The pellets I intend to try would be hikari massivore and other pellets garnered towards carnivorous fish with a high protein level. what would be the ideal protein level pellet for gars? There are a large variety of pellets in my local aquarist store and some of them have protein levels as high as 65%.
Live vs Prepared vs Pellet
- Thread starter KillaFish
- Start date
As far as HIGH protein, as I have stated time & time again, the only percent of protein that is important is the amount of protein that the fish can assimilate. Species that are classified as carnivores and/or piscivores can generally not properly digest foods that are high in starch/grain content so don't simply rely on numbers posted on a food label. Those numbers are typically nothing more than the total nitrogen content, and do not reflect the overall digestibility of that protein, nor do they reflect the various amino acid content of the food.
In the end the only protein that truly matters is the amount of total digestible protein, as in the amount of protein that can be utilized by your fish.
Read labels closely, and more importantly learn to read between the lines.
There are many ways that one can boost the nitrogen (crude protein) level in a commercial food, but that doesn't necessarily mean that all of that protein is in a form that a fish can fully assimilate. I could formulate a feed with a 65% crude protein content, & call it "Gigantic Monster Fish" food, using nothing but soybean, yet most carnivores would only be able to assimilate a small fraction of that protein. When one is comparing crude protein content in a food, THE most important part of the protein equation is what that protein was derived from, not just what the percentage is.
A common mistake made by many hobbyists.
In the end the only protein that truly matters is the amount of total digestible protein, as in the amount of protein that can be utilized by your fish.
Read labels closely, and more importantly learn to read between the lines.
There are many ways that one can boost the nitrogen (crude protein) level in a commercial food, but that doesn't necessarily mean that all of that protein is in a form that a fish can fully assimilate. I could formulate a feed with a 65% crude protein content, & call it "Gigantic Monster Fish" food, using nothing but soybean, yet most carnivores would only be able to assimilate a small fraction of that protein. When one is comparing crude protein content in a food, THE most important part of the protein equation is what that protein was derived from, not just what the percentage is.
A common mistake made by many hobbyists.
I have found that since my Gar has been off live he has grown a lot and is much fatter. I think this is because now he has a very regulated eating schedule that is not dependent on my going to the LFS for feeders as I don't have room for a quarantine tank. Although I think it is time to give him a treat and throw in some feeders soon.
RD.;4361288; said:
I am well aware of the quality of proteins in fish food, as well as commercial pelleted foods such as dog kibble. Poor quality fish foods tend to use fillers and are undigestible towards the carnivorous animals. But rest assured, the fish pellets that are 65% in protein have their first 3 ingredients listed as fish meal and 4th as shrimp meal. I am quite confident in this feed. There is also alfalfa, spirulina, kelp, and salmon eggs.
"When one is comparing crude protein content in a food, THE most important part of the protein equation is what that protein was derived from, not just what the percentage is.
A common mistake made by many hobbyists. "
Couldn't agree more. Also sounds like you have a good understanding of what to stay away from, and what to lean towards. Each fish will be different, even within' species. My own experiences w/ Live would make me raise another gar mainly on it. The exact age of my Florida I don't know. But I've had him less then 6 monthes. ( he was purchased after I was engaged and before I got married.. lol) And he was 4-6" when I bought him and pushing well into 12-14" range. When he's to lazy to chase feeders he takes the pellets w/out issue. The larger he's gotten the more inclined he is to take the pellets.
A common mistake made by many hobbyists. "
Couldn't agree more. Also sounds like you have a good understanding of what to stay away from, and what to lean towards. Each fish will be different, even within' species. My own experiences w/ Live would make me raise another gar mainly on it. The exact age of my Florida I don't know. But I've had him less then 6 monthes. ( he was purchased after I was engaged and before I got married.. lol) And he was 4-6" when I bought him and pushing well into 12-14" range. When he's to lazy to chase feeders he takes the pellets w/out issue. The larger he's gotten the more inclined he is to take the pellets.
Without naming the brand of food, could you list the next 3 or 4 ingredients that immediately follow the shrimp meal? Also, the type of fish meal listed? I'll explain in detail once I have more info on the top 10 or so ingredients in that formula.
RD.;4361608; said:
white fish meal, salmon meal, herring meal, shrimp meal, salmon eggs, spirulina, whole kelp, whole salmon, whole cod, seafood mix ( krill, rockfish, squid, clams, and octopus), lecithin, astaxanthin, l-ascorbyl-2-phosphate, natural and artificial color, vitamin a acetate, vitamin d 3 supplement, vitamin e supplement, vitamin b 12 supplement, riboflavin, niacin, panthothenic acid, folic acid, biotin, inositol, tococepherol (preservative), trace amounts of ethoxyquin (present in fish meal).
Interesting, it almost looks like someone was attempting to copy Denny Crews line of food. A couple of things that make me go hmmmmm.
The main one being how exactly are all of those ingredients being held together in a pellet form? I don't see a single binding agent listed.
Secondly, I don't know of a single freshwater species of fish that requires 65% protein, even in the fry or fingerling stage.
If you don't mind, could you post a link to an online page showing this product?
The main one being how exactly are all of those ingredients being held together in a pellet form? I don't see a single binding agent listed.
Secondly, I don't know of a single freshwater species of fish that requires 65% protein, even in the fry or fingerling stage.
If you don't mind, could you post a link to an online page showing this product?
RD.;4363423; said:
I am not sure if they have a website but if you want, I can ask the manager of the fish store to give me the number of the retailer or distributor that he is getting the food from. The brand of the food is written in Korean or Thai but it is apparently what the Asian hobbyists are using to grow their fishes. It is also pretty expensive, but apparently it is great food for arowanas, cichlids, cat fishes, gars, and arapaimas in Asia. There is also another brand with 54% protein, it is a Chinese brand called Hai Feng that I am interested in trying as well since it is supposed to be great for gars.
