|
Proper storage ensures freshness
The fish food you buy should be fresh, and, if so,
it will offer the maximum in nutritional value to your fish.
The use of old food holds definite dangers such as lead leading
to abnormal behaviour, bad feeding response and growth and
general loss in condition and even death. The following practical
guidelines for appropriate storing of feed may ensure maximum
shelf life.
Like human food, fish food have a limited shelf life after
which some natural chemical changes occur that will drastically
reduce it’s nutritional value and cause unpleasant odors
and tastes. The storing period before use must therefore be
limited to obtain maximum advantage from the feed. Several
factors influence the unique shelf life of the food:
The moisture content of the food is closely related to the
relative humidity in the storage area. If the moisture content
of the food is increased, the nutritional value is diluted
and the potential occurs for invasion by insects and microorganisms.
A relative humid factor of up to 70% creates ideal circumstances
for progressive insect infestation, while higher levels can
form clogging in the feed due to fungi and mould. High temperatures
can damage sensitive nutritional components and compromise
its availability to the metabolism of the fish. The possibility
of insect and microorganism invasion increase with temperatures
of higher than 25 degrees C, which will cause even further
damage. Due to the high relative humidity and temperature
in tropical coastal areas, food should not be stored for longer
than 2 to 3 months, while moderate areas may provide a shelf
life of up to 9 months when the freshness seal is broken.
High temperature furthermore increases the possibility of
oxidation and rancidity. Rancid fats contain damaging free
radicals that bind with nutrients in the feed and reduce its
availability to the animal. It also robs the feed of taste
and contains toxic components that may suppress growth. Because
oxygen is essential for the development of oxidative rancidity,
it is advisable to attempt to exclude it from the storing
area by keeping it in airtight containers. Vitamin inclusion
in manufactured fish food is adapted to compensate for the
normal losses associated with production and long periods
of storage on pet shop shelfs. It does not, however, remove
the need for adequate storing procedures. The following guidelines
should be followed to ensure prolonged freshness:
- Care should be taken to store your fish’s food in
a dry, cool area away from direct sunlight as it may harm
sensitive food ingredients.
- Keep the food container sealed after use to prevent moisture
penetration and insect infestation.
- Storing facilities must be used exclusively for fish
food to prevent contamination with household detergents
and other toxic substances.
- Spilled food must be removed regularly to prevent breeding
areas and hiding places for insects and rodents.
- Food should never be allowed to come into direct contact
with concrete floors or walls (especially outside walls).
These surfaces are usually colder than the surrounding air
and can cause condensation and damp.
- Freezing “extra” food bought ahead of time
is highly recommended, as it will maintain shelf life of
the food for much longer.
However “prevention always is better than cure”.
When you buy food, make sure that it is clean and free of
foreign matter - inspect it for abnormalities in texture,
colour and smell, as well as the presence of insects, fungi
and clogging. Mouldy food should never be bought as it may
cause severe liver damage and even death. Sometimes little
beetles and their larvae are found in food. Insect infestation
often has a web-like appearance, and it can produce harmful
secretions that may cause an allergic or lethal reaction to
your fish. Look for expiration dates and if you can’t
find one, ask your distributor when the product was delivered
– and whether it is an imported product or locally manufactured,
as the latter may be fresher due to a shorter network of distribution.
Be aware of what you buy!
Lourens de Wet
|
