So this stuff looks amazing. Just ordered the Herbivore and omnivore kind today. This food is dehydrated food with no grain in it and the ingredients look amazing. This stuff might bring an end to the best fish food debate. I'm going to log my experience with this stuff and see what differences I can tell in my fish. It comes in clump form instead of pellet size so you can break it up to any size you want as well. With it being dehydrated food, none of the nutrients are lost. I'm pretty excited for this stuff. My fish are doing great on southern delight so it'll be interesting to see what difference this food can make.
Here's the ingredients for the omnivore kind.
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Ingredients (Premium) with improved protein numbers:Whole Menhaden Fish Meal, Kelp, Corn Bran, Green Pea Flour, Human Grade Spirulina Powder, Astaxanthin, Paprika, and Cayenne Pepper.
Vitamins: A, E, K, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, C, M, H, D3, B12
Nutritional Analysis: 38.3% Protein, 18.1% Starch, 19.1% Fiber, 13.3% Minerals/Ash, 5.7% Fat, 0.8% Sugar, and 4.7% Moisture.
Here's a description on their product.
WHY ARE PARADIGM/"AAP PREMIUM ALL NATURAL" THE BEST PREPARED FISH FOODS?
The original creator of of the ingredients and process for Paradigm and now "AAP Premium All Natural" fish foods has been breeding Rift Lake African cichlids going on 30 years now. He tried every single manufactured fish food there is on the market and was never completely happy with any of them. Fish food guru Clay Neighbors, the creator of Paradigms formula began studying the ingredients and nutritional analysis of each type of food by making comparison charts.
Then he took all the knowledge he learned about the different types of fish and their dietary needs by breeding fish plus all the research he had compiled on the different fish foods on the market including AAP founder Carl Strohmeyer's in depth Fish Nutrition article which he and Carl discussed at length in an aquarium forum for some time. He then decided that he could make a fish food far superior to any other food available.
AAP All Natural Fish Food
Now the creator (Clay N) has decided to step it up a notch even more with an even newer formula that is 100% natural and better than his original Paradigm formula.
This food is unique, unlike how even most of the other better fish foods that do not correctly limit/optimize proteins along with energy levels, and as well still have to supplement their food to hit the target needed for optimal fish nutrition.
While there are many other prepared fish foods (or even good DIY recipes) that utilize top quality ingredients (including similar copycat fish foods), this AAP Custom Fish Food by Clay N. is unique in that it seeks to optimize ingredients, such as the before mentioned proteins instead of the popular "the more, the better of quality ingredients".
As another example besides proteins, this fish food optimizes the amount of Spirulina used, since there is an optimal amount (reference: Spirulina as a Fish Food)
This is to be sold exclusively as "AAP Premium Custom All Natural" whereby the creator decided the protein make up could be improved. The creator felt the fish were getting more than needed with 99% of the foods available, which made for unnatural bulky fish. It can also cause some health issues with long term feeding as too much protein also can lead to premature renal failure, which unfortunately many of the otherwise very best competing foods tend to ignore this issue and go with "the more the better".
The binders of the food have also been reworked with kelp and peas
Aquarium and Pond Fish Food Nutrition Experts, Paradigm
First, he wanted to make a binder using a minimal amount of starch. He originally used egg whites with the Paradigm formula, but later switched over to pea flour that he personally grinds so as to make sure protein levels were not so high that it would produce fatty fish and early onset renal failure as many fish foods can do by not considering optimum protein sources.
Reference as to protein:
Fish Nutrition; Protein/Amino Acids
Secondly; These "AAP Premium All Natural" along with Paradigm Foods are designed to maximize net energy gain.
This makes feeding less and getting at least as much or more energy gain possible.
When the fish can use more of the food it leads to less waste in your aquarium. Less waste in your aquarium obviously means a cleaner tank, lower nitrates, and therefore healthier and happier fish.
What "AAP Premium All Natural" is offering is in depth research by Clay and others after working on it for over five years. Clay actually found the low limit for energy aka fat, sugar and starch.
In the study fish stopped breeding after being fed one of the last trial diets of less than 21-22% combined fats & starch. This means that the females didn't have enough reserve energy to produce eggs.
Paradigm and now "AAP Custom" raised the energy a little and voila the fish started breeding again. With that being said you can rest assured your fish are getting the proper amount of energy and avoid their liver being covered in stored energy aka fat. We use the sugar and starch first since they can store very little if any.
The end result is an all natural, no filler, 100% Grain Free fish food; Paradigm does NOT use the min/max system that every other label uses so you will never have to guess what percentage of starch, protein, fat, etc is in the food.
Third; "AAP Premium All Natural", along with its predecessor Paradigm Fish Foods, are not a pellet or a flake its a crumble. This way you only have to buy one size. You adjust the size of the food to tailor to your individual fish.
More importantly, the process producing pellets and most flake foods often produces high heat that can destroy many important water soluble vitamins such as Vitamin C.
While AAP Custom uses low heat dehydration to produce crumbles and no need to supplement other than the natural ingredients included.
You spend hundreds (and hundreds) of dollars on your fish....so why not give them the very best fish food you that you possibly can!!
VIDEO; Tropheus eating Herbivore Formula
WHY DOES "AAP PREMIUM ALL NATURAL" & PARADIGM USE CERTAIN INGREDIENTS?
Whole Menhaden Fish Meal; which is 92.8% digestible. This is an excellent number for a fish food ingredient.
The whole fish is dried, cooked and ground into meal. 64.2% protein with a complete amino acid profile, 8.9% fat/lipids, 8.3% moisture and 18.6% minerals.
Vitamins Present: B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12, H and M. 92% Omega 3 and 8% Omega 6.
Whole Menhaden Fish Meal contains Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Potassium, Phosphorus, Iron, Zinc, Manganese, Copper, Chromium, Selenium, Molybdenum, Chromium, Vanadium and Cobalt.
More as to why this is superior fish meal: Fish Nutrition; Amino Acids & Whole Menhaden Fish Meal
FRESHLY MILLED Green Pea Flour: Our unique fresh milled pea flour a great source of fiber and is also used to lower protein.
This ingredient contains 26.6% protein without a complete amino acid profile, 2.4% fat/lipids and 28.2% starch, 27.7% fiber, 6.9% sugar, 3% minerals and 5% moisture.
Pea flour is a superior source of vegetable matter for fish, with one of the most complete vegetable nutritional make-ups of any vegetable sources, including kelp.
Reference: Fish Nutrition; Pea Flour
Human Grade Spirulina Powder: Spirulina is blue green algae (Cyanobacterium). It is a simple, onecelled form of algae that thrives in warm, alkaline freshwater bodies. Spirulina is 57.1 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. 57.1% protein with a complete amino acid profile, 7.1% fat/lipids, 25% carbohydrates, 8% minerals and 2.8% moisture. Vitamins Present: A, B1, B2, B3, B5, C. 40% Omega 3 and 60% Omega 6. Spirulina contains Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Potassium, Phosphorus, Iron, Zinc, Manganese, Copper, Selenium, Iodine and Silicone. The fish's immune system sees spirulina as a bacteria so it boosts the fish's immune system.
Natural Astaxanthin Powder: Excellent ingredient to improve fish''s color in the red/orange spectrum, promote growth and stimulate spawning .
This ingredient is 24% protein without a complete amino acid profile, 14% fat/lipids, 14% minerals, 38% carbohydrates, 8.5% moisture and 1.5% Astaxanthin. . 8% Omega 3 and 92% Omega 6.
Crude Menhaden Fish Oil: Is pressed from Menhaden. 100% fat/lipids. 92% Omega 3 and 8% Omega 6.
Paprika; Paprika has antiinflammatory properties and gives a boost to the immune system.
This ingredient is 15% protein without a complete amino acid profile, 13% fat/lipids and 8.4% starch, 37.5% fiber, 10% sugar, 7% minerals and 9.1% moisture. It is a very good source of Iron. Vitamins Present: A, C, E, K,and B6. 11% Omega 3 and 89% Omega 6.
Paprika contains Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Potassium, Phosphorus, Iron, Zinc, Manganese and Selenium.
Note: Usually drying reduces Vitamin C to almost nothing however drying Paprika actually increases the Vitamin C.
Cayenne Pepper: Cayenne Pepper has antibacterial properties and aids in digestion. This ingredient is 12% protein without a complete amino acid profile, 17% fat/lipids and 19.4% starch, 27.4% fiber, 10.2% sugar, 6% minerals and 8% moisture. Vitamins Present: A, C, E, K, B1, B6, B2, B3, M and Choline. 11% Omega 3 and 89% Omega 6. Cayenne Pepper contains Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Potassium, Phosphorus, Iron, Zinc, Manganese and Selenium.
Here's the ingredients for the omnivore kind.
Jump to Shopping Cart
Ingredients (Premium) with improved protein numbers:Whole Menhaden Fish Meal, Kelp, Corn Bran, Green Pea Flour, Human Grade Spirulina Powder, Astaxanthin, Paprika, and Cayenne Pepper.
Vitamins: A, E, K, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, C, M, H, D3, B12
Nutritional Analysis: 38.3% Protein, 18.1% Starch, 19.1% Fiber, 13.3% Minerals/Ash, 5.7% Fat, 0.8% Sugar, and 4.7% Moisture.
Here's a description on their product.
WHY ARE PARADIGM/"AAP PREMIUM ALL NATURAL" THE BEST PREPARED FISH FOODS?
The original creator of of the ingredients and process for Paradigm and now "AAP Premium All Natural" fish foods has been breeding Rift Lake African cichlids going on 30 years now. He tried every single manufactured fish food there is on the market and was never completely happy with any of them. Fish food guru Clay Neighbors, the creator of Paradigms formula began studying the ingredients and nutritional analysis of each type of food by making comparison charts.
Then he took all the knowledge he learned about the different types of fish and their dietary needs by breeding fish plus all the research he had compiled on the different fish foods on the market including AAP founder Carl Strohmeyer's in depth Fish Nutrition article which he and Carl discussed at length in an aquarium forum for some time. He then decided that he could make a fish food far superior to any other food available.
AAP All Natural Fish Food
Now the creator (Clay N) has decided to step it up a notch even more with an even newer formula that is 100% natural and better than his original Paradigm formula.
This food is unique, unlike how even most of the other better fish foods that do not correctly limit/optimize proteins along with energy levels, and as well still have to supplement their food to hit the target needed for optimal fish nutrition.
While there are many other prepared fish foods (or even good DIY recipes) that utilize top quality ingredients (including similar copycat fish foods), this AAP Custom Fish Food by Clay N. is unique in that it seeks to optimize ingredients, such as the before mentioned proteins instead of the popular "the more, the better of quality ingredients".
As another example besides proteins, this fish food optimizes the amount of Spirulina used, since there is an optimal amount (reference: Spirulina as a Fish Food)
This is to be sold exclusively as "AAP Premium Custom All Natural" whereby the creator decided the protein make up could be improved. The creator felt the fish were getting more than needed with 99% of the foods available, which made for unnatural bulky fish. It can also cause some health issues with long term feeding as too much protein also can lead to premature renal failure, which unfortunately many of the otherwise very best competing foods tend to ignore this issue and go with "the more the better".
The binders of the food have also been reworked with kelp and peas
Aquarium and Pond Fish Food Nutrition Experts, Paradigm
First, he wanted to make a binder using a minimal amount of starch. He originally used egg whites with the Paradigm formula, but later switched over to pea flour that he personally grinds so as to make sure protein levels were not so high that it would produce fatty fish and early onset renal failure as many fish foods can do by not considering optimum protein sources.
Reference as to protein:
Fish Nutrition; Protein/Amino Acids
Secondly; These "AAP Premium All Natural" along with Paradigm Foods are designed to maximize net energy gain.
This makes feeding less and getting at least as much or more energy gain possible.
When the fish can use more of the food it leads to less waste in your aquarium. Less waste in your aquarium obviously means a cleaner tank, lower nitrates, and therefore healthier and happier fish.
What "AAP Premium All Natural" is offering is in depth research by Clay and others after working on it for over five years. Clay actually found the low limit for energy aka fat, sugar and starch.
In the study fish stopped breeding after being fed one of the last trial diets of less than 21-22% combined fats & starch. This means that the females didn't have enough reserve energy to produce eggs.
Paradigm and now "AAP Custom" raised the energy a little and voila the fish started breeding again. With that being said you can rest assured your fish are getting the proper amount of energy and avoid their liver being covered in stored energy aka fat. We use the sugar and starch first since they can store very little if any.
The end result is an all natural, no filler, 100% Grain Free fish food; Paradigm does NOT use the min/max system that every other label uses so you will never have to guess what percentage of starch, protein, fat, etc is in the food.
Third; "AAP Premium All Natural", along with its predecessor Paradigm Fish Foods, are not a pellet or a flake its a crumble. This way you only have to buy one size. You adjust the size of the food to tailor to your individual fish.
More importantly, the process producing pellets and most flake foods often produces high heat that can destroy many important water soluble vitamins such as Vitamin C.
While AAP Custom uses low heat dehydration to produce crumbles and no need to supplement other than the natural ingredients included.
You spend hundreds (and hundreds) of dollars on your fish....so why not give them the very best fish food you that you possibly can!!
VIDEO; Tropheus eating Herbivore Formula
WHY DOES "AAP PREMIUM ALL NATURAL" & PARADIGM USE CERTAIN INGREDIENTS?
Whole Menhaden Fish Meal; which is 92.8% digestible. This is an excellent number for a fish food ingredient.
The whole fish is dried, cooked and ground into meal. 64.2% protein with a complete amino acid profile, 8.9% fat/lipids, 8.3% moisture and 18.6% minerals.
Vitamins Present: B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12, H and M. 92% Omega 3 and 8% Omega 6.
Whole Menhaden Fish Meal contains Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Potassium, Phosphorus, Iron, Zinc, Manganese, Copper, Chromium, Selenium, Molybdenum, Chromium, Vanadium and Cobalt.
More as to why this is superior fish meal: Fish Nutrition; Amino Acids & Whole Menhaden Fish Meal
FRESHLY MILLED Green Pea Flour: Our unique fresh milled pea flour a great source of fiber and is also used to lower protein.
This ingredient contains 26.6% protein without a complete amino acid profile, 2.4% fat/lipids and 28.2% starch, 27.7% fiber, 6.9% sugar, 3% minerals and 5% moisture.
Pea flour is a superior source of vegetable matter for fish, with one of the most complete vegetable nutritional make-ups of any vegetable sources, including kelp.
Reference: Fish Nutrition; Pea Flour
Human Grade Spirulina Powder: Spirulina is blue green algae (Cyanobacterium). It is a simple, onecelled form of algae that thrives in warm, alkaline freshwater bodies. Spirulina is 57.1 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. 57.1% protein with a complete amino acid profile, 7.1% fat/lipids, 25% carbohydrates, 8% minerals and 2.8% moisture. Vitamins Present: A, B1, B2, B3, B5, C. 40% Omega 3 and 60% Omega 6. Spirulina contains Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Potassium, Phosphorus, Iron, Zinc, Manganese, Copper, Selenium, Iodine and Silicone. The fish's immune system sees spirulina as a bacteria so it boosts the fish's immune system.
Natural Astaxanthin Powder: Excellent ingredient to improve fish''s color in the red/orange spectrum, promote growth and stimulate spawning .
This ingredient is 24% protein without a complete amino acid profile, 14% fat/lipids, 14% minerals, 38% carbohydrates, 8.5% moisture and 1.5% Astaxanthin. . 8% Omega 3 and 92% Omega 6.
Crude Menhaden Fish Oil: Is pressed from Menhaden. 100% fat/lipids. 92% Omega 3 and 8% Omega 6.
Paprika; Paprika has antiinflammatory properties and gives a boost to the immune system.
This ingredient is 15% protein without a complete amino acid profile, 13% fat/lipids and 8.4% starch, 37.5% fiber, 10% sugar, 7% minerals and 9.1% moisture. It is a very good source of Iron. Vitamins Present: A, C, E, K,and B6. 11% Omega 3 and 89% Omega 6.
Paprika contains Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Potassium, Phosphorus, Iron, Zinc, Manganese and Selenium.
Note: Usually drying reduces Vitamin C to almost nothing however drying Paprika actually increases the Vitamin C.
Cayenne Pepper: Cayenne Pepper has antibacterial properties and aids in digestion. This ingredient is 12% protein without a complete amino acid profile, 17% fat/lipids and 19.4% starch, 27.4% fiber, 10.2% sugar, 6% minerals and 8% moisture. Vitamins Present: A, C, E, K, B1, B6, B2, B3, M and Choline. 11% Omega 3 and 89% Omega 6. Cayenne Pepper contains Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Potassium, Phosphorus, Iron, Zinc, Manganese and Selenium.
