Grain free, All fish based protien dog food, for big fish?

[Wet Whiskers]

So, Canidae makes a grain free (cannot always be said for most all carnivorous fish food), all fish protien based dog food. It is very comparable to high end fish foods, except that it has a higher fat content. Everything seems extremely comparable. The carbohydrate content of this food is lower than many carnivorous fish foods, and is replaced by fat. It would seem to me that this would reflect a carnivorous fish's diet much more closely than a whole bunch of wheat, rice, soy, etc. The carbohydrate is potato based, and, being that a tuber would be a lot more likely in a catfish diet than say wheat, I would think it would be better digested. I do have some concerns about the fat content, but so far have not seen any reason that this fish fat shouldn't be a whole lot healthier than the grain carbs.

I'm thinking about adding a small percentage to my normal fish food.
The fish tried it tonight and LOVED it. I didn't feed a whole lot to make sure their digestive systems handle it okay. I rinsed it several times and then soaked it. I'll check the water quality in the morning.

 

[Wet Whiskers]

No thoughts or experience with this kind/quality of dog food with fish???

 

[Darth Scohin]

Well the balance of Vitamins are different than fish food and there are fish foods that do not have a grain as the first ingredients (NLS,Nutrafin etc)

 

[MonsterMinis]

I'de look into the preservatives being fish safe. And I've never personally used dog food before to feed my fish.. but I did have a friend who fed their Oscar purina cat food for years.

 

[piggy67]

I feed my GG beniful healthy weight dog food as a treat 3-4 times a week. He loves it. I have researched the nutritional needs of my GG , the mix of ingredients in the food is comparable to most pellet foods fed by large comercial breeding ponds/aquaculture, The only difference is cost and a few extra vitimins. I have fed this to my GG for years with no ill effect..

 

[Chicklette]

I have never even herd of feeding that, good post.

 

[Wet Whiskers]

Canidae Grain Free Salmon Dry Dog food Ingredients:
Salmon meal, potatoes, potato protein, ocean fish meal, canola oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols), peas, tomato pomace, natural flavor, choline chloride, suncured alfalfa meal, inulin (from chicory root), lecithin, sage extract, cranberries, beta-carotene, rosemary extract, sunflower oil, yucca schidigera extract, dried enterococcus faecium fermentation product, dried lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried lactobacillus casei fermentation product, dried lactobacillus plantarum fermentation product, dried trichoderma longibrachiatum fermentation extract, vitamin E supplement, iron proteinate, zinc proteinate, copper proteinate, ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, copper sulfate, potassium iodide, thiamine mononitrate, manganese proteinate, manganous oxide, ascorbic acid, vitamin A supplement, biotin, calcium pantothenate, manganese sulfate, sodium selenite, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), vitamin B12 supplement, riboflavin, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid, cobalt proteinate, papaya, pineapple.

- 80% of the total protein is derived from fish, 20% from vegetables and fruits, and 0% from grains
-Natural Ingredients Plus Essential Vitamins & Amino Acid Chelated Minerals
-Naturally Preserved Herbal Formulation

NLS Ingredients: Whole Antarctic Krill Meal, Whole Herring Meal, Wheat Flour, Whole Squid Meal, Algae Meal, Soybean Isolate, Beta Carotene, Spirulina, Garlic, Vegetable and Fruit Extract (Spinach, Broccoli, Red Pepper, Zucchini, Tomato, Pea, Red and Green Cabbage, Apple, Apricot, Mango, Kiwi, Papaya, Peach, Pear), Vitamin A Acetate, D-Activated Animal-Sterol (D3), Vitamin B12 Supplement, Thiamine, DL Alphatocophero ( E ), Riboflavin Supplement, Folic Acid, Niacin, Biotin, Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, L-Ascorby-2-Polyphosphate (Stable C), Ethylenediamine dihydroiodide, Cobalt Sulfate, Copper Proteinate, Ferrous Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Choline Chloride.

Guaranteed Analysis

Canidae Grain Free Salmon Dry dog food
Crude Protein (min.): 40.00%​

Crude Fat (min.): 20.00%​

Crude Fiber (max.): 3.00%​

Moisture (max.): 10.00%​

Linoleic Acid (Omega 6) (min.): 3.70%​

Calcium (min.): 1.20%​

Phosphorus (min.): 0.90%​

Iron(min.): 160.00 mg/kg

Zinc(min.): 160.00mg/kg

Vitamin E (min.): 200.00 IU/kg​

NFE (carbohydrates)*(max.): 19.50%

Alpha Linolenic Acid (Omega 3)*(min.): 1.00%​

Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA)*(min.): 0.05%

Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C)*(min.):50.00 mg/kg​

Lactobacillus Acidophilus*(min.):100 million CFU/lb.​

Cellulase* (a)(min.): 100 CMCU/kg​

 

[Oscarum monstruoso]

Is there a cost benefit? I imagine the dog food is cheaper by weight, although those high end, high protein / zero grain and filler dog foods are pricey themselves.

 

[Omega007]

if you are feeding larger fish, I think in moderation should be fine.
but again you always have people coming to tell you dog food is no where near what fish eat in nature...

 

[Wet Whiskers]

Is there a cost benefit? I imagine the dog food is cheaper by weight, although those high end, high protein / zero grain and filler dog foods are pricey themselves.

Yes. There is a cost benefit for sure. But, just like you said, this stuff seriously pricey for dog food. But, after working at a vet hospital, I believe 100% in the crap in crap out theory. I fork it over for best food I can find for all my animals. If I didn't think this would be a healthy addition to their diet in small quanitities, I wouldn't do it. I did a lot of looking before I threw any dog food in there. I don't think its lower quality ingredients than good quality fish food. I just think we often pay premium prices for fish food since its typically bought in much smaller quantities.

if you are feeding larger fish, I think in moderation should be fine.
but again you always have people coming to tell you dog food is no where near what fish eat in nature...

With most dog foods, I'd agree 100% with you. I find it abhorrent what most companies call dog food.

I fed a small amount along with NLS Mega fish Formula and hikari sinking cichild pellets last night. They and the water are doing great this morning. I think they are digesting it well. I will keep this updated as I feed it regarding their weight, colors, behavior, water quality, general health, etc.