Hi i was just wondering what makes the best gf flake food (for growth, and generally)??? A high protein percentage in the analysis, or good whole fish ingredients. I ask because I have two types of gf flakes -

Type 1) first 3 ingredients: fish and fish derivatives, cereals, yeasts, and has 42% protein and 5.5% ash
Type 2) first 3 ingredients: whole salmon, black cod, seafood mix (including krill, rockfish and shrimp), and has 39% protein, and 8% ash

Which do you think is the best quality food, and which do you think is best for growth, and best for the fish's wellbeing, generally???

I always assumed type2 was the best, given the ingredients, but it has a lower protein percentage and higher ash than the other foods i have.

So what do you think?

Thanks

hmm.. I'd go for the second given a choice.. 39% protien is still quite high and it doesnt really show the quality of food. There is more ash, but most foods have about 8%, but then at least the fish are getting a smaller ammount of quality ingredients compared to more not so good ingredients.
I go by smell. I love the smell of quality fish food.. if I dont like the smell of a food, I wont buy it again.

Its the ammount on nutrients in the food that make the quality, because you need all the different nutrients in the fish to make them healthy.. and there is a lot more to nutrients than protien/starch etc.
I dont know how you'd really tell whats in it though.
Also try and go with a food with a lower phosphate content. I think thats because it causes problem algae.. but too much cant be great for the fish.

(this answer was all a complete guess )

lol well it sounded like a very clever informative guess, so thanks!!!!

I dont like the smell of any fish food, regardless of ingredients, coz it all smells like fish!! but i know what you mean, some smell awful! and other smell like real fish which is a good sign i suppose.

I think the second food is the best one, and i specifically bought it because of it's good ingredients. The first is just a generic flake food that i got when i first got fish. I was worried about the protein, as i want to give them as much as possible etc while they are still young to help wen growth etc. I also feed bloodworm, brine shrimp, daphnia and veg sich as peas, carrots, red pepper and broccoli tops to make sure they get vitamins etc, but as i said i think protein is very important at this age/size.

In the end, regardless of the percentages, i am much happier knowing that i am feeding them whole fish and seafoods, than cereals and corn and starchy things.

Anyone else have any thoughts on the topic???

I would definetely go for the second food, Kat - the first 2-4 ingredients shouldn't be showing any kind of meal stuff. Fresh food, that is what we are going for, nothing grinded into whatever meal. Those meal things are just leftovers from other things.

Whole Fish sound alot better.But higher protein is very important for wen growth too....