Dost Veteriner

Archive for the ‘Pet Food’ Category

People are told that we ‘are what we eat’. So, can’t the same be true for our pets? You betcha it can! Buying the right dog food is smart for a number of reasons and companies who offer Advance dog food and other high-quality brands will tell you that you can tell the difference between a dog fed a lousy diet and a dog fed dog food that’s optimised for maximum nutrition, taste, and overall health and longevity.

There are a number of dog food companies that cater to clients who shop at the grocery store for their pet food. This food is ok but most veterinarians would equate it to eating “OK”, not balanced as a food pyramid would dictate. If you’re buying dog food without a strong focus on going above and beyond legal guidelines in quality control and outcome then it’s a bit like feeding your dog fast food — on a daily basis.

Many high end pet food companies exist. Companies like Advance Dog Food, Eukanuba, Science Diet, K9 Natural, and Royal Canin might not be sold in all grocery stores but buying one of these brands from a dog supplies store or website is smart for multiple reasons.

Higher end dog food will meet the nutritional needs of your dog.
Higher end dog food results in your dog smelling better.
Better dog food promotes a healthy looking coat.
Better dog food results in fewer problems with foul-smelling “dog breath”.
Dogs who are consistently fed a higher end pet food have fewer health problems.

Advance Dog Food, for example, offers a number of options. One option is their puppy food, which is rehydratable. There are options for large breed dogs as well as their nutritional needs differ from that of smaller breed dogs. Advance Dog Food also offers adult dog food, senior dog food, and then options that include specific elements, such as chicken, turkey and rice, and other options.

Specific pet food might be a necessity for your dog. If he has a weight problem, food allergies, or specific health issues, consider researching better dog food brands and trying something new.

Tip for Switching Dog Food

Some dogs don’t take well to sudden food changes. Consider mixing a little of a new food in gradually, before you run out of his or her regular food. That way it’ll be gentler on the dog’s tummy and if you start to see a poor reaction digestively, you can (hopefully) thwart a big mess that could happen with a sudden change. If you have concerns about your dog, don’t hesitate to talk to your vet who can help you choose the right food for him as well as to ascertain whether or not there are any other problems besides food at play.

Dog food aggression is one of those dog behavior problems that is difficult for us humans to fully understand. It just doesn’t seem to make sense that your dog would consider you a threat to his/her food resource. I mean you gave him the food in the first place, and if you feed your dog’s the same kinds of foods that I do, it’s not all that appealing anyway!

But, what is your dog thinking?

If your dog glares at you, snarls, growls and positions himself between you and the food he is actually saying to you “this is mine, go away, find your own”. He is basically telling you that he considers himself as the leader or alpha dog in your household. Dog food aggression (sometimes called canine possession aggression) is a dominance issue, it is serious and needs to be addressed immediately, it won’t just go away.

We’ve all made the mistake of laughing and even encouraging our feisty little dogs when they first display the “cute” signs of dog food aggression. Don’t fall into this trap! Food or toy aggression in dogs should never be tolerated as you never know when it can escalate into something more dangerous for you or a family member.

Why Does Your Dog Display Dog Food Aggression?

Canine possession aggression can be triggered by any number of factors but in most cases it can be attributed to one of these common causes:

- Your dog is desperate for this food, in his mind he doesn’t know if or when he will get more food. Therefore he protects or guards his food, just like he would have done in a pack situation in the wild.

- Your dog may begin to see you as someone who is always taking good stuff away. He comes to view you more as a threat than a provider (you’ve got to turn this thinking around).

- Dog food aggression can be part of the general confusion regarding who the leader is in your owner – dog relationship. Often it is not an isolated incident, it’s something you need to rectify.

- It’s possible that your dog doesn’t even understand that his dog food aggression is unacceptable behavior. In such cases there is an obvious communication breakdown between human and dog.

General Rules For Correcting Food Aggression In Dogs

- If your dog is directing his aggression towards other dogs the best solution is to simply separate them at meal times. Feed them in different rooms or in their crates.

- Involve all of your family members in this dog food aggression training.

- Take control of feeding time. You control the time and place of dinner time – own the food!

- Make your dog earn any food. Just simple tasks like sit or a down stay is fine.

- Make it clear to your young puppies that it’s good to have people around when they are eating. If you do this from day one you will almost certainly prevent dog food aggression problems.

- If you encounter dog food aggression it is a good idea to feed your dog after you and your family eat. This again is a throwback to your dogs pack mentality where the alpha dog or leader of the pack (which is you) eats first – your dog will understand this technique.

- Don’t let your dog “win” the food through his growling, this would reward the very behavior you are trying to eradicate. Don’t bully or intimidate your dog though, it’s much better to make him actually like having you around at meal time (follow the tips below to achieve this).

- Never respond to canine possession aggression with aggression of your own. In essence what this does is to lock you and your dog into a battle of wills. Your dogs next move will most likely be to step up his level of aggression to counter your action.

Dog Food Aggression Training Techniques

Firstly, be careful. If you believe your dog poses any real physical threat to you or family members I’d advise getting professional help. Speak to a professional dog trainer or animal behaviorist.

Below is a list of training techniques which could help your dog overcome his dog food aggression. Remember all of these techniques are designed to work towards reconditioning your dog to enjoy having you around anytime. Mix it up, show your dog who is boss.

- Hand feed your dogs, even stick your hands into your dogs bowl while he is eating.

- Stroke and pet your dog while he is eating and at the same time talk to him in a calming tone. All you are doing at this point is showing your dog that it is a good thing for you to be around.

- Stand at a distance your dog is comfortable with, then gradually reduce this distance over time. You can flick a few treats in (or near) the bowl as you slowly reduce the distance.

- Put your dogs bowl down with nothing in it, your dog will look back at you as though you are crazy. He’ll then literally beg you to come over and fill his bowl.

- Feed your dog as normal but hold back a few pieces of his meal. When he is finished licking the bowl, he’ll look back up at you, then you can come over and give him the remaining food.

- Drop a few of your dogs very favorite treats into his bowl each time you walk past it. After a while of this your dog will welcome the sight of you approaching the bowl.

- When your dog is eating, call him over to you, when he gets to you reward him, make it worth his while then let him back to the food bowl.

- While you are preparing your dogs meal put him in a down-stay or sit position, only release him from your command once you have put his bowl down. By doing this you are controlling meal time and establishing (or re-establishing) your role as your dogs leader.

- Work with another family member on this technique. Put your dog in his collar and leash and have him sit with your helper while you prepare the food. When you are ready release your dog and allow him his food. Again you are controlling the situation.

- Try the “Trade Up Method”. What you do is take away the food or toy your dog is guarding, and replace it with something better. You can use an obedience command such as “give” or “leave it” to encourage your dog to release the precious resource he is guarding. You then take this resource (the food or toy) and give the trade up item to your dog. Once your dog has finished with the new item, you can then give back the resource you took away. This technique proves to your dog that he will receive something great for giving something up, it will recondition his thinking.

- Every time you are with your dog have him in a pinch or prong collar with a leash attached. Whenever he displays any signs of dog food aggression you immediately administer a correction to your dog by snapping on the leash. What this does to your dog is build a negative association to the act of his food guarding antics.

Good luck with your training efforts.

Healthy Homemade Cat Food – Many cats become junk food addicts on commercial cat foods, especially if they’ve been eating it a long time. Just like it’s hard to give up our doughnuts, ice cream, and Fettuccine Alfredo for healthier fare, sometimes it is hard for a cat to give up its fatty carbohydrate diet. But, transitioning to a healthy homemade cat food doesn’t have to be difficult. We know that the homemade cat food is better and healthier for the cat but the cat food industry has perfected the art of making commercial cat foods tasty to a cat. Did you know that dry cat food is sprayed with animal digest, or the stuff that comes out of a dead animal’s stomach, to make the kibble palatable? Greasy oils and fats are also added. Transitioning a cat to healthy homemade cat food can be done in a short time, if you follow a few steps. Here are some tips for the transition:

Begin by giving small tidbits of fresh food as a snack. Many cats enjoy this beginning, and it gives them an opportunity to sample the fresh food without the pressure of it being the only option.

Try making fresh jerkies out of salmon or chicken and giving diced bits. Find cat food recipes for moist treats as well as cat cookies. Additionally, if your cat is sensitive to texture, it might be you need to try a purée. Jarred baby food is a good introduction for many cats or make your own by placing a few cooked pieces of chicken, a bit of vegetable oil, and a tad bit of water in a blender or processor. Process until fine and smooth.

Begin adding fresh cat food to the current diet. Sometimes this is easiest by using small meat chucks, cooked or raw. Prepare your cat his usual meal, and add just a few of these tiny meat chucks right on top or lightly stirred in.

When beginning to add the chunks, it might not be uncommon for your cat, especially a long-term junkie, to not eat them first. Select meat chunks that your cat particularly appeared to like as a snack. If the meat is cooked, try warming it up in the microwave before adding it to your cat’s dinner. Warming it tends to help release odors that will entice your cat.

As your cat gets to like the fresh cat food additions to his diet, slowly give more fresh food and reduce the amount of commercial cat food. Don’t go cold turkey and remove all of this commercial cat food, as many cats don’t handle this drastic change well.

It’s never a good idea to wait your cat out. In other words, don’t allow your cat to not eat. Make the transition gradually and allow your cat to adapt to its new cat food diet. It may take a few weeks to complete the transition, but this will be easier on your cat and his gastrointestinal tract. Every cat can be transitioned to a healthy homemade cat food fairly easily if you give it time to try new cat foods and slowly incorporate them into the diet. Give lots of fresh snacks and small additions into its meals before switching over 100%. Lastly, remember to bring variety to your cat’s healthy homemade cat food by using different proteins to keep it balanced. To learn a bunch of cat food recipes for healthy homemade cat food your cat will be sure to enjoy visit http://www.catfoodrecipesonline.com

Is it Safe for People to Eat Pet Food?

Ferndale, WA: Sometimes I do strange searches around the Internet and this question probably takes the cake, but its a very interesting one (and I like to think sideways anyway) and in a funny sort of way rather relevant because so many people are talking about raw food diets and vegetables are edible and nutritious right? So bottom line strange is in the eye of the beholder. Let’s plug forward and have a look-see what this is all about, and in the process I think we all will learn quite a bit about the different nutritional needs of dogs, cats and us humans.

District 9

The first thing that pops into my mind about the safety of eating pet food is the scene from the Hollywood Blockbuster film, District 9, where the stranded aliens buy and eat cat food from food stalls scattered throughout their refugee camp. Villers, the main protagonist in the story, about one third of the way into the film, gets transformed into an alien and begins to crave cat food. Its awful as he takes great handfuls of tinned cat food and eats it. Is it possible for humans to eat cat food safely?

The answer is its not recommended, animal and human nutritional requirements are very different (which we are going to explore) especially those of an obligate carnivore like a cat. We’ll get to the safety thing in a minute.

Obligate Carnivore

Now an obligate carnivore is described as an animal that can only sustain itself buy eating the flesh of other animals. Your cat was built by Mother Nature to get her nutritional needs met by the consumption of a large amount of animal-based proteins (meat/organs) and derives much less nutritional support from plant-based proteins (grains/vegetables). It means that cats lack specific metabolic (enzymatic) pathways and cannot utilize plant proteins as efficiently as animal proteins.  On the other hand, dogs and humans can get nutrition from plants and thus live on a vegetarian diet but cats cannot.

The safety question.  The answer is it depends on the pet food. I can’t see it in my mind eating kibble nor tinned cat food, but if one did I believe a persons stomach would probably reject it but as far as I’ve been able to research, a person can’t die from ingesting dog kibble or wet pet food.  One reason is that most pet foods are made from scraps and leftover foods that humans wont eat and also, many dry and wet dog pet foods also contain rice, wheat and other plants, not to mention added vitamins and minerals.

What’s rather unsavory about this whole discussion from the 50,000 foot level looking down, is that what goes into pet food falls between the regulatory cracks between the FDA and AFFCO¹ (Association Of American Feed Control Officials), so even though its commercial grade pet food you buy from a store, the labels (and the ingredients) are less stringent so anything can be used. If you look carefully or test commercial pet foods you find they contain high percentages of cooked starches and things like re-processed human made restaurant waste, slaughterhouse scraps and other fun stuff. Yuck!

What about the Recall?

One important point to make lest we forget is the major U.S. pet food recall in March of 2006, in which the FDA issued a major recall on some “cuts and gravy” style of canned pet food that evidently caused rapid kidney failure and death in hundreds of animals. The FDA later recalled more animal edibles, tracing the problem back to wheat gluten, a component used to thicken pet foods.  The scientists who tested the pet meals in question say an ingredient called melamine (a fire retardant and plastic-producing chemical) was to blame for the deaths, and further investigation found that the melamine came from a Chinese manufacturer of wheat gluten. Because melamine “looks” like protein when tested, adding it to pet food could deceptively boost protein levels—a major selling point for consumers. This, some allege, may be why it ended up in pet food.

Is Pet Food Safe?

So coming full  circle, if  people do eat pet food these days, is it really safe? The jury is out in light of the pet food crisis, but sticking to food intended for humans would be a wise choice.²

On the other hand, there are bright manufacturers out there (AND WE ARE ONE OF THEM!) and some of the modern pet foods these days do have food grade ingredients and are probably very nutritious. Some people do eat some of the food grade raw³ (usually they do cook them for human consumption which we would definitely recommend) and cooked dog foods that are available and claim to enjoy them greatly!

You Can Eat Our Natural Dog Treats

At AllPetNaturals we have our own nutritious dog treat brand called Doggie Deli Treats and I 100% know what we put into our treats and its HUMAN GRADE! In fact the bacon is truly bacon, so is the chicken, its all cooked and chopped up and the peanut butter is exactly that and we use dried banana slices (which anyone can get from the health food store) and we then take all these ingredients and mix them in a special batter then double bake them. They are then frosted with rosemary to enable the proper taste to permeate through all the natural ingredients. You can actually eat them. You wouldn’t want to mind you because the double baking process works to squeeze all the moisture out and the treat therefore hardens something close to a rock – great for the teeth of a dog!

I think in this blog post we’ve covered a lot of ground but I think the take away for everyone is two-fold. Yes its possible for something quite toxic to happen  if you eat pet food since the ingredients are not known and perhaps something strange has been included. But for the most part the jury seems to suggest that eating pet food will not be great for your body but you can do it. But don’t. Its not the right nutritional mix.

by William Greenbaum, President & Founder of AllPetNaturals

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When it comes to feeding your Pond fish, there is a vast array of commercially available foods. With many different companies now producing a plethora of food choices, it is important to educate yourself on the nutritional requirements of your fish. In addition to nutrition, the ability to efficiently disperse the food to your Koi or pond fish is an important function that is often overlooked. There are several commonly available pelleted formulas, including; sinking, slowly sinking, floating, and crumbles, not to mention flake food.

The most common variety of Pond Fish food is the floating pelleted formula. Floating pellets provide a unique advantage over most other varieties in that they entice fish to the upper levels of the pond, creating a remarkable viewing opportunity. By consistently providing your Koi or Pond Fish with floating foods, they will associate the surface, and often one location in particular with feeding. They will become more bold, and increasingly personable, and will often learn to accept food directly from the pond-owner’s hand. The major drawback to floating food is noticeable mainly in ornamental varieties of goldfish. By gulping at the surface, the goldfish will often engulf atmospheric air, sometimes leading to infections of the swim bladder. It is also important to be aware of fast moving areas of the pond, as floating foods are often swiftly moved into overflows, or down flowing streams.

The best choice of fish foods is often the sinking or slowly sinking variety. By sinking from the surface areas, the food is safe from flowing out of reach from the fish. It also ensures that no atmospheric air is engulfed by your Pond Fish, preventing possible infections. The sinking action of the food will also create movement, which is a major appetite stimulant in fish. It may be beneficial to begin new acquisitions on a sinking diet. The disadvantages of sinking are mainly aesthetic. The fish will not become as personable without a floating food addition, although they will still associate the location with food. It is also possible that the food sinks too quickly, possibly becoming entrapped in the substrate.

Crumbles and flake food are generally reserved for smaller pond fish and juvenile Koi. They should be fed as a first food before the fish are weaned onto a larger sized maintenance diet. When provided to larger fish, flakes and crumbles are often ignored, creating a wasteful environment.

Once nutrition is provided for, each type of <A rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackPageview', '/outgoing/article_exit_link']);” href=”http://www.naturalenviro.com/sections.php?section=FishFood”>pond fish food</A> has its place in pond fish culture. It is important to consider the size of the fish, as well as the environment in which they will be fed. Larger ponds with areas of slow moving water can be comfortably fed with floating pelleted food. This will create the surface activity that is often desired. Sinking pellets are wonderful for acclimating new arrivals, or when used in fast moving streams. They will also prevent infection of the swim bladder. Lastly, crumbles and flake food should generally only be given to smaller or juvenile specimens. If chosen properly, the food selection will go a long way towards long-term health.

Cat is a carnivorous animal that needs a balanced diet that includes proteins, fibers and fats. The cats must eat animal tissues to keep it in good health in the long run. Proper diet for the cat can be planned by consulting a vet. There are many options available like, homemade food, canned food and diet supplements that fulfill the nutritional needs of a cat.

Most of the times, it is observed that the pet cats are overweight, because of which they have many diseases like diabetes, heart problems and arthritis. So a cat diet is a very crucial factor as far as cat care is concerned.

Dietary Needs of Cat

Cat diet should consist of proteins, minerals, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and water. A proper diet accelerates total body development of a cat throughout its lifecycle. Vegetarian diet cannot fulfill the dietary needs of the cat.

Various Types of Cat Foods

Bones, intestine and other organs of prey: Cat receives proteins from the muscles of the prey and vitamins, minerals from the bones of the prey. Cat loves to eat meat. The meat is rich with Taurine and Arginine, the amino acids. The cats who are deficient to these amino acids suffer from reproductive problems, blindness, heart troubles and toxicosis.
Eggs, Meat and Fish: Egg, meat and fish are great source of protein. Protein is one of the main ingredients that help to produce antibodies, enzymes, tissues and hormones. Meat contains fatty acids, Linoleic and Arachidonic. Minerals are necessary for bone and muscle development of a cat. Minerals are important to achieve proper reflexes. Meat, fish and eggs are rich with minerals like Calcium, Potassium, Magnesium, Copper, Zinc etc.

How to Select a Cat Food

As explained earlier, a cat needs a balanced diet. Most of the cat foods available in the market carry large percentage of carbohydrates too. Cats need very less carbohydrates. Consult a vet to choose the right cat food.

Homemade Food: You can feed your cat with homemade food. It turns out as one of the best solutions to reduce obesity in cats. Incorporate essential ingredients in proper proportion. Restrict the amount of carbohydrates.
Dry Food: Dry food helps to prevent dental problems in cats. The protein content in dry food is plant-based and not animal-based. So do not completely depend on dry food. As said earlier, put some dry food in the canned food to take care of dental health.
Canned Food: Canned food contains fewer calories and water in large quantity. So cat consumes less food and still gets the feeling of stomach fullness.

Tips about Feeding the Cat

Feed the cat with small quantities of food at various intervals
After every meal, water intake is essential
Cat prefers to eat the food that matches its own body temperature.
Do not feed junk, fried food, table wastes to the cat
Clean up the feces and vomits immediately, so that the cat wouldn’t be a victim of cat illnesses like internal parasites.

Selecting proper, balanced cat food is a bit difficult. You have to revise the diet if your cat suffers from illnesses like obesity, internal parasites, kidney trouble etc.

Proper cat diet, exercise and grooming keep the cat healthy.

Feeding your dog can be filled with stress.

Many dog owners take a zealous approach to how they feed their dog and can be judgmental of other dog owners when the issue of a dog’s food comes up.

The reality is that what you feed your dog is a personal decision. It will be guided by how you have always fed your dogs and what you think is right for your current dog or dogs.

A dog’s food is only one part of raising a healthy and happy dog, but it’s a very important part, and worth some careful consideration.

How to Choose a Dog Food

If you go shopping for dog food, you quickly see that there are many options. There’s premium dog food, low-cost dog food and so many dog food brands your head can spin.

Here are some tips for finding the correct dog food:

* Begin your search before you go the store. If you make your choice in the store, it could easily be the incorrect one.
* Ask friends and family for recommendations. If they use a particularly good dog food, consider that as one of your viable choices.
* Ask your vet for a recommendation. Based on your dog’s age and health, your vet may have a specific recommendation for your dog.
* Remember that the best dog food for one dog isn’t necessarily the best for another. Consider your own needs and budget before settling on a dog food choice.
* Read dog food reviews. If they are reputable and published in well-known publications or web sites, you can usually trust them.
* Remember that puppy dog food is a completely different beast than food you feed an older dog. Don’t feed a puppy regular dog food, and don’t feed an adult dog puppy dog food.

When looking at learning more about Dog Food Brands, read as much as you can.

The health of your dog depends on it!

What About Homemade Dog Food?

Recently, the safety of pet food was called into question when many dogs became ill and died after eating commercial dog food. Some of the brands in question were even considered premium dog food brands, so it seemed that no brand was safe.

This safety scare led many people to decide to give their dog a homemade dog food diet. It’s an excellent option if you have the spare time and money. Feeding a dog a homemade dog food diet can be expensive and somewhat time consuming, though it does get easier the longer you do it.

If you are thinking you might skip the dog food brands and go for the homemade dog food, consider these tips:

* Make sure the dog food you make is nutritionally balanced. Dogs need a good amount of carbohydrates, fat and protein. Do some reading ahead of time to make sure that you get just the right proportion of nutrients for your size and breed of dog.
* Be willing to cook animal body parts that you might not consider desirable. Dogs can eat necks.legs and organs. In fact, many believe that one of the main advantages of a homemade dog food diet is that your dog can get more raw meat and bones, which many consider to be the ideal dog food diet.
* Don’t forget that if you start Rover on a homemade dog food diet, it can be hard to switch to a more traditional diet. You can’t just throw down a bowl of kibble just because you are too tired to make your dog’s dinner. To that end, it’s best to do a lot of preparation ahead of time so there are packages in the freezer you can pull out and thaw.

Conclusion

The best dog food diet for your dog is the diet that proves to be best for you. Depending on your budget and time available, you might make a choice that’s different from your neighbor. The key is to find dog food brands that are accessible, affordable and that feed your dog healthfully. Or make your own. It really is your choice.

Further Information

More information about Dog Food or Dog Food Reviews can be found here.

Before you decide to keep fish as your pet, it is better for you to know well about the basic types of fish food. This knowledge will be very useful to take care of your fish in the proper way. Choosing appropriate food will be also helpful to maintain the health of your fish. To know more about the basic types, please go on reading this article.

Basically, fish food is divided into three categories. The first one will be live foods, such as fresh insect larvae, live worms, maggots and feeder fish. It will be healthy food for your fish but you need to spend more money to afford it. Besides, it is also quite difficult to get. Then, the second type will be freeze-dried food. It has lower content of water levels and bacteria levels. Compared to live food, freeze-dried food will be more economical. It also gives similar ability in conditioning fish as well as live food offered.

The third type is food formula. You can find food formula in many different types, such as flakes, pellets, and liquid fish food. Flakes food is the most common type of fish food that usually comes in small containers with a removable cap. This food is dry and floats on the top of a fish tank or pond once it is sprinkled. Therefore, flake food will be perfect for fish that prefer to eat floating food.

The next type of food formula is pellet food. It has the same nutrients with the flakes type, but it comes in pellet form to attract some species of fish. In choosing pellets, make sure that you are choosing the right one because some pellets might be difficult to digest by some species of fish. Therefore, you need to find the best one that is easy to digest.

The last type of food formula is liquid food. Although this type is not common, it provides more bio-available nutrition. Most of liquid foods are completed with different types of zooplankton, phytoplankton and other protein-based ingredients, but basically they have the same nutrition as flakes and pellets. Usually, people use this food for baby fish because it contains small food particles that will be easy for them to ingest.

By choosing the tight and appropriate type, you could maintain the health of your fish easily. So, do not take the wrong choice.

When deciding to breed your fish it is essential to condition them and add some live foods to their diet. Live food is rich in important vitamins and has a higher nutritional value than the dried varieties from the aquarium stores. This food also corresponds to the foods that they would go after in the natural environment, so the fish are keen and extremely interested in it. Worms are a great on the fish menu, and there a many types to consider. You can buy these at the pet store but a really cheap solution is right outside in your garden! Earthworms, even though they are not a natural part of a fish diet are very much enjoyed. Simply wash off the excess soil carefully and feed. Be careful that the ground has not been recently sprayed with chemicals or pesticides. Naturally the worms may need to be cut up for smaller fish, depending on the size of both worms and fish. If you are up to the task they can be minced in a blender to make a delicious brew for baby fry. Hopefully an old blender dedicated for fish food would be the right choice.

Other types of worms can be easily cultured. You can buy cultures for White worms and Grindle worms at the local aquarium store. They can be kept in plastic containers of compost and fed with cereal based foods such as bread, oats, porridge and baby foods. These must all be pre-moistened. Other varieties of live food include crickets which are enjoyed by larger fish. The housefly is also a good possibility, but make sure that no insecticide or sprays have been used and the flies have been swatted! Many human foods are also suitable for fish. Fresh or frozen green vegetables such as peas, spinach, cucumber and lettuce are great as supplementary foods. Peas should be cooked to soften them and lettuce and spinach blanched to break down the cellulose and make them more easily digested. Fresh or frozen fish and shell fish such as mussels, prawns and shrimps are all very good foods to add to the variety.

It is important not to overfeed, while this may not cause any direct harm to the fish it will cause serious water contamination and in turn seriously stress or kill the fish. Uneaten food quickly decomposes and ammonia is produced and the filter may not be able to cope with the extra production, the build up of ammonia becomes toxic to the fish. There is such a wide variety of live food available that there is no reason for the aquarium fish diet to consist solely of dried flakes. Live foods are also mainly free or very inexpensive to culture at home and every hobbyist can easily provide some, if not all of these options for their fish. Live foods for your fish are particularly beneficial when conditioning them for breeding. They are high in nutritional value and essential vitamins which have not been destroyed by processing or by leaching in the water as in the dry foods available commercially. Live foods are also better matched to the natural feeding instincts of fish being just like they would eat in their natural environments and they will respond much more eagerly to this food.

There are many worms that fish really enjoy. They can be purchased at the pet store but also be easily cultured at home. Earthworms are an easy no-cost solution and need to be rinsed carefully to remove all soil before using. They can be fed whole or cut up, depending on the size of the fish and the worms. Minced in a kitchen blender they will make excellent food for fry (note: definitely recommend an old one specifically for the purpose). Ensure that the worms have not been gathered from ground that has been treated recently with pesticides or similar chemicals. Earthworms are easy to culture and supply an ongoing economical food source. You just need a plastic container filled will compost rich in organic matter. Keep it moist and add worms. They can be fed vegetable kitchen scraps, fruit, cereals, grass clippings, leaves etc. Egg capsules appear on the surface as small white dots and will hatch as baby worms in a matter of 3 or 4 weeks.

Whiteworms are small and white and range from about half and inch to an inch and a half in size. They can be cultured with a culture purchased from the pet store. Use a plastic container just 8 x 12 inches and 2 inches deep, containing peatmoss or slightly acidic compost. It should be moist but never too wet and covered with plastic or cardboard and kept dark. Put some pin holes in the cover to provide air or the worms will suffocate. They can be fed on bread pre- moistened with water and cereals such as porridge oats, also pre-moistened. Replace any food if it starts to go moldy and experiment with the amount and quantity of food given. Do not remove any worms until the culture is thriving and there are plenty of worms around the food when the lid is lifted. If the culture has the right consistency then the worms will be clean when they are removed and can be fed straight to the fish, if not the culture may be too wet and the worms will need to be rinsed.

Grindal worms are smaller than white worms, growing to only about a quarter to a half inch in size. They can be cultured in much the same way as with white worms, possibly with a shallower container. Grindal worms are not very prolific breeders and care is needed not to run down the culture by taking out too many at once. They are easy to remove as they congregate on the underside of the lid. Feed with moistened cereals, baby foods and bread. Feeding live foods is not only very beneficial for conditioning fish for breeding but also the most economical method.

Do you have a fish filled acquarium in your home or office? If this was a new purchase, you may have many questions. One of the most common questions asked by new fish owners concerns food. Your first impulse may be to head to your local pet store and purchase the cheapest food available. Yes, this will do, but there is a much better option. That is buying frozen fish food from a trusted online retailer. Wait! Frozen fish food? As a new acquarium owner, you may have never heard of frozen fish food. You may also wonder what the benefits are and how to buy it.

Frozen fish food has many benefits. The greatest benefits it the nutritional value retained. These important nutrients are often lost through the entire process of making and packaging dry fish food. The added nutrients from frozen fish food can increase the energy and color of your fish. Not only do your acquarium fish reap the benefits, but you do too. You will get pride and joy from seeing your fish in their prime, full of energy and color.

You now know the benefits of feeding your acquarium fish frozen food, but how can you buy it? What factors should you consider?

Your acquarium contents. Frozen fish food is available for a wide range of fish; however, you will usually find an emphasis on marine and corals. As previously stated, it is recommended that you buy frozen fish food online, as you are presented with more choices and better prices. You should also get detailed descriptions. However, when in doubt, place a call to the customer service department. They can help ensure you choose the frozen food best for your acquarium fish.

Your acquarium fish size and food size. Since frozen, this fish food usually comes in cubes. For example, a coral food mix may come in 100G cubes, 200G cubes, or 1LB cubes. It is best to opt for the right size. When buying, consider the size of your fish. If not given a choice, frozen fish food cubes can be thawed and cut into smaller sizes.

The online retailer that you make your purchase through. As previously stated, buying frozen fish food online has its benefits. You get a better product selection and prices because there are many retailers to choose from. For your benefit and the benefit of your fish, make your choice wisely. Since you may have questions, ensure there is a customer service phone number or email available. Then, consider price.

Your shipping options. Although it is best to buy frozen fish food online, you must proceed with caution. To keep your food safe and to retain all nutrients, proper shipping is a must. Since the product is frozen, it cannot be shipped like traditional mail. A quality retailer will generally use two-day shipping with FedEx or UPS. Your purchase should be shipped in a Styrofoam cooler and with ice packs.

Your shipping costs. Shipping costs vary greatly online. If you are not careful, it can significantly increase the cost of your purchase. With frozen fish food, you are presented with a unique opportunity. You continue to freeze at home, meaning there is no rush to use the food before it goes bad or starts to produce mold. To save both time and money, opt for an online fish supplier that has flat rate shipping. You pay the same shipping costs regardless of quantity. Stock-up and get a better rate.

You now know how to buy frozen fish food and get the best value for your money, but what about when that food arrives? If this is your first time feeding your acquarium fish frozen food, carefully read the instructions on the package. Although you may find a variance, you should:

Begin thawing your frozen fish cubes twenty to thirty minutes before feeding time. Using hot water to hurry the thawing process is not advised. A constant stream of hot water decreases the freshness and nutritional value. Remember, the nutritional value was one of the benefits of frozen fish food, so don’t wash it away.

Only thaw what you need. Frozen fish food should not be refrozen. This reduces the nutritional value and does pose health risks. Luckily, most fish foods that are frozen come in resealable plastic bags. Grab what you need for the next feeding, set that cube aside to thaw, reseal the package, and put in your freezer immediately.