Does Flake Expire?

[DiscusKeeper403]

Hey,


I've had this full big can of Omega One color flake for about 4 months now, and I wanted to know if it is/will expire(d). My Dads tropicals died off, so it hasn't been fed for 4 months now.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks,

DL

 

[blue acara]

Yes over time the vitimin content and general freshness? will go down, even more so in opened foods. 4 months should be ok though- the fresher the better though.

 

[madgap]

Doesn't it have a use-by date on the the pack? Mine does.

 

[blue acara]

Well yeah fishfood has a use by date on it but that (I assume) applies to unopened foods.

 

[pica_nuttalli]

nmonks always says that fish food should either be used completely within 6 months of being opened or stored in the freezer to preserve the nutritional content

 

[Aphotic Phoenix]

Yes, all dried food lose nutritional value over time. I've seen "toss" recommendations as early as 3 months from first opening. Of course the conditions that you keep your food in does play a part... freezing, how humid your house is, if you ever put wet fingers in the canister etc, would all affect the length of time the food stays fresh.

 

[jakeroberts]

yes flake food does go off

 

[pratty675]

yes it does expire

 

[Luketendo]

My flake food said 18 months I think.

 

[nmonks]

Just as an idea, but I think a good idea is to freeze flake food when you buy it in an airtight container. Only put a few week's worth at a time into another food container by the fish tank. As others are saying, wet fingers, humidity, sunlight etc all speed up the decay process. But the temptation is to buy big-value pots. But if you store most of it in the freezer, and just have a bit out in the house, you should be fine. This tip works especially well with powdered baby fish food. They're especially fussy, and so you really want to keep the "savour" in their food as well as its nutritional value.

Cheers, Neale

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

Just as an idea, but I think a good idea is to freeze flake food when you buy it in an airtight container. Only put a few week's worth at a time into another food container by the fish tank. As others are saying, wet fingers, humidity, sunlight etc all speed up the decay process. But the temptation is to buy big-value pots. But if you store most of it in the freezer, and just have a bit out in the house, you should be fine. This tip works especially well with powdered baby fish food. They're especially fussy, and so you really want to keep the "savour" in their food as well as its nutritional value.

Cheers, Neale

Thanks guys! I will get some new food, because i'd rather not risk it! Thanks everyone for the info!