Maximum quality from the aquatic experts
Healthy diet – optimised for fish and water.
A lot depends on what you feed your fish (and the other occupants of your aquarium): their health and their well-being, their fertility (reproductive capabili-ties), the splendour of their colours and ultimately their lifespan. The most im-portant criteria for fish foods are therefore: the right kind of diet, the quantity, quality, digestibility and disposability of nutrients and everything which the me-tabolism leaves behind: excreta. We know a lot about the pollution of water – the natural element of fish - and we also know all about water.
EHEIM food is a particularly nutritious food which guarantees a healthy diet and less water pollution.
The best ingredients, used sparingly, for a healthy diet
EHEIM food only contains what your fish need. No artificial enticements, harmful bacteria or ridiculous extracts. It consists, for the most part, of fresh ingredients such as fresh kelp and wild caught whole herrings and shrimps. The use of whole fish makes for a more natural and healthy diet.
A new and careful production process ensures that the natural ingredients – and especially the proteins, fats and vitamins – are not contaminated.
Stable consistency – no clouding – clear water
EHEIM food does not make the water cloudy. Food which is not eaten straight away does not dissolve, but maintains its shape. This means no food is wasted and the vitamins are not washed away - the fish can eat it all and the water will remain clear.
The basis for a stable consistency is the high proportion of fresh herring and fresh shrimp in the recipe as this promotes a high protein binding capacity. For this reason, the food does not need large amounts of starch (which is water soluble) to act as a glue, as the freshly cooked raw proteins act as a binding agent.
Minimal raw fibre – minimal raw ash – minimal water pollution
Raw fibre and raw ash form a thick pulp in a fish’s digestive tract. Too high a concentration will impede digestion and the fish will suffer. The water will also be polluted by the increased amounts of excreta.
Only a 2 % content of raw fibre
Raw fibre refers to the indigestible connective tissue and cellulose contained in food. It acts as a platform for the bacteria and micro-organisms essential to digestion - but only a very small amount is needed.
A high proportion of raw fibre will inhibit the digestibility of the food and be excreted as mulm.
At just 2 % EHEIM food is the premium food with the lowest proportion of raw fibre.
Only an 8 % content of raw ash
Raw ash is the non-organic component of food and includes sand and other indigestible minerals, seeds etc. A high proportion is indicative of a high fishmeal content so the lower the percentage of raw ash in fish food the more nutritious it will be. The food will be digested more easily, absorbed more thoroughly, the fish will excrete less and the quality of the water will improve.
At just 8 % EHEIM food is the premium food with one of the lowest percentages of raw ash.
Less that 0.8% phosphate
The usual source of phosphate in fish food is excessive amounts of fishmeal. High levels of phosphate are excreted by the fish and this results in severe water pollution.
At only 0.8 % EHEIM food is the premium food with one of the lowest phosphate contents.
Optimum ratio of protein to fat – optimum metabolism
Fish food must exhibit the best possible ratio of raw protein to raw fat - the two substances having a mutual effect on each other. For most fish, a protein-to-fat ratio of 3:1 is ideal. EHEIM food has this 2:1 ratio.
2 parts protein (raw protein)
Protein is composed of amino acids and contains about 16% nitrogen which assists growth, cell regeneration and the formation of reproductive products. In comparison with the food offered by most other suppliers, EHEIM food contains less protein. A ratio of 2:1 exactly reflects the correct amount of protein relative to fat! A considerably greater proportion would be harmful.
1 part fat (raw fat)
Fat is the primary source of energy for fish. Thanks to a special production process, the natural fats (e.g. from whole high-fat herrings) in EHEIM food remain in their original state. No “foreign” fats must be added.
Omega fatty acids– in the right ratio
Omega 3 and 6 are unsaturated fatty acids which are important for the health of the nerves, cell walls, membranes and also for a fish’s immune system and brain functions.
Although some species of fish produce individual fatty acids themselves, in food the ratio of Omega 3 to Omega 6 should basically be 2:1. EHEIM food reflects that ratio.
Vitamins, minerals and trace elements
Thanks to careful processing, the natural ingredients in food are generally retained but, as natural products are involved, they are also subject to natural fluctuations. For that reason we cannot always be sure that all the materials are available in sufficient quantities so, to avoid specific shortages, some vitamins, minerals and trace elements are added to the food.