Pellet Fish Food

Pellets are firm, compact dry fish foods available in floating and sinking forms and in many sizes to match the fish and tank level.

What it is

Pellets are a firm, compact form of dry fish food. Unlike flakes, they do not dissolve immediately on contact with water, so they hold their shape long enough for fish to take whole pieces. Pellets are often broken into smaller sizes known as crumbles. They are one of the prepared dry foods most widely used by aquarium keepers, alongside flakes and tablets.

How it is made

Dry feed ingredients are combined into a dough and forced through a die to form pellets, a process similar to extrusion through a pasta or meat grinder. Depending on the feeding requirements of the target fish, pellets can be made to sink or float. Formulated diets are built from sources such as fish meal, shrimp meal, spirulina, and soybean meal to supply protein, fat, and carbohydrate.

Floating versus sinking

Floating pellets stay at the surface and suit fish that feed from above, while sinking pellets descend to mid-water and bottom dwellers. Surface feeders may swallow air along with floating food; pre-soaking dry pellets in conditioned water for a short time lets them absorb water and sink, which reduces the amount of air taken in.

Choosing the right size

Pellets are sold in a wide range of sizes, from very small pellets for tiny fish to large pellets for big species. Because pellets are firm and harder to crumble than flakes, selecting the correct size matters: oversized pellets cause fish to repeatedly take and spit them out, while pellets that are too large may not be eaten at all.

Expansion in water

Dry pellets absorb water and expand after being eaten. If a fish consumes large amounts of dry pellets, the swelling food can press on the swim bladder and contribute to buoyancy problems. Pre-soaking pellets before feeding allows this expansion to happen outside the fish and lessens the chance of digestive trouble.

How to feed

Overfeeding is the most common feeding mistake and degrades water quality. One feeding per day is plenty for most pet fish, and feeding at least five days per week is recommended; a maintenance rate of about 0.5 to 1.0 percent of body weight per day is adequate. Offer only what the fish finish quickly and remove uneaten pellets.

Storage

As with all dry feeds, moisture and air shorten shelf life by oxidising vitamins and turning fats rancid, so opened pellets are commonly used within about six months. Keep containers sealed and dry, and store away from heat, humidity, and light.