Fish Food Analysis

[RD.]

The following is a direct quote, from a link that you posted.

Of all companies, Fluval has released a line of foods with the correct approach. I'll be writing up reviews once they reply to my questions, but I wanted to get this information to you.

In a nutshell, each of these are 5 or 6 star foods, based upon Ingredients, but they do utilize both BHA and Ethoxyquin which prevents them from rating higher than a 4 star food. But aside from that, the ingredient lists are outstanding.

So using raw ingredients such as soybean meal and dried potato somehow equates to the "correct approach", and "outstanding" ingredient lists once one ignores the fact that they use BHA, BHT, ethoxyqiun and propyl gallate.

Really?

Then when one continues to read the link that YOU posted on this food, a member asks you why dried potato is being used. Your response:

It's a carbohydrate, cheap source of protein, and acts as a binder. You have to have binding agents and dried potato would be a preference over wheat or soy.

You then state:

But a prepared diet must contain binders and if I had to choose between a grain or potato binder, I would choose potato, because it is a carbohydrate that can be converted into energy by a fish's metabolism (at least for herbivore and omnivores).

Again, more false & misleading bogus info, as though you have a clue what fish will better assimilate dried potato, over wheat or soybean meal, as an energy source or anything else. lol Funny stuff! Do you also know what the winning lottery # will be this weekend?

Manufacturers do not use these types of raw ingredients (dried potato and soybean meal) because they are preferred over the quality and digestibility of other (more expensive) sources of raw ingredients - the use these types of ingredients to save production costs. Period! That's where "least-cost" computer software programs come into play.


You say that you don't promote these types of ingredients, yet that is exactly what you did when a member of your own forum asked you about dried potato.


You're right, you really don't get it.



G'nite Irene

 

[kmuda]

What fish assimilate wheat flour better than dried potato or soy flour?

Is soy flour physically incapable of acting as a binder?

Is dried potato physically incapable of acting as a binder?

If you remove the dried potato does the amount of wheat utilized need to increase?

Yes, from a high level absent additional details such as ratios, I would consider an ingredient list that contains three preferred proteins as the first three ingredients and 9 out of 11 primary ingredients being acceptable ingredients (with wheat and potato not being in that 9), as an outstanding approach, especially when graded on a curve.

Would it rate anywhere near Northfin or NLS? Of course not. But Northfin and NLS are not on the shelf at PetSmart. Fluval is, along with Omega One and a bunch of crap like Topfin and Marineland.

 

[Braddo]

Sorry but I thought you were the Canadian distributor for NLS RD or am I mistaken?

 

[pops]

as was stated for us peon hobbyist we just looking for good information, and good articles. I have heard nothing but negatives from you, you add nothing but criticize everything, perhaps a article by you on whats a good fish food and why? maybe rate them? and explane why you rate them as such. this would go a long way to support your arguments.

 

[Brazzen1]

My sentiments exactly Pops.

 

[RD.]

Your first post here on MFK in 4 years Braddo, and it's to ask me about being an NLS distributor in Canada? Thanks for the laugh, mate. And to answer your question, that would be negative. Past tense, I have no vested interest in any commercial product nor are my comments here regarding any specific products, even though some would like to make others believe that I have some kind of secret agenda in the world of fish food. I don't. As always, everyone is free to feed what they like.


pops - if all you read are negatives from me, then you clearly aren't reading very closely. I don't talk out of my arse, or make things up on the fly, or make statements on a public forum unless I am 100% positive as to what I am talking about. When I do make claims, I can also back up those claims, and often times do with links to scientific journals, papers, peer reviewed studies etc. I've been doing this for awhile, this isn't my first rodeo.

In fact, I was nominated for an award, and received said award, by mod/s on this site for my contributions in the area of fish nutrition.

Name: Distinguished Contributor
Requirements- A member who displays an above average level of dedication to improving the site and/or knowledge available to members of the hobby.

Citation- For displaying an above average level of dedication to improving the site and/or knowledge available to members of the hobby, this member is recognized as a Notable Contributor.

FYI - I am also a hobbyist, just like the vast majority who frequent this site. I just happen to be a hobbyist who is very passionate about the science of fish nutrition. I'm also old enough to remember when the following types of fish food used to be considered *outstanding*.

 

[celebrist]

It may not be your intention but you do come off as quite hostile and have not really posted anything useful for the rest of us. Perhaps if you shared some of your knowledge on the subject it would be more helpful.

 

[Braddo]

Mate I may not have posted in that period but I am still on here regularly. I was just asking a question which seems to have made you laugh. I am glad it did because you make me laugh just as hard because you cannot answer a simple question without belittling someone.
A simple no would have sufficed. Used to have alot of respect for you. Like I said used too.

 

[Lgw]

I'm not sure what all the hostility towards RD is about, no offence was intended as stated.
All of those saying that the food analysis by kmuda is helpful... If it is indeed "plain incorrect" "old & outdated" and with "totally incorrect ingredient listings", just how helpful is it? This isn't me bashing kmuda, I just think the "don't believe everything you read on the internet" saying is underrated.

No offense to Kmuda, but his comments are those of a simple layperson, one that has no background or formal training in the science of fish nutrition, and a lot of the info found on that site is just plain incorrect. Much of the info that he posts in those reviews is also based on nothing more than pure speculation on his part, with no credible data to support any of it. Such as stating that Xtreme doesn't contain ethoxyquin, or that Hikari makes their own fish meal. Ridiculous comments from someone that truly doesn't have a clue about the pet fish food industry. Sorry if that comes across as harsh, but it is what it is. Not to mention the fact that some of the ingredient lists posted on that site are old & outdated, some over a decade old, with totally incorrect ingredient listings.


In the absence of facts, experts abound.

 

[Lgw]

I should also add that I too am no expert and would have no idea whether the analysis is correct or not Nor have I looked at it lol