flake/pellet foods without shrimp?

H

HermsTheWord

Members
My wife is a middle school teacher, and one of her incoming students apparently has a major shellfish allergy where if he even breathes in tiny particles of flake fish food that has shrimp meal in it, he will get sick. Which is extremely unfortunate, as I spent the bulk of a morning this week setting up a fish tank in the room. I checked the ingredients of all the flake and pellet food I have at home, and sure enough, all of them have some kind of shrimp ingredient.

I'm not a doctor, but I do have a Web MD, and my internet search has found cases of this where even walking by a pet store can trigger a shellfish allergic reaction, so I don't think this is necessarily a case of overprotective parents. (Though who knows, it might be.) Still, to prevent any potential problems, I thought I'd see if anybody knows of any fish foods out there that do not contain shrimp, so that I don't have to take the tanks down. Frozen and live foods are not really an option, for storage reasons. I know there are freezedried bloodworms, but would that be an adequate diet for the fish in the tank (some tiger barbs, cherry barbs, zebra danios, otos and kribs)?

Any advice or info would be appreciated!
 
mchambers

mchambers

Former CCA member
Interesting question.

Ken's vegetable flakes don't have shrimp or any seafood. I have no idea how all those fish would do on that food, however. The otos would be fine, of course.

Brineshrimpdirect has a similar flake:

http://www.brineshrimpdirect.com/Spirulina-and-Kelp-Flake-c44.html

same place has a plankton flake that has "hydrolized fish protein". I assume that doesn't include shrimp, but you'd want to be sure:

http://www.brineshrimpdirect.com/c3/Plankton-Gold-Flake-c19.html

In fact, it seems that, ironically, brineshrimpdirect has a quite a few flakes without shrimp, like their earthworm flakes:

http://www.brineshrimpdirect.com/Earthworm-Flake-Plus-c23.html

It does have plankton. I assume that's okay, but some plankton are crustaceans, so you'd want to check on that.
 
chriscoli

chriscoli

Administrator
Not to be a partypooper, but I'd be concerned about all fish food unless you have a direct talk with the manufacturer. Even if shrimp isn't listed as an ingredient, there's a good chance it was made in the same facility as other food that has shrimp.....and probably on the same equipment. Even though it's not listed, it may have picked up enough shrimp particles to trigger an allergy. This is not an unheard of problem....there are strict allergy labeling guidelines for people food but I'm not sure the labeling regulations for allergens carry over to pet food. http://www.fda.gov/food/guidancereg...tsregulatoryinformation/allergens/default.htm

If you really want to do this, call the manufacturer. Find out how comfortable they are in how equipment is cleaned between batches and how well ingredients are segregated. You may want to reach out to http://aqua-pharm.com and get their opinion too. They often attend the PVAS meeting and were at AquaMania so they've got a local presence.

Another option is to learn to make your own. Maybe a good shrimp-free veggie flake plus some home made dried pellets of your own for the protein?
 
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Acpape0

Acpape0

Members
No expert at the matter but at my daughters school kids with normal food allergys are at the same table as other kids at lunch... If the allergy is that sever it will be well know to the teacher, as kids with extreme allergies as usually isolated at lunch time. Just my two cents...

Aqua pharm is a good company and worth giving a call ... I would also give kensfish a call too. He is a awesome resource.



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cichlidaddicted

cichlidaddicted

Members
chriscoli said:
Not to be a partypooper, but I'd be concerned about all fish food unless you have a direct talk with the manufacturer. Even if shrimp isn't listed as an ingredient, there's a good chance it was made in the same facility as other food that has shrimp.....and probably on the same equipment. Even though it's not listed, it may have picked up enough shrimp particles to trigger an allergy. This is not an unheard of problem....there are strict allergy labeling guidelines for people food but I'm. to sure it carries over to pet food. http://www.fda.gov/food/guidancereg...tsregulatoryinformation/allergens/default.htm

If you really want to do this, call the manufacturer. Find out how comfortable they are in how equipment is cleaned between batches and how well ingredients are segregated. You may want to reach out to http://aqua-pharm.com and get their opinion too. They often attend the PVAS meeting and were at AquaMania so they've got a local presence.

Another option is to learn to make your own. Maybe a good shrimp-free veggie flake plus some home made dried pellets of your own for the protein?
Click to expand...

+1 I'm sure lots of foods comingle at several levels of production just cause a label doesn't include shrimp does not mean there is 0 shrimp. What kind of fish are they? You may be able to try something home made or natural like veggies or several types of worms. My brother has a son allergic to peanuts he cant go near a dunkin donuts or fast food place. Infact, most places have a disclaimer now that says any food could have peanuts or peanut by products in it. I'd be concerned with any food that has ingredients that came from the ocean if the allergy is as bad as they believe.

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mchambers

mchambers

Former CCA member
another idea

chriscoli said:
IThey often attend the PVAS meeting and were at AquaMania so they've got a local presence.

Another option is to learn to make your own. Maybe a good shrimp-free veggie flake plus some home made dried pellets of your own for the protein?
Click to expand...
Christine's points are all good. Her reference to PVAS reminds me that Les Wilson from Cobalt Aquatics, which makes fish food, is scheduled to speak next Saturday. You might attend and ask him.
 
festaedan

festaedan

potamotrygon fan
chriscoli said:
Not to be a partypooper, but I'd be concerned about all fish food unless you have a direct talk with the manufacturer. Even if shrimp isn't listed as an ingredient, there's a good chance it was made in the same facility as other food that has shrimp.....and probably on the same equipment. Even though it's not listed, it may have picked up enough shrimp particles to trigger an allergy. This is not an unheard of problem....there are strict allergy labeling guidelines for people food but I'm not sure the labeling regulations for allergens carry over to pet food. http://www.fda.gov/food/guidancereg...tsregulatoryinformation/allergens/default.htm
Click to expand...

thats what i was worried about too
I know there's a way you can make home made fish food with nox gelatin, tilapia, peas, and spirulina powder
It comes out like a gelatin and it has to be refrigerated
 
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