A good write up, but unfortunately a lot of that information will be lost in translation. lol
Some people apparently still base their choice of food due to jazzy packaging & marketing, others base it only on price.
One thing that I did want to comment on was your section about growth.
Growth may be the most common factor used, but can be extremely flawed. The reason for this is that it takes little more than a lot of protein to achieve rapid growth. This is one method commercial fish farms can get fish to a suitable size in only months, they also have no need to focus on long term success since the fish they are caring for are only for food. So although a lack of growth could be something to be concerned about, focusing only on growth rate can result in severe oversights with the rest of the nutrition.
The problem with most feeds developed for commercial farm feed is they are overly high in crude fat. Fat is a cheap source of energy (as are most starches/grains) which guarantees that no amount of the protein (which is the most expensive component of any fish feed) is ever utilized as an energy source. The problem being that the vast majority of tropical fish cannot safely assimilate excessive amounts of lipids, and that fat can & usually will end up being stored. This is what's commonly referred to as fatty liver disease, which many experts in this field consider one of the leading causes of death in captive tropical fish. Excess protein can be excreted by a fish, excess fat cannot.
So while a cheap trout chow purchased at your local hardware store may show great gains in growth in ones fish, it will also typically shave years off their life.
Also ......
I prefer the Thera+A formula because it has enough extra garlic to kill some parasites.
All NLS formulas contain garlic at levels that can potentially eradicate and/or prevent certain pathogens from taking hold. (at least according to some of the independent studies that have taken place over the past few yrs) Having said that, the TherA formula should only be considered a preventative, and not a cure for sick fish.
The TherA formula simply contains an elevated dose of garlic, as well as a slightly elevated level of both protein & fat. While some people do feed it exclusively, My advice has always been to use it on newly acquired fish, or other fish that for one reason or another may need a slight boost to their immune system. While the TherA formula definitely serves a purpose, I see no reason for anyone to feed that particular formula on a constant daily basis. I feed the regular NLS formulas exclusively and my fish are always parasite/pathogen free. (outside of newly acquired specimens)
Again, a good write up, hopefully some people learned a thing or two.
