Hikari diets

There has been a lot of discussion about Hikari on my other forums and I thought I would bring it to the attention of all of you too. As many of you probably don't know, Hikari changed all of their food formulas a while ago which included adding monosodium glutamate (MSG).

I've always used Hikari, since I got my first fish tank and currently with my bettas and snails (though not without second thoughts...). They were one of the best fish diets around and many agreed...So what happened? Now I'm reading the ingredients and pondering "I wonder what made them do this?". In Betta Bio-Gold the first ingredient used to be fish meal but now it's wheat flour. Now, wheat flour is a binder and contains a good amount of protein, but why was more of it added into the ingredients to make it #1 in the list? It's not detrimental to the diet or anything but for an insectivorous fish it just seems like most of the protein should be deriving from a meat-based ingredient.

In their Algae Wafers fish meal is the #1 ingredient. Where does that make sense? Putting a meat-based ingredient in a herbivorous diet does not seem right...however, I do realize there are many "herbivorous" species that occasionally eat the remains of another dead species and even enjoy the occasional meat treat. For my apple snails their formula does not concern me, but for other fish (butterfy goodeid comes to mind for me; though they can eat very tiny, small fish they do best on vegetable/plant matter) this diet might not want to become their staple.

One last thing I'd like to discuss: monosodium glutamate, better known as MSG, are in all Hikari formulas now. It's true that MSG may be used as a preservative but we can't really tell from their ingredients. Food preservative or flavor enhancer, who knows. But I still would like to know why it's in my fish food. I asked Hikari about this and this was their response:

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Understandable, but still the only fish food I know of with MSG in it.

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What are you guys' thoughts on this topic? Please be respectful of others opinions; Let the discussion begin!

I've always used their food, and will continue to do so until there are negative effects on my fish. Don't like the fact that there is MSG in it though..

mikeypb234 wrote:I've always used their food, and will continue to do so until there are negative effects on my fish. Don't like the fact that there is MSG in it though..

I'm using it too since it's a food I've always used and haven't had any negative effects. The MSG is really weird though. Hope my fish and snails aren't getting headaches

love me some MSG noodles whats the problem

Well in humans MSG causes seriuos side effects

sarcastic joke sorry

nothing like tenderizing meat from the inside out

Yeah msg makes every thing delicious

Hikari changed formulas cause someone in their corporation thought it would be more cost effective.. Did anyone hear about this change coming? When was so called research done I never heard about it? Does not mean it didnt happen... However if I have noticed as far as the floating Cichlid gold is concerned you can buy the off-brands and the lack the MSG and usually have a higher protein content (what I look for) also cost a few dollars cheaper.. They will change back to original formula when the market drops out.. Lately the prices for hikari have dropped dramatically I paid 8.99 for huge bag of hikari gold sinking large pellets at jones pets when its 12.99 at pets smart.... Keep eyes on mom and pop shops as they are like us and will lower prices just to get the crap food outta their stores...

I am baffled by this uproar over MSG in fish foods. The vast majority of premature deaths of aquarium fish seem to be related to avoidable poor aquarium conditions, and there is absolutely no evidence to say MSG has a negative impact on the health or longevity of our fish. Why do people choose to focus their attention and effort on this issue with no particular value while ignoring important issues regarding protecting the health and welfare of animals?

One answer is that people love conspiracy theories: for example: The American Medical Association is in league with physicians to withhold effective therapies that will ruin their business, fluoride is added to water to poison us, and the 911 attacks were staged.

In my life I have seen the horrible aftermath of unreasoned enthusiasm for too many ideas without scientific proof that people refuse to abandon: look up the history of Laetrile for treatment of cancer and DMSO for the treatment of arthritis.

Believe anything you want, but have evidence based studies to support your beliefs, and I don't mean anecdotal evidence or one obscure report.

Euphonium wrote:I am baffled by this uproar over MSG in fish foods. The vast majority of premature deaths of aquarium fish seem to be related to avoidable poor aquarium conditions, and there is absolutely no evidence to say MSG has a negative impact on the health or longevity of our fish. Why do people choose to focus their attention and effort on this issue with no particular value while ignoring important issues regarding protecting the health and welfare of animals?

One answer is that people love conspiracy theories: for example: The American Medical Association is in league with physicians to withhold effective therapies that will ruin their business, fluoride is added to water to poison us, and the 911 attacks were staged.

In my life I have seen the horrible aftermath of unreasoned enthusiasm for too many ideas without scientific proof that people refuse to abandon: look up the history of Laetrile for treatment of cancer and DMSO for the treatment of arthritis.

Believe anything you want, but have evidence based studies to support your beliefs, and I don't mean anecdotal evidence or one obscure report.

Perhaps the curious people just want to know why a company would change a good thing ???

Euphonium wrote:One answer is that people love conspiracy theories:

Like why 4 out of 5 dentists recommend sugarless gum. Why do hot dogs come in a 10 pack and buns in a 8 pack. Its all a conspiracy!

My fish won't eat Hikari. They love NLS Cichlid though.