with high fiber content which by the way is very important for all goldfish) or remain stuck in the GI tract (that is not good as it increases incidence of bloat/constipation).

If you opt to try Mazuri, mix the Mazuri powder with homemade gel food that comprises ostly of vegetables so the fiber will be added to help flush out the excess nutrients that they eat which they may be unable to utilize.

I use Hikari Lionhead which promotes good wen development for orandas, ranchus, lionheads and lionchus. It can however be used for other varieties. It has high protein content but unfortunately, very low fiber which is typical for all commercial foods. It's still one of the best nevertheless.

For some cases of floaty goldfish, no matter which commercial food you attempt to use, anything that contains starch will cause such issue so your only option is to avoid it completely and go with gel foods instead. Homemade gel foods can be done or if you do not have time, get some baby foods made mostly of vegetables and mix them up with Knox gelatin, acidophilus capsules, multivitamins (preferably Centrum or Enervon) and calcium supplements (Caltrate).

Your other options are natural foods such as extra aquarium plant cuttings, bloodworms, mussels, clams, scallops, shrimps, daphnia, mosquito larva, chopped earthworms, vegetables and plenty more.

Hope this helps.:)
Click to expand...
 
barbarossa4122

barbarossa4122

AC Members
Nov 21, 2009
161
0
0
New York City
Hi Lupin,

Right now I feed my 8 juvenile goldies "Saky-Hickary Fancy Goldfish" sinking stick and they love it. I was told that is one of the best food for goldfish. Also they get Sally's frozen blood worms for snacks. The pkg says "for tropical fish" (my mistake when I bought it). Is this OK?

Happy New Year!
 
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