Can I freeze regular fish food?

[Faith_at_Large]

I tried searching for this, but there is no sensible way to filter it to get a suitable response.

I have algae discs on hand for my Otos, but they are currently satisfied with the abundance of algae in my tank. I want to have it on hand should they need it, but I don't want it to get stale. Can I put the package in the freezer for later use?

Also, I am experimenting with food types for my different fish - some are pickier than others. Can I freeze flake or pellet food? I have ten gallon tanks and not many fish so it goes along time and might get stale. I am already using smaller to medium sized packages, but they seem to last quite a while.

Let me know if anyone has tried this and what the results were.

[Dave66]

I keep prepared foods in ziplock bags in the fridge. Freezing can cause cell damage within prepared foods as the moisture within the food freezes, rupturing encapsulated nutrients.
I should mention that I feed thousands of fish several times a day, and thus buy prepared foods in bulk. Refridgeration prevents heat buildup and thus spoilage.

Dave

[Fishguy2727]

Refrigeration is fine, and from what I have heard freezing is as well. There is not much moisture in these foods and it is not like cells in an organism where if they rupture there is damage and a loss of nutrients. I have not heard this too much and am not sure how true or untrue it is. I would be interested to know about any articles or more information on this.

[gm72]

I keep prepared foods in ziplock bags in the fridge. Freezing can cause cell damage within prepared foods as the moisture within the food freezes, rupturing encapsulated nutrients.
I should mention that I feed thousands of fish several times a day, and thus buy prepared foods in bulk. Refridgeration prevents heat buildup and thus spoilage.

Dave

Dave, out of curiosity, what do you feed your 40+ tanks? You must buy by the pound!

[Dave66]

By the kilogram, GM. AKA 2.2 pounds. Depends on the critter as to the foods. Prepared-wise, I use a lot of Hikari stuff dry and frozen staple, and NLS as a color-up. Most of my fish are little guys; large schools of tetras, so the food has to be tiny, thus lots and lots of micropellets. Top dwellers get skeeter larvae and bugs (fruit flies) four or five times a week, under guys get Daphnia, BBS and what they can swipe from above. Benthic fish get live black, white, Grindal and Red worms regulary, to the joy of Cories and Botias, prepared sinkers, and live Daphnia that they can catch.
Herbivors get veggies on top every day, so the fridge crisper drawer is always full. I culture lots and lots of algae covered rocks.
Marine NLS, live adult briners, frozen and live shrimp, and ground fresh and prepared frozen fish and mollusc flesh. Herbivors (aka tangs) get dry macro, NLS and the rocks. Things like Anthias get fed five times a day, everything else three times. I use multiple refugiums on the marines, so everyone gets 'pod snacks 24/7.
Takes me about 15 minutes to get everybody fed ( I use scoops), couple hours to watch the fish :)

Dave

[Faith_at_Large]

I will try the ziplock freezer bags in the fridge for now. I have frozen prepared food as well - it came that way. I am hoping to increase my collection of fish somewhat but two ten gallon tanks does not give me a lot to work with and my home is not well set up for a larger tank. - Seventies solid construction, but not a level floor in the place except for the one spot my ten gallon is sitting on.