Posts Tagged ‘Fish’

What to Consider When Buying Frozen Fish Food

Thursday, July 15th, 2010

Do you have a fish filled acquarium in your home or office? If this was a new purchase, you may have many questions. One of the most common questions asked by new fish owners concerns food. Your first impulse may be to head to your local pet store and purchase the cheapest food available. Yes, this will do, but there is a much better option. That is buying frozen fish food from a trusted online retailer. Wait! Frozen fish food? As a new acquarium owner, you may have never heard of frozen fish food. You may also wonder what the benefits are and how to buy it.

Frozen fish food has many benefits. The greatest benefits it the nutritional value retained. These important nutrients are often lost through the entire process of making and packaging dry fish food. The added nutrients from frozen fish food can increase the energy and color of your fish. Not only do your acquarium fish reap the benefits, but you do too. You will get pride and joy from seeing your fish in their prime, full of energy and color.

You now know the benefits of feeding your acquarium fish frozen food, but how can you buy it? What factors should you consider?

Your acquarium contents. Frozen fish food is available for a wide range of fish; however, you will usually find an emphasis on marine and corals. As previously stated, it is recommended that you buy frozen fish food online, as you are presented with more choices and better prices. You should also get detailed descriptions. However, when in doubt, place a call to the customer service department. They can help ensure you choose the frozen food best for your acquarium fish.

Your acquarium fish size and food size. Since frozen, this fish food usually comes in cubes. For example, a coral food mix may come in 100G cubes, 200G cubes, or 1LB cubes. It is best to opt for the right size. When buying, consider the size of your fish. If not given a choice, frozen fish food cubes can be thawed and cut into smaller sizes.

The online retailer that you make your purchase through. As previously stated, buying frozen fish food online has its benefits. You get a better product selection and prices because there are many retailers to choose from. For your benefit and the benefit of your fish, make your choice wisely. Since you may have questions, ensure there is a customer service phone number or email available. Then, consider price.

Your shipping options. Although it is best to buy frozen fish food online, you must proceed with caution. To keep your food safe and to retain all nutrients, proper shipping is a must. Since the product is frozen, it cannot be shipped like traditional mail. A quality retailer will generally use two-day shipping with FedEx or UPS. Your purchase should be shipped in a Styrofoam cooler and with ice packs.

Your shipping costs. Shipping costs vary greatly online. If you are not careful, it can significantly increase the cost of your purchase. With frozen fish food, you are presented with a unique opportunity. You continue to freeze at home, meaning there is no rush to use the food before it goes bad or starts to produce mold. To save both time and money, opt for an online fish supplier that has flat rate shipping. You pay the same shipping costs regardless of quantity. Stock-up and get a better rate.

You now know how to buy frozen fish food and get the best value for your money, but what about when that food arrives? If this is your first time feeding your acquarium fish frozen food, carefully read the instructions on the package. Although you may find a variance, you should:

Begin thawing your frozen fish cubes twenty to thirty minutes before feeding time. Using hot water to hurry the thawing process is not advised. A constant stream of hot water decreases the freshness and nutritional value. Remember, the nutritional value was one of the benefits of frozen fish food, so don’t wash it away.

Only thaw what you need. Frozen fish food should not be refrozen. This reduces the nutritional value and does pose health risks. Luckily, most fish foods that are frozen come in resealable plastic bags. Grab what you need for the next feeding, set that cube aside to thaw, reseal the package, and put in your freezer immediately.

Buying fish food from a reputable online retailer has many benefits, including better prices and a large selection of products. Visit FishTanksDirect.com to view their large and affordably priced selection of food, including frozen fish food .

Fish Food: Tips For Feeding Your Aquarium Fish

Wednesday, April 14th, 2010

Many of us dream of having an aquarium filled with beautiful fish. Did you recently take the jump and make the purchase? If so, you are likely to have many questions. One of those questions likely focuses on aquarium fish food. Continue reading on for helpful tips that can ensure your fish are well cared for, as well as how to get the best value for your money.

There are many different types of fish food available for sale. Take a walk through your local fish or pet store and you will be surprised with the selection. Wait until you shop online, your options seem endless. Which fish food should you choose? You want to get the best value for your money, but don’t automatically think lowest price. You want to have a highly rated and recommended fish food, one that stays fresh longer, and one that provides your fish with added benefits. Depending on the contents of your aquariums, this may include frozen fish food, flake food, pellet food, and freeze-dried fish food.

Frozen and freeze-dried fish foods have the best nutritional value. Flake style fish food is often a mixture of different foods. This makes it difficult to monitor and estimate the value your fish are getting. Generally speaking, frozen fish food is best, but freeze-dried comes in a close second. You will see that frozen fish food has higher costs. This is generally due to the added nutritional benefits, long shelf life, and the resealable freezer safe package. Luckily, you can feed your aquarium fish a mixture, also keeping the costs down.

Flake style fish food is the most common food fed to aquarium fish. Your first thought may be to opt for the cheapest package available. Know however, that flake fish food comes in many different formats too. Look at your options. You can purchase vegetable flakes, those with added protein, and more. Although the nutritional value of flake fish food is not as high as frozen, keep it in mind. The proper nutrients can increase the energy of your fish and highlight their beautiful colors.

Pellet fish food is not as popular among new fish owners, but it is available. This type of fish food is ideal for carnivores. This is due the shape. In the water, it looks more like live food than fish food with flakes. You should find your fish going to the food quicker and eating a healthier diet. Pellet food is available for sale in different sizes. When making your choice, consider the size of your fish.

Know your fish’s needs. If you are a new aquarium owner, you may have done little research in terms of fish food. Now is the time to get started. As previously stated, flake fish food is the most common food feed to aquarium fish. It is cheaper and easy to find, but should not be the only food your fish eats. As mentioned above, you can mix it up between flake, freeze-dried, and frozen fish food. For marine fish, flake food is best used as a supplement, not their main source of diet.

Always consider use when buying fish food, especially flakes. Frozen, pellet, and freeze-dried food will stay better longer. You may run into a problem with open flake fish food. Your fish’s food will lose the little nutritional value it does have. There is also the risk of bacteria and mold growth. When buying flake fish food, only buy what you can use in a reasonable amount of time. Stocking up and bulk purchases can save you money at first, but not if must discard contaminated food later.

It is easy to overfeed your fish. The best approach is to divide up the feedings. Two small feedings a day is usually better for aquariums fish than one large feeding. If there is noticeable food left over in the acquarium after a few minutes, you have likely overfeed your fish. Other telltale signs include cloudy water and mold growths in the tank. These are both signs of leftover fish food.

In short, buying fish food for your aquarium fish is an important purchase. You have many choices and it may seem impossible to make the right one. Most important, know your fish’s needs. Fresh water and salt water fish not only require different aquarium setups, but different nutrients too.

Frozen fish food has many benefits. If you want to provide your fish with the best, try it. To purchase your fish food at an affordable price and from a quality supplier, visit FishTanksDirect.com.