Dry food expiration

[Jeff]

I bought a bunch dry pellets, and flake food last year when I set up my tank. However, after then did I hear Cory say to only buy enough for six months. 

How do you know when dry food is officially bad to feed? 

[T. Payne]

Look for an expiration date on the package. Most brands have them on the package somewhere.

[Ken]

Smell it. If it has gone rancid you'll know. I have dedicated shelf in the fridge door for fish food that helps extend the shelf life. As near as I can tell some of it ages pretty good, some not so much 🤢. 

[Flumpweesel]

Smell, change in texture, white bloom.  I only have one tank so to feed a variety everything lasts longer than 6 months some easily 12. 

If it seems unchanged and you have happy fish don't stress.  Some foods are more prone to  spoil than others.  

[Andy's Fish Den]

Make sure that when you are done feeding your fish, that you close the packages of food good, if its a bag type package, squeeze out any air that's in there before closing. Another thing, don't use wet or damp fingers to pinch out some food, air and moisture are the detriment for fish foods. That said, what I do is, when I open a container of food, I take a Sharpie and write the date I open it on the package. I will throw it out when it hits a year, but honestly I don't think I've thrown much out in a while, except for a container of some pellets I won in a raffle at my local fish club and none of my fish seemed to eat. 

[Jeff]

On 10/28/2021 at 6:38 AM, Andy's Fish Den said:

Make sure that when you are done feeding your fish, that you close the packages of food good, if its a bag type package, squeeze out any air that's in there before closing. Another thing, don't use wet or damp fingers to pinch out some food, air and moisture are the detriment for fish foods.

Yeah, I always pour food into a plastic bowl before I feed; as I dip my finger in the tank, and collect food with my wet finger.

These are all good to know tips. I've been smelling them all a lot lately, with no irregular smells. My fish are happy. Nothing abnormal looking with the food.