FAQ: Food for fish

Opened dry food is often advised to be used within 1–3 months, because vitamins degrade quickly in air and fats start to go rancid. The date on the pack applies to the unopened product.

Part of a large pack can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer so vitamins last longer. Set aside a small amount for daily use, because taking it out of the cold often makes moisture condense on the food.

Spoiled food may smell rancid or mouldy, clump together, change colour or show visible mould. Throw such food away, as it can harm the fish.

A large pack is often cheaper per kilogram, but opened food loses vitamins within a few months and can get damp. If you have only a few fish, a smaller pack you will use up within 1–3 months is the sensible choice.

Food is sold in grams, millilitres or litres, so pack prices are hard to compare by eye. zoogidas.lt shows the price per kilogram or litre, so you can compare different pack sizes and shops directly.

Flakes and granules differ greatly in density, so manufacturers often state the volume in millilitres. The same volume of flakes weighs much less than granules, so when comparing packs it is important to look at the weight in grams too.

We collect the shops’ prices about every day. Each product shows when its price was last checked.

The product page shows its price history, so you can see whether the current price is lower or higher than usual. That helps you decide whether to buy now or wait for a discount.

Unopened dry food does not usually spoil shortly after the date, but it contains fewer vitamins. If the food smells odd, has clumped or gone mouldy, do not use it, and for young or sensitive fish fresh food is a better choice.

Yes, if the container is airtight, dry and opaque, since light and air speed up vitamin breakdown. It helps to keep the original label or note the expiry date and when it was opened.

It depends on the number and size of fish: a small pack lasts a few small fish several months, while large cichlids or koi get through food much faster. Once you know how much you use per month, choosing the right pack size is easier.

Ingredients are listed in descending order of quantity, so the first ones matter most. For omnivores and carnivores, fish, shrimp or other aquatic animals are often listed first, and for herbivores plant ingredients and algae.

Carnivorous and fast-growing fish suit a higher-protein food, herbivores and goldfish a lower one. Go by what the pack says the food is suitable for, as percentages alone do not show protein quality.

Spirulina is a microalga rich in protein, vitamins and pigments. It is often added to foods for herbivorous and omnivorous fish, aids digestion and enhances colour.

Colour-enhancing foods usually contain natural carotenoids such as astaxanthin, spirulina or krill, which are normal for fish. They boost red, orange and yellow colours, but do not replace good water quality and a balanced diet.

Good-quality, fresh food usually contains enough vitamins. Liquid vitamin supplements are sometimes used after stress or illness, but use them as the label says and consult a vet.

Garlic is often added as an attractant that stimulates the appetite of picky or newly introduced fish. It is not a medicine and does not cure disease.

Crude ash is the mineral part of the food left after burning it in a laboratory, such as calcium and phosphorus. It is not an additive but a measurement; a very high level may mean the food contains a lot of bone- or shell-rich raw materials.

They are the total protein and fat content of the food measured by laboratory methods. The figures help compare foods but do not show the quality or digestibility of the ingredients.

Omega-3 fatty acids matter for fish growth, immunity and reproduction. Fish meal, krill meal and other marine ingredients are rich in them, so good-quality foods usually already contain them.