Hikari Food Sticks Controversy?!

[agent1207]

Everyone is telling me that this food is bad quality and would like to know why.

I have a mixed African cichlid tank, and used to feed exclusively NLS (New Life Spectrum) but they grew out of the 2mm size. I want to understand how the Hikari Food sticks are considered bad quality when my fish go nuts for it, as it is a much larger pellet.

Should I consider feeding NorthFin Arowana sticks or their tropical fish stick formula?

I have become a fan of using the stick pellet.

 

[Kevz1969]

I have used hikari food sticks for arowana and oscar with positive results. If your fish enjoy them I would go for it. Hikari is a reputable brand in the industry.

 

[DN328]

Everyone is telling me that this food is bad quality and would like to know why.

I have a mixed African cichlid tank, and used to feed exclusively NLS (New Life Spectrum) but they grew out of the 2mm size. I want to understand how the Hikari Food sticks are considered bad quality when my fish go nuts for it, as it is a much larger pellet.

Should I consider feeding NorthFin Arowana sticks or their tropical fish stick formula?

I have become a fan of using the stick pellet.

THere are larger NLS pellet sizeS available. Do you have access to ordering or just wanting to use Hikari?

I think it essentially boils down to the primary ingredient that is deem best for the given fish and the percent of filler ingredients (not ideal or good for). I have had the same experience and fish love Hikari. But hat doesn't mean it's best for the fish long term.

 

[ad88]

It's because of the ingredients lots of fillers, items not intended for fish to eat, and they are vague on what there fish meals are actually made out of.

 

[agent1207]

THere are larger NLS pellet sizeS available. Do you have access to ordering or just wanting to use Hikari?

I am down to use any food that is best for the fish colour/ behaviour. Thats why I am wondering if NorthFin's sticks are a better alternative or if I should stick to round pellets but get a larger size.

Honestly they are attacking the food as if it were raw shrimp.

 

[Ruturaj]

I am down to use any food that is best for the fish colour/ behaviour. Thats why I am wondering if NorthFin's sticks are a better alternative or if I should stick to round pellets but get a larger size.

Honestly they are attacking the food as if it were raw shrimp.

Northfin tropical sticks definitely is better, actually much better food in terms of fillers and ingredients.

 

[FESHMAN]

Hikari isn't terrible but it's not the best either. The good thing about it that it's available and inexpensive. IMO NLS and Northfin have way better compositions than Hikari, even Omega One has better ingredients. That's just my opinion I advice you to look into labels and compare yourself for each species and how much it resembles its natural diet. Variety is also key

 

[tlindsey]

Hikari isn't terrible but it's not the best either. The good thing about it that it's available and inexpensive. IMO NLS and Northfin have way better compositions than Hikari, even Omega One has better ingredients. That's just my opinion I advice you to look into labels and compare yourself for each species and how much it resembles its natural diet. Variety is also key

+1

 

[twentyleagues]

Kids go nuts for mcds too! It's not exactly bad for them but too much is. Broccoli is way better for them but they don't want to eat it so much. It's the same with the fish. The only way you can tell is look at the ingredients. But then you have to understand what those are and if they are good or not. Most of the ingredients should come from the water krill, whole fish, kelp, seaweed, algae, those should also be the first ingredients. Ingredients in food go in order of what makes up most of it to the least. Most foods will contain wheat or something like it when was the last time you saw a fish able to get wheat in the wild? It has to be there but shouldn't be in the top 4 or 5 ingredients. Just stuff like that. If by ingredient it sounds good it probably is. Less land based the better.

 

[Ruturaj]

Hikari isn't terrible but it's not the best either. The good thing about it that it's available and inexpensive. IMO NLS and Northfin have way better compositions than Hikari, even Omega One has better ingredients. That's just my opinion I advice you to look into labels and compare yourself for each species and how much it resembles its natural diet. Variety is also key

Variety is key but high quality pellets like northfin or NLS are variety. I do add NLS algaemax to get more algae in to fish's diet.