Ultra Tropical Fish Flakes 100g

Ultra Tropical Fish Flakes: Premium Protein Supplement for Isopods, Millipedes & Roaches

A super premium, insect-based, high-protein flake food originally formulated for tropical fish, and a protein supplement for isopods, millipedes and other invertebrates. The blend of insect meal, shrimp, herring meal and salmon oil puts 46.2% crude protein into a flake that crumbles to any size.

100g resealable bag, a small amount goes a long way for invertebrate feeding.

Why Fish Flakes for Invertebrates?

Experienced isopod and millipede keepers have used high-quality fish flakes as a protein source for years, and for good reason. Detritivorous invertebrates need protein for growth, moulting, and reproduction, but in the wild, they get this from a varied diet of decaying organic matter, dead insects, fungi, and biofilms. In captivity, you need to actively supplement protein, and fish flakes are one of the most efficient ways to do it.

This particular blend stands out from generic fish food for several reasons:

Insect meal as the protein base. Most cheap fish flakes use generic fish meal as their protein source. This formula replaces it with insect meal, fish hydrolysate, herring meal, and brewer's yeast, all higher-quality protein sources that more closely match what invertebrates would consume in the wild. Insect meal in particular is biologically appropriate for detritivores.

46.2% crude protein. For invertebrates, that means a small amount goes a long way. You only need to offer pinches at a time, and your isopods will respond enthusiastically.

Omega-3, Omega-6, and Omega-9 fatty acids. The analysis gives 0.84% Omega-3, 1% Omega-6 and 2.23% Omega-9.

Spirulina, garlic, paprika, and curcuma. Plant ingredients in the recipe; the garlic is why these flakes are not for snails (below).

Added vitamins and amino acids. Vitamins A, D3, E and C, lysine, methionine, betaine and beta-glucan, with the amounts listed under Composition below.

Which Invertebrates Take It?

Isopods. Most species in our isopod collection take a little protein as part of a varied diet. That includes the premium Cubaris and Ardentiella, in small amounts, and the hardier Porcellio scaber and Giant Orange (P. laevis), which get through protein foods faster.

Millipedes. Larger species in our millipede collection. Chocolate Millipedes, Ghana Speckled Leg, and other giants, appreciate occasional protein offerings. Most millipedes are primarily detritivores, so a small amount of fish flake once a week is plenty.

Snails. This recipe contains garlic, and keeper guides leave garlic out of snail diets, so for Rodatzi GALS, Pink Lipped Panthera and Unicorn Snails choose a protein food without it.

Springtails. Springtail cultures take crushed flakes scattered on the substrate, in small amounts so the leftovers do not mould.

Cockroaches. Species in our cockroach collection are omnivorous and readily consume fish flakes as part of a varied diet.

How to Feed

For isopods: Crush a small pinch of flakes between your fingers and scatter on the substrate or place on a small dish. A pinch is enough for a colony of 20-30 isopods. Offer 2-3 times per week. Don't overfeed, uneaten protein in humid enclosures spoils quickly and attracts mites and fruit flies.

For millipedes: Place a small amount on a flat surface near where they're active. Offer once per week as a supplement to their primary leaf litter and rotting wood diet.

For springtails: Sprinkle a small pinch directly onto the substrate. Springtails will find the flakes quickly and break them down.

General principle: Less is more. A small pinch is enough. These flakes are dense and concentrated. Overfeeding causes mould and pest issues that can damage the entire enclosure. Better to offer small amounts more frequently than large amounts that go uneaten.

Storage

Store the bag sealed and in a cool, dry place. Fish flakes can absorb moisture and develop mould if left open in humid environments. The 100g size will typically last several months for a small invertebrate collection, protein is offered in tiny amounts compared to fish feeding, so the bag goes much further.

Composition

Insect meal, fish hydrolysate, herring meal, brewer's yeast, wheat, wheat gluten, soya, shrimp hydrolysate, potato starch, salmon oil, garlic, shrimp, curcuma, crab eggs, carob, spirulina, carrot, paprika.

Analytical constituents:

• Crude protein: 46.2%
• Crude oils and fat: 8.3%
• Crude fibre: 1.4%
• Crude ash: 5.4%
• Moisture: 5.4%

Key vitamins and supplements: Vitamin A (25,700 IU/kg), Vitamin D3 (1,500 IU/kg), Vitamin E (100 mg/kg), Vitamin C (450 mg/kg), L-Lysine (500 mg/kg), DL-Methionine (500 mg/kg), Betaine (2,000 mg/kg), Beta-glucan (500 mg/kg), L-carnitine (50 mg/kg).

Fatty acids: Omega-3 (0.84%), Omega-6 (1%), Omega-9 (2.23%).

Trace minerals: Iron (85 mg/kg), Iodine (0.6 mg/kg), Copper (4 mg/kg), Manganese (17 mg/kg), Zinc (23 mg/kg).

For Aquarium Fish

Before any isopod ate one, these were tropical fish flakes, and they still work as one: a pinch your fish clear in a couple of minutes is the right amount. More fish, turtle and reptile foods are on foods for reptiles, turtles and fish.

Pairs Well With

For the rest of a varied invertebrate diet:

• Cuttlebone: a calcium source to leave in the tub
• Malawi Limestone: passive calcium and habitat enrichment
• Flake Soil: fermented hardwood substrate for fibre and detritivore nutrition
• Kinshi: mushroom mycelium for tropical species
• Magnolia Leaves: primary leaf litter
• Bamboo Leaf Litter: structural leaf cover
• Asian Leaf Mix: premium native leaves for tropical species

Our guide to feeding fish flakes to isopods covers how much and how often, and for more on building balanced invertebrate diets, see our setting up guide. Browse the full accessories collection for everything else needed to keep your invertebrates thriving.