| Best for | Product |
|---|---|
| Best Overall | TetraMin Tropical Flakes Fish Food |
| Best for Affordability | Wardley Fish Food and Accessories |
| Best for Freshwater Fish | Aqueon Tropical Flakes Freshwater Fish Food |
| Best for Color Enhancing | Marineland Color-Enhancing Tropical Flakes Color |
Key Points
- The #1 Best Overall flake food for fish is the TetraMin Tropical Flakes Fish Food.
- Flake fish food is suitable for surface and middle feeders.
- Although some food is suitable for all fish, there are types that are aimed at specific species so it’s important to always check that it is suitable for your fish before buying.
Are you the owner of an aquarium, or do you have a fish for a pet? Having aquarium fish as pets is a good idea as they are beautiful, easy to care for, and relatively inexpensive. Most fish have specific requirements for diet, while others can eat general fish food as long as it is of good quality.
Fish flakes are one of the most common fish foods that exist. One of the major benefits of fish flakes over other fish foods is that they are suitable for surface feeders and fish that prefer to feed in the middle of the tank. This makes fish flakes very popular and convenient for fish owners to use.
However, their popularity and convenience also mean a wide variety of brands and specific types of fish flakes available. Some flakes are suitable for all fish, those for specific species, and those aiming to improve your fish’s color.
The wide range of fish flakes available on the market today, coupled with their varied purpose, makes it important that you choose the right one for your fish. This is why we have compiled a review of the best flake food for fish along with the benefits and uses for each to help you choose the food that best suits you and your fish.
- Wardley Fish Food and Accessories
- Best budget option
- Does not discolor water
- No artificial coloring
- High protein and fat content
- Aqueon Tropical Flakes Freshwater Fish Food
- Made from whole fish meal
- No artificial coloring
- Comes in a large container
- Bring out the natural colors of your fish
- Marineland Color-Enhancing Tropical Flakes Color
- High in carotenoids for enhancing colors
- Contains anchovies which are a rich source of protein
- Can be fed to any freshwater fish
- Good variety of flake sizes for all fishes
- TetraMin Tropical Flakes Fish Food
- Easy to digest and do not discolor the water
- Contains vitamins and Omega-3 that protect against disease
- High protein and fat content
- Made with fish meal, brown rice, and yeast
A-Z-Animals Top Picks for Flake Food For Fish
#1 Best Overall: TetraMin Tropical Flakes Fish Food
The best flake food is the TetraMin Tropical Flakes Fish Food.
One of the major features of this food is that the flakes are easy to digest and do not discolor the water preventing you from increasing your water cleaning regimen. TetraMin tropical flakes are made with fish meal, brown rice, and yeast. This food also contains a selection of vitamins and minerals and a high level of protein and fat. It also contains omega-3, which helps your fish maintain a healthy immune system against disease.
This product has a high acceptance rate with fish, with the only complaint about this product being that it might be considered quite expensive. But this should matter little to fish owners as they indeed get the quality they pay for, which is a healthy, quality food that keeps fish healthy and thriving without requiring extra cleaning or resources.
Pros and Cons of the TetraMin Tropical Flakes Fish Food
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| The flakes are easy to digest. | This food is more expensive than other brands. |
| This food does not discolor the water. | |
| It is made from fish meal, brown rice, and yeast. | |
| It contains vitamins, minerals, and omega-3 to promote a healthy immune system. | |
| This food has a high protein and fat content. |
- Easy to digest and do not discolor the water
- Contains vitamins and Omega-3 that protect against disease
- High protein and fat content
- Made with fish meal, brown rice, and yeast
2. Most Affordable: Wardley Flake Fish Food
The most affordable option is the Wardley Flake Fish Food which is a good quality food that won’t break the bank.
This food helps to ensure the good health of your fish as it is formulated with fish meal which is a highly digestible protein source. It it also completely free of artificial colors which are one of the leading causes on water discoloration.
This food contains a stabilized form of vitamin C to promote a healthy immune system. These flakes are also formulated with a high protein and fat content that encourages the growth of all fish. However, some users of this product have complained that the flakes crumble during shipping, leaving dust that can not be fed to their fish. Some users of this product have also complained that the flakes leave a cloud in the water. This cloud, however, might be due to the aforementioned dust.
Pros and Cons of the Wardley Flake Fish Food
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This food is formulated with fish meal which is a highly digestible protein source. | Some users reported that the flakes crumble and turn to dust. |
| It is free from artificial colors. | It can cause a cloud in the water. |
| This food contains a stabilized form of vitamin C to promote a healthy immune system. | |
| It has a high protein and fat content to encourage growth. |
- Best budget option
- Does not discolor water
- No artificial coloring
- High protein and fat content
3. Best for Freshwater Fish: Aqueon Tropical Flakes Freshwater Fish Food
In our review, the best flake food for freshwater fish is the Aqueon Tropical Flakes Freshwater Fish Food.
This product incorporates whole fish meal and does not have any artificial coloring. The balanced and varied list of ingredients in this food ensures that the fish utilize more of the ingredients, reducing natural waste while minimizing the need for cleaning. This product comes in a large container which gives customers value for their money.
The majority of the reviews about this food are good, with a few users complaining that their fish do not like the flakes. There have been no complaints about the food being cloudy or dusty.
Pros and Cons of the Aqueon Tropical Flakes Freshwater Fish Food
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This food is made from fish meal. | There have been some complaints that some fish do not like the food. |
| It is free from artificial colors. | |
| It has balanced ingredients to help fish utilize more of what they eat and reduce natural waste. | |
| It comes in a large container which is good value for money. |
- Made from whole fish meal
- No artificial coloring
- Comes in a large container
- Bring out the natural colors of your fish
4. Best for Color Enhancing: Marineland Color-Enhancing Tropical Flakes Fish Food
In our review, the best food for color enhancing is the Marineland Color-Enhancing Tropical Flakes Fish Food.
This product is high in carotenoids, enhancing colors on the orange to red spectrum. It also contains anchovies which are a rich source of protein for your fish.
Marine and Color-Enhancing Tropical Flakes Fish Food can be fed to any freshwater fish, and it has a variety of flake sizes to help ensure that they are suitable for all the fish in your tank. This color-enhancing fish flake has a lot of positive reviews as most buyers love the fact that the flakes float before sinking.
However, some users have said that the food is more like crisps than flakes, so some fish might not take the food. However, these reviews are few, especially when compared to the number of users who have said that this product enhanced the colors of their fish.
Pros and Cons of the Marineland Color-Enhancing Tropical Flakes Fish Food
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| The presence of carotenoids in this food enhances orange and red colors. | Some users have reported that this food is more like crisps than flakes and as a result some fish do not like it. |
| The presence of anchovies provides a high protein diet. | |
| There is a good variety of flake sizes which make it suitable for for all fish, | |
| The flakes float before sinking. |
- High in carotenoids for enhancing colors
- Contains anchovies which are a rich source of protein
- Can be fed to any freshwater fish
- Good variety of flake sizes for all fishes
Choosing the Best Flake Food For Fish: What to Look For
When choosing the best food for fish, three major factors to consider. These are price, quality of flakes, and effect on water. Here is how to consider the best flake food for fish across each of these factors:
Price
When selecting food for your fish, it is essential to consider price as there is a wide variety of flake food available and each one is available for different prices. Having a budget can help you select a flake food for your fish that falls within your budget range.
Quality of Flakes
This is another major factor to consider when choosing food for your fish. Some flake food products have flakes that crumble and turn to dust easily, while some might have flakes that hardly dissolve or float in water. Knowledge of the quality of the flakes can help inform your decision on what flake food for your fish you would like to purchase.
Effect on Water
Some flakes discolor the water in your tank, leading to extra resources in cleaning and maintaining your tank. Therefore, it is important to note the effect of food on the water in your tank before purchasing it.
Up Next
- How to Choose the Right Size Fish Tank — Check out our detailed guide on how to choose the right sized tank for your fish, plus we’ve included reviewed the best tanks on the market today for you.
- What Do Fish Eat? — Discover what fish really eat.
- Pet Fish Guide: What You Need To Know — Check out our detailed guide to learn everything you need to know about keeping pet fish.
| Best for | Product |
|---|---|
| Best Overall | TetraMin Tropical Flakes Fish Food |
| Best for Affordability | Wardley Fish Food and Accessories |
| Best for Freshwater Fish | Aqueon Tropical Flakes Freshwater Fish Food |
| Best for Color Enhancing | Marineland Color-Enhancing Tropical Flakes Color |
The Best Flake Food For Fish: Reviewed and Ranked FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
How many flakes should you feed fish?
We recommend that fish owners feed their fishes about two to three times daily. Overfeeding can cloud your water and be potentially harmful to your fish. When feeding your fish, a few flakes per fish is sufficient.
Should you crush fish flakes?
While it is unnecessary, fish flakes can be crumbled, especially when feeding smaller fishes like the neon tetra. In this case, you can gently crush the crisp between your fingers before feeding the fish.
How long does flake fish food last?
The shelf life of flake fish food varies depending on the manufacturer. Most flakes typically have a shelf life of 18 months to three years.
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