Marine Food for Freshwater Fish

[Melody]

I was talking to someone who was shocked and appalled that I feed my fish foods that are designed for both freshwater and marine fish. This struck me funny...lol...because we were talking about frozen food and everything in it is just fine for both.

But then I got to thinking that probably a lot of people think its taboo to feed marine food to freshwater fish, or Cichlid food to Snails, whatever. I'm here to tell you its ok! As long as the ingredients/nutrients are suitable for whatever creature you want to feed it to, go ahead and feed it. Make sure you know what you're doing though - Goldfish food isn't good for most other fish and Marine fish have special requirements not met by most freshwater foods, for example, but overall if you know the ingredients and what your fish need, you can mix and match.

I have several varieties of Dainichi food that I feed to freshwater fish and snails. Some are for Cichlids and some are for marine fish. I've also been known to feed Ocean Nutrition Formula Two. I quite often find that marine foods are higher quality out of necessity.

The frozen food in question was San Francisco Bay Frozen Saltwater Multi-Pack. I mix up one each of four different cubes, thaw, drain & serve ::D: . Since I have mostly omnivorous fish, they love the stuff. The multi-packs include:

Marine Cuisine
Ingredients: Artemia franciscana, krill, mysis, menhaden oil, astaxanthin, sodium alginate, Spirulina, vitamin premix: wheat flour, Vitamin A acetate, cholecalciferol (source of Vitamin D3), Vitamin B12 supplement, riboflavin, niacin, calcium pantothenate, folic acid, menadione sodium bisulfite complex, pyridoxine hydrochloride, thiamine mononitrate, biotin, inositol, L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate, betaine, d-alpha mixed tocopherols (source of Vitamin E).

Omega-3 Brine Shrimp
Ingredients: Artemia franciscana (brine shrimp), emulsified menhaden oil, astaxanthin.

Emerald Entrée (Which I always feed my freshwater fish anyway)
Ingredients: Artemia franciscana, mysis, krill, plankton, spinach, romaine lettuce, red leaf lettuce, Spirulina algae, menhaden oil, sodium alginate, vitamin premix: wheat flour, Vitamin A acetate, cholecalciferol (source of Vitamin D3), Vitamin B12 supplement, riboflavin, niacin, calcium pantothenate, folic acid, menadione sodium bisulfite complex, pyridoxine hydrochloride, thiamine mononitrate, biotin, inositol, L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate, betaine, d-alpha mixed tocopherols (source of Vitamin E).

Squid
Ingredients: 100% Squid.


Lotsa good stuff in there!

Anyone else mix & match? How have the results been? Any notes of caution?

[CACAdmin]

I tend to focus on content and the if it meets the nutritional requirements of my fish. I don't set out to by foods specifically labelled for other fish but if I find something that fits the bill, I try it. One example is the Danichi Veggie Deluxe Cichlid food... all my fish and snails love it.

[Pamelajo]

I won a container of marine zoo plankton and did not know if it was safe to use for freshwater. So you think this is okay. Says it is mainly daphnia.
http://saltaquarium.about.com/library/blank/blffizooplankton.htm

[Melody]

I won a container of marine zoo plankton and did not know if it was safe to use for freshwater. So you think this is okay. Says it is mainly daphnia.


I'd feed it. There are species and environmental variances in regards to nutrition content, but I think it averages around 50-70% protein and its a good source of both essential and nonessential amino acids, as well as astaxanthin for colour. Since its primarily Daphnia, it should be just fine as a treat at least. Its great for the digestive system and is often used to treat constipation. It can also be used as part of a fry diet.

Pretty much all freshwater fish eat plankton at some point in their development and a lot of adult fish are Planktivorous.

I'd be interested in hearing how it goes. That particular brand is a good one from what I've read. No preservatives either!

[Shelley]

I feed my one tank of freshwater fish the same foods I feed my marine tanks... mostly frozen and HBH soft pellets, both krill and spirolina. I also offer Marine HBH flake frenzy. I also use the same additives in the freshwater tank that I use in the marine tank. Calcium and trace minerals mostly. They all do just fine

[blainep]

I don't remember ever buying food specifically for marine fish, but alot of the food I buy (frozen in particular) says it is for freshwater or marine fish.

Beyond that I just buy regular flake food and add whatever veggies didn't get eaten at dinner.

[Melody]

One of these days I'll get energetic and chop some grocery store seafood for freezing. As long as there are no additives its great stuff and much more economical. Marine seafood is better that freshwater seafood I'm told. I use it in dehydrated food and feed it fresh sometimes, but I don't have it frozen very often.

[CACAdmin]

Occasionally, I have purchased fresh salmon trimmings which are cheap (most of which is the meat which is left on the bone when they cut filets for sale). I cook it just so that it falls off the bone easily and then feed it to my fish.

[Melody]

That's a good idea :yes:

[hp10BII]

I use marine flakes as my standard flake food for all my fish tanks. Ocean Nutrion Formulas 1 & 2 and Brine Shrimp. Also use Ocean Nutrition Formula 1 frozen cubes in place of beefheart. Just not sold on the idea of feeding beefheart to fish, made my own before but just too messy and don't have enough fishtanks to make it worthwhile.

Another advantage of feeding marine foods (frozen or fresh) is the unliklihood (sp???) of introducing parasites/pathogens that can survive in fresh water and attaching to their fresh water hosts.

To go further, I add marine salt to some freshwater tanks for a cheap source of trace elements/minerals.

[CACAdmin]

Another advantage of feeding marine foods (frozen or fresh) is the unliklihood (sp???) of introducing parasites/pathogens that can survive in fresh water and attaching to their fresh water hosts.
Good point. I hadn't thought about that aspect.

[ChrissyFishy]

My carnivores like marine food better sometimes.:yes:

[Melody]

I use marine flakes as my standard flake food for all my fish tanks. Ocean Nutrion Formulas 1 & 2 and Brine Shrimp. Also use Ocean Nutrition Formula 1 frozen cubes in place of beefheart. Just not sold on the idea of feeding beefheart to fish, made my own before but just too messy and don't have enough fishtanks to make it worthwhile.

Another advantage of feeding marine foods (frozen or fresh) is the unliklihood (sp???) of introducing parasites/pathogens that can survive in fresh water and attaching to their fresh water hosts.

To go further, I add marine salt to some freshwater tanks for a cheap source of trace elements/minerals.

I waffle on beefheart too. A lot of people swear by it but I prefer to stick to seafood since there's no shortage of choices. I can't say its because seafood is more natural because fish don't eat a whole lot of peas & garlic in the wild either, so that'd be a tad hypocritical:rolleyes: . More of a personal preference I guess.

Very good point on the nasties being unable to thrive in freshwater - I hadn't even thought of that. :wideeyed: