Can I feed freshwater pellets/flakes to marine fish?

[maleks.reef]

Pretty much much what the title says. Is it ok if I feed my marine fish freshwater fish pellets or flakes? I'm only asking because i already have a TON of freshwater fish food and it would go to waste.

(I plan on using frozen foods from time to time in the future)

 

[ichthyogeek]

Can you? Yes. Should you? I would say no. There’re a few things you can do for freshwater food to upcycle it though! I use mine to feed mollies (since mollies and livebearers really don’t care that much), as well as use it to culture live foods like grindal worms!

 

[maleks.reef]

Can you? Yes. Should you? I would say no. There’re a few things you can do for freshwater food to upcycle it though! I use mine to feed mollies (since mollies and livebearers really don’t care that much), as well as use it to culture live foods like grindal worms!

I see. Can you suggest a few good and affordable brands of flake food for marine fish? Thanks.

 

[ichthyogeek]

I see. Can you suggest a few good and affordable brands of flake food for marine fish? Thanks.

Hmm...I’m a simp for PE Mysis. I haven’t tried their PE flakes, but the pellets were great. Most good and affordable brands have switched to pellet now that I think of it....

Brine Shrimp Direct has good mysis and brine shrimp flakes. Ocean nutrition does a good pellet, and therefore I would think they also do a good flake as well. I don’t think I would touch Omega One again. And nobody ever talks about Cobalt, I’m not sure why...

 

[drewwCh]

I see. Can you suggest a few good and affordable brands of flake food for marine fish? Thanks.

you could opt for homemade food which is really good for fish health, and you can also use it to feed certain corals. i suggest you read some threads on here about recipes and also some of paul b's threads

 

[homer1475]

Back when I used to feed flake, I like the seachem brand. Never had a fish that wouldn't take to it.

I do not feed any flake now, but rather pellets and frozen. PE mysis pellets, or NLS. I mix up the NLS alage max, and NLS marine for a variety.

Just noticed they have an invertebrate formula now too. Might have to mix that one into it too.

 

[maleks.reef]

Back when I used to feed flake, I like the seachem brand. Never had a fish that wouldn't take to it.

I do not feed any flake now, but rather pellets and frozen. PE mysis pellets, or NLS. I mix up the NLS alage max, and NLS marine for a variety.

Just noticed they have an invertebrate formula now too. Might have to mix that one into it too.

you could opt for homemade food which is really good for fish health, and you can also use it to feed certain corals. i suggest you read some threads on here about recipes and also some of paul b's threads

Hmm...I’m a simp for PE Mysis. I haven’t tried their PE flakes, but the pellets were great. Most good and affordable brands have switched to pellet now that I think of it....

Brine Shrimp Direct has good mysis and brine shrimp flakes. Ocean nutrition does a good pellet, and therefore I would think they also do a good flake as well. I don’t think I would touch Omega One again. And nobody ever talks about Cobalt, I’m not sure why...

So from what I see pellets are better, but why? I thought pellets and flakes were pretty much the same? I plan on feeding either flakes or pellets and the occasional frozen food (maybe mysis or brine).

 

[ichthyogeek]

Flakes - fall apart, crumble, and have a high surface area to lose nutrients from.
Pellets - do not fall apart, can crumble given enough pressure, and have a reduced surface area ( relative to flakes) that assists in preventing nutrient loss to the water.

 

[maleks.reef]

Hmm...I’m a simp for PE Mysis. I haven’t tried their PE flakes, but the pellets were great. Most good and affordable brands have switched to pellet now that I think of it....

Brine Shrimp Direct has good mysis and brine shrimp flakes. Ocean nutrition does a good pellet, and therefore I would think they also do a good flake as well. I don’t think I would touch Omega One again. And nobody ever talks about Cobalt, I’m not sure why...

I was looking into ocean nutrition. It is the most affordable one so far and seems like a good brand, however, I noticed that they have a "formula 1" type and a "formula 2" type of pellets. Do you know what the difference is?

 

[kingjoe]

I was looking into ocean nutrition. It is the most affordable one so far and seems like a good brand, however, I noticed that they have a "formula 1" type and a "formula 2" type of pellets. Do you know what the difference is?

Formula 1 is made for carnivorous fish, while Formula 2 is more geared toward herbivores, though there is some overlap. Get both and that way you can help assure a more comprehensive diet for all. The fish will sample both regardless of their natural preferences; my powder blue ate a big sheet of dried seaweed each day, but he went after Formula 1 and other meaty foods enthusiastically.

 

[maleks.reef]

Formula 1 is made for carnivorous fish, while Formula 2 is more geared toward herbivores, though there is some overlap. Get both and that way you can help assure a more comprehensive diet for all. The fish will sample both regardless of their natural preferences; my powder blue ate a big sheet of dried seaweed each day, but he went after Formula 1 and other meaty foods enthusiastically.

What about the size of the pellet? Should i go with the smaller ones for clowns or with the bigger one?

 

[vetteguy53081]

What about the size of the pellet? Should i go with the smaller ones for clowns or with the bigger one?

smaller pellets such as new era and I am using a can I had of Tetramin for freshwater and all 33 fish in my large tank gobbling it

 

[kingjoe]

What about the size of the pellet? Should i go with the smaller ones for clowns or with the bigger one?

I don't know the size of your fish, and I can't remember how large/small the pellets are, but I'd reckon that for clowns you could start with a smaller size.

 

[maleks.reef]

I don't know the size of your fish, and I can't remember how large/small the pellets are, but I'd reckon that for clowns you could start with a smaller size.

Well the options are 1mm 2mm or 3mm for most brands, i think ill go with the 1mm one.

 

[maleks.reef]

smaller pellets such as new era and I am using a can I had of Tetramin for freshwater and all 33 fish in my large tank gobbling it

Well, be careful because apparently, it is not too healthy for the fish.

 

[kingjoe]

Well the options are 1mm 2mm or 3mm for most brands, i think ill go with the 1mm one.

That sounds about right!

 

[maleks.reef]

That sounds about right!

Alright thank you!

 

[vetteguy53081]

Well, be careful because apparently, it is not too healthy for the fish.

It is high in protein and ive been feeding this stuff for 3 decades and also at my pet store. Realize this is a supplement as i feed 21 different frozen diets along with pellets from AFS feeder.

 

[slojim]

why not look at the ingredients and compare to a saltwater blend? It seems to me a lot of foods are labeled for both - and a lot of people feed foods that are not SW natives - I think mysis shrimp are FW inhabitants, some worms. If the ingredients looked similar, I'd probably include it rather than waste it. It might matter what kind of fish you're feeding - a hardy omnivore or a finicky specialist.

 

[Andreas' Reef]

Big No no! Freshwater flakes do not have things like mysis shrimp, clam, etc that are vital for your fish's health.