Collection: Pellet and Flake Fish Food

The Everyday Diet

Prepared pellets and flakes do the daily feeding work in most tanks. The choice comes down to three things: particle size, whether the food floats or sinks, and whether the formula matches what the fish is built to eat — a grazer fed a carnivore pellet does poorly however good the pellet is.

Choosing a Staple

• Floating pellets and flakes — for fish that feed at or near the surface.
• Sinking pellets and wafers — for catfish, bottom feeders and shy fish that will not come up.
• Algae and seaweed-based diets — for tangs, plecos and other grazers.
• Carnivore formulas — higher-protein pellets in larger particle sizes for predatory fish.
• Species-specific diets — cichlid, betta, guppy and shrimp formulas at matched particle sizes.
• Micro sizes — small pellets and granules for nano fish and juveniles.

Buy the size you will actually finish. Prepared food loses quality once the container is opened, so a large tin only saves money if it gets eaten within a few months — for one small tank, the smallest size is usually the better buy. Keep it sealed, dry and out of direct light. Questions? Email sales@jlaquatics.com.