Bring out the color of your tropical fish with TetraMin
Written: Nov 06 '02 (Updated Nov 08 '02)
Product Rating:
Pros: Brings out colors of fish, accepted by most fish, doesn't cloud water
Cons: Not specialized nutrition for specific fish, so you may need to supplement
The Bottom Line: TetraMin is an excellent brand of fish flakes for a tropical community tank. With some supplemental feeding, it will keep your fish healthy and beautiful.
TetraMin is one of the most widely available brands of fish flakes on the market. While I have never seen it at my local grocery store, it may be found in just about every pet shop that stocks fish supplies, and is reasonably priced. Its gold and brown cylinder is probably familiar to most fish keepers.
What some fish keepers may not realize is the value of this familiar fish food. I've been using it for a few months in my tropical tank, and have been pleasantly surprised with the results.
TetraMin Tropical Flakes come in a few different sized packages. I purchase the small 12 gram size. The plastic cylinder and twist-on cap keep the flakes within dry and fresh for several months after the aluminum seal is broken.
The flakes are multicolored, which is appropriate given the varied list of ingredients used in these fish flakes. Among the top ingredients are fish meal, shrimp meal, several types of grains (rice, wheat, and oats), soybean meal, potato protein, and algae meal. The variety of ingredients used makes this an ideal fish flake to use in a community tank, since fish of different varieties are likely to appreciate different flakes. The flakes are high in protein, fortified with vitamin C, and have a decent amount of fat, which helps fish to be lively and energetic.
Tetra recommends feeding the flakes twice daily in small quantities. I opt to feed once daily and stand by to see that all the flakes are eaten. The flakes do not cloud the water at all if you are careful to feed your fish only as much as they can consume immediately.
As far as my fish are concerned, most of them love this food.
... okay. I know. To tell you the truth, I don't believe my fish are smart enough to really love anything. But they eat it, so I'll just say that. They'd probably eat bugs just as eagerly, but I'd like to just pretend that I am making them deliriously happy by giving them this food, mmkay? Good.
My betta (who passed away last week of old age) refused to eat the TetraMin; he preferred his betta pellets. My other fish, a group of danios, love the TetraMin flakes. They swim to the top of their tank at feeding time, and devour the flakes with gusto.
I have observed a marked improvement in the appearance of my danios since I began feeding them TetraMin. They are sleeker, fatter, and extremely active. Beyond that, they have gone from being rather drab little fish to being absolutely beautiful. The zebra danio's black markings have darkened and become more dramatic. The long-finned golden danios have deepened in color as well, and one who had a few brown spots on his side originally has had those spots take on a gorgeous purple undertone. My formerly plain little fish now prompt friends to comment about how pretty they are.
As with any fish food, care should be taken to ensure that all the fish in your tank have the proper food. Since these flakes float, they will be devoured before they can ever reach bottom feeders. Some other fish, such as picky bettas, may reject these flakes entirely. Watch your fish, and supplement this diet with other foods in order to keep all of your fish as healthy as possible.
I've been quite pleased with TetraMin so far. I'm testing the long life claim now-- in a year or so, I'll be able to tell you if my danios have lasted into ripe old age. Until then, I'll keep using these flakes and admiring my mighty good-looking fish.
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