Article what's in your fish food?

The Good


South Antarctic Krill Meal - South Antarctic Krill Meal is unique in its good protein content, its strong palatability effect, natural beta-carotene content [in the form of astaxanthine], its excellent lipids & minerals profile and its chitin & chitosan constituent. 60.0% protein, 15% fat/lipids, 1.5% calcium and 3% phosphorous
Beta-carotene astaxanthin found in krill meal has an important role in the regulation of fish’ immune system’s besides its role as a pigmentation agent, enhancing disease resistance and boosting survival rates. It is also known as an essential fish growth regulator. (Christiansen et al., 1994; J. Torrissen, 1984)
Krill meal steroidal component located in krill’s cephalotorax region has proved a powerful and efficient promoting agent in the use of the protein found in feed diets. It therefore acts as a good growth promoting agent, increasing weight gain and feed conversion rates (Allahpichay and Shimizu, 1985)
Krill meal chitin content found on raw krill’s caparison has an average content of 2-4% of chitin. This way, krill meal is being studied as an immune system stimulant for some fish species. (Siwicki et al., 1994).
Salmon Fillet Steamed - 20.0% protein and 12.0% fat/lipids

Whole Fish Meal Low Ash - Menhaden is the primary fish used in producing whole fish meal in the U.S. The whole fish has a large portion of bone removed then is dried, cooked and ground into meal. 68.4% protein, 15.0% fat/lipids, 3.4% calcium and 2.2% phosphorous

Whole Fish Meal - Menhaden is the primary fish used in producing whole fish meal in the U.S. The whole fish is dried, cooked and ground into meal. 63.4% protein, 15.0% fat/lipids, 5% calcium and 3% phosphorous

Whole Fish Meal - Herring - The whole fish is dried, cooked and ground into meal. 52.1% protein, 15.3% fat/lipids and 15.4% Ash.

Fish Protein Concentrate - Fish protein concentrate (FPC) is a highly nutritious powdered product made from whole fish, with a protein concentration higher than that of the original fish. It is intended for human consumption. Although nutritious, FPC generally has poor functional properties. Depending on its quality and degree of refinement, it can be either used as a food ingredient to boost protein content or, as in some less developed countries, eaten directly as a food product in its own right. FPC can be categorized into three grades. Type A is a tasteless, odorless white powder whilst Type B retains a fishy flavor and odor. Type C is essentially hygienically produced fishmeal. In addition to regulatory and acceptability issues, FPC is only normally made from whole fish and hence is not considered a solution to seafood waste disposal problems. 80% Protein

Tilapia Fish Meal - The heads, racks and skin are dried, cooked and ground into meal. 13.75% protein, 12.7% fat/lipids and 3.56% Ash.

Whitefish Meal - Made from white fish and white fish offal (waste parts). 64% protein, 8% fat/lipids and 21% Ash.

Redfish Meal - Made from red fish and red fish offal (waste parts). 57.1% protein, 8.1% fat/lipids and 25.3% Ash.

Spirulina - Spirulina is blue - green algae (Cyanobacterium). It is a simple, one-celled form of algae that thrives in warm, alkaline fresh-water bodies. Spirulina is 45 to 60 percent complete protein, with all essential amino acids in perfect balance. Spirulina also provides high concentrations of many other nutrients - amino acids, chelated minerals, pigmentations, rhamnose sugars (complex natural plant sugars), trace elements, enzymes - that are in an easily assimilable form. 45% - 60% protein, 6.0% fat/lipids and 8% minerals.

Kelp - Kelp or seaweed is a green marine plant that is used in various applications. Kelp is called a "miracle plant" because of its huge therapeutic properties; kelp is the best natural source of trace minerals. 7.5% protein and 1% fat/lipids.

Brine Shrimp - Brine Shrimp have very high attractant values enticing even the finickiest fish to feed. High protein with roughage from the exoskeleton provides a great supplement for all fish. The Brine Shrimp’s exoskeleton also is a good laxative. Protein 50% and Fat 2%.

Plankton, sp. Euphausia pacifica (Ocean Plankton) - These are the smaller ocean plankton about 1/4” in length, some refer to this crustacean as “Krill” also. Protein 68% and Fat 8%.

Shrimp Meal - The whole shrimp is dried, cooked and ground into meal. These shrimp are culls not suitable for human use. Protein 44%, Fat 1.7% and Ash 20.4%.

Squid Meal - Squid Meal is made from squid viscera portions from cannery plants including the eggs and testis. Squid Meal is a highly digestible protein source for fish which provides a full range of amino acids, vitamins, minerals and cholesterol (1.0–1.5%) of cholesterol suitable for fish fry and young fish. Protein 64.7%, Fat 5% and Ash 10%.

Anchovy Meal - The whole fish is dried, cooked and ground into meal. Protein 50.3%, Fat 3.3% and 26.1% Ash.

Fish Oil - Oil extracted from cold water species of fish. Protein 0% and Fat 94.5%. This ingredient should make up no more than 5% of the fish food.


The Bad (At Least Somewhat)


Blood Meal - Yes you guessed it, it is meal made from warm blooded animals mainly used as fertilizer. Protein 66.8% and Fat 1.0%. Protein level higher than almost all of “The Good” ingredients. The amino acid profile is actually good containing ten amino acids. The lack of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids makes this a less than desirable ingredient.

Beef Heart - A popular ingredient in home made fish food. Protein 17.7% and Fat 3.9%. The lack of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids makes this a less than desirable ingredient.

Wheat Middling - Wheat Middling is a by-product of the flour milling industry comprising several grades of granular particles containing different proportions of endosperm, bran and germ. Protein 12.9%, Fat 3.5%, Calcium 0.1% and Phosphorus 1.1%. Your fish don’t get much use from grain protein so this binder is roughage.

Wheat - Wheat is a grain and should be fed coarsely ground or crushed for best results. Protein 9.1%, Fat 1.7%, Calcium 0.05% and Phosphorus 0.32%. Your fish don’t get much use from grain protein so this binder is roughage.

Wheat Flour - Wheat Flour is milled for the baking industry. Protein 14.2%, Fat 3.5% and Calcium 1.0%. Your fish don’t get much use from grain protein so this binder is roughage.

Ground Brown Rice - Protein 7.5%, Fat 2.7%

The Ugly

Soybean Meal - Soybean meal is the product remaining after extracting most of the oil from whole soybeans. Protein 40%, Fat 1.0%, Calcium 0.2% and Phosphorus 0.65%. If Soybean Meal is one of the first three ingredients on the fish food label run away as fast as you can! Your fish don’t get much use from grain protein so this ingredient used as a large percentage of the food will end up rotting in your tank. As you can see using a high percentage of Soybean Meal can raise the overall protein percentage without using high quality ingredients that actually benefit your fish.

Distillers Dried Grains with Soluables - Distillers Dried Grains with Soluables is rich in cereal and residual yeast proteins, energy, minerals and vitamins. Protein 22.7%, Fat 11.9%, Calcium 0.05% and Phosphorus 0.83%. Your fish don’t get much use from grain protein so this binder is roughage.

Brewers Dried Yeast - . Protein 40 - 45% and Fat 0.2 - 1.5%. If Brewers Dried Yeast is high on the ingredients list it can deceptively raise the protein percentage.

Flaked Corn - I like eating Corn Flakes for breakfast but don’t believe they do your fish any good. 7.1% protein and 2.5% fat. Your fish don’t get much use from grain protein.

Feather Meal - Yes you guessed it, it is meal made from poultry feathers mainly used as fertilizer. Protein 70.9% and Fat 3.0%. Protein level higher than any of “The Good” ingredients. Just think how this ingredient can skew the overall protein percentage.