Does Fish Food Go Bad?

[rebrn]

Hello, sadly one of my favourite little mom and pop fish stores is going under (not great for livestock, but amazing for supplies), and all there fish supplies are 50% or more off. So I purchased 6-1oz cans of "Wardley Advanced Nutrition" fish flakes for $12 I also bught some sinking shrimp pellets 9oz jar also Wardley's brand as I am planning to add some cory cats to my tank in the next week or 2 and thought these would be good to supplement them. Anyway, when I got home I thought maybe I shouldn't have purchased so much as they might go bad. I don't see an expiration date anywhere on the containers so thought I would ask here. Also, I purchased a large 500ml bottle of Prime for $7.00, such a good deal I couldn't pass it up I have a 100ml bottle that I purchased (brand new not even opened yet) for the sam price. Anyway, I know have 600ml of prime unopened, but again does this go bad. I don't see an expiration date on the bottles. Now I know prime is very concentrated (just now switched to prime from Tetra product) so I probably have a life time supply here but does it expire?

Thanks

 

[erk628]

Yes fish food expires but if you keep it in the freezer it will be fine. I'm not sure if you would want to put the whole container in the freezer or put it in ziplock bags. Some one else hopefully will chime in on that one. As for the prime I'm sure it expires to but probally has much longer life then food has. One thing you could do to find the expertion dates is call the companys there's probaly a number or something on the package they could use to determine it.

 

[rebrn]

Thanks I just sent a message to Wardley and Prime to try to determine the expiration dates. I wish I had thought of this before I purchased them, I hope they aren't already expired. I just couldn't pass up such a good deal.

 

[rebrn]

Well I got the answer from prime - apparently is has an indefinate shelf life so ok there. Still waiting to hear from Wardley's but I am starting the process of freezing, figured it won't hurt. I have a vaccum sealer, so I will just vac seal what I am not using and freeze.

Thanks

 

[Truck]

Once it has been opened it will go off, oxygen reacts with fat which is why they fill the tubs with nitrogen and seal them. the Oxygen makes the food go off.

 

[rebrn]

So as long as the containers are sealed (which they are) they are fine? And how long after they are opened are they good for?

 

[Truck]

probably a year or two, can't see it affecting the fish if it is a bit bad to be honest.

 

[rebrn]

Awesome all these were sealed when I bought them, I have only opened one can just today so I am good to go and the open one will be definately be used up with in a year . Thanks so much

 

[OldMan47]

I buy fish food in bulk, with the number of fish that I have I need to do that. All but the amount I expect to use in the next month or so gets frozen, so that it will retain its nutrients until I use it. I have experienced fish food developing a fungus when it got too moist and I know that the vitamins in foods tend to be lost rather quickly in food at room temperature.

 

[fatheadminnow]

If the container of fish food is open and kept in a higher temp room/place; or like some put fish food containers on top of their hood. The heat from the light will actually make the food loose its nutritious value.

So, like mentioned above, try to keep the open fish food container in a cool dry place and it should last for some time.

-FHM

 

[Shelby]

Wow you learn something every day! *sneaks across the room to move the fishfood from on top of the tank*

 

[AdamM]

Wow you learn something every day! *sneaks across the room to move the fishfood from on top of the tank*

hehe

 

[rebrn]

Hello, I currently do have the food in a cool dry place. However, I am planning to freeze everything that I am not using (or will use during that month). I have a vacuum sealer so that was the plan, I just have to go get more vacuum seal bags then I will start freezing. My husbands care is currently in the shop so he has mine all day, hopefully I should have a car back today.

Thanks again.

 

[drobbyb]

I always store my food in the freezer. I buy in bulk like OM does, as it's cheaper in the long run. At my pinnacle I was going through a pound a month. I can order that much for $20 shipped versus spending $5 an ounce at the LFS.

 

[fatheadminnow]

Wow you learn something every day! *sneaks across the room to move the fishfood from on top of the tank*

-FHM