Hikari Betta Bio-Gold mini pellets question

[melissa]

I read the Fish Nutrition article recently and am currently feeding my bettas Hikari bio-gold pellets, among other things. In the review part of the article it suggests that this is still a decent quality fish food to feed that is not the best but certainly not the worst. I read the back of my packet for the ingredients and it isn't quite the same as what is listed in the review article. My packet lists the first ingredient as "Fish meal" whereas in the review article the first ingredient is "Premium fish meal". There are a few other minor differences as well but my question pertains to the fish meal. The nutrition article suggests that fish meal can either be high quality or low quality depending on whether it comes from leftover fish processed for human consumption or from whole fish farmed specifically for fish food production.



This is from the article:





Typical Analysis

• Crude Protein 38% Min.

• Crude Fat 4% Min.

• Crude Fiber 3% Max.

• Moisture 12% Max.

• Crude Ash 10% Max.

• Phosphorus .7% Min.



Ingredients: Premium Fish meal, wheat flour, Soybean Meal, Rice Bran,gluten meal, Starch, Krill Meal, Wheat Germ Meal, brewers dried yeast, DHA Oil, spirulina, dried seaweeds meal, DL-methionine, Garlic, astaxanthin, grape seed extract, choline chloride, Vitamin E supplement, L-ascobyl-2-polyphosphate (stabilized vitamin C), inositol, calcium pantothenate, Riboflavin, vitamin A oil, thiamine mononitrate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, niacin, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of vitamin K), folic acid, vitamin D3 supplement, biotin, disodium phosphate, ferrous sulfate, magnesium sulfate, cobalt sulfate, calcium iodate, red 3 (artificial color)



I've included a photo of the ingredients and analysis from the back of my packet. I'm curious if anyone knows if Hikari has lessened the quality of their ingredients or if this is simply not the same wording?



Thank you in advance for any thoughts or opinions anyone has.

[devonjohnsgard]

I can't say they lessened the meal, but it is still whole meal, which is decent. I give hikari like a 6 or 7 out of 10. They are higher on energy, though not has high as many. Use wheat and others. Soy is okay, but low on fiber.

So, still decent. Better than many, but there's better as well.

[melissa]

Thanks:) I knew it wasn't the optimal choice so I wanted to make sure it hadn't dropped down considerably in quality that it shouldn't even be fed any longer.

[Carl]

I would not be surprised if Hikari had reduced the quality of their fish meal.

They have made some of the better fish food over the years, but of late have used their time to purchase trade marks so as to attack other competitors (& even retailers such as us) and have failed to support those who have been their longest term supporters.
IMHO, Hikari is still generally a good fish food, but their actions have left me much less impressed as to their integrity.

We also offer the Sanyu Betta Pellet (which is a company Hikari went after)

www.americanaquariumproducts.com/SanyuGoldfishandKoiFood.html

Both are less than perfect for energy optimization and fiber. However making a fish food specifically for Bettas with optimized energy levels is difficult, since they can be finicky eaters and require the use of Shrimp or Krill meal so as to enhance palatability, but this can bust through energy optimization.
For this reason, the AAP Custom Carnivore would be best for a Beta IF the Betta will accept it (which many will not)

Carl