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How do you tell when food goes bad? I feed flakes and freeze-dried bood worms, and sinking plankton pellets. I keep the containers tightly sealed, but I'm concerned that it will take me a very long time to get through the food that I have, and I don't want it to go bad while I'm still feeding my fish with it. I haven't seen any expiration dates, so I'm at a bit of a loss here. Any help would be appreciated.

i dont think that dry goods do go bad, not something that has pass my mind before. did u check the bottom for a date, but if u really have conserns just go and buy new foods.

and dont most dry foods come with those patckets, i thought those are like extra long time savers or something.

Last edited by bettachris at 19-Nov-2005 20:55

If you keep them properly, as it appears you are, then they should be good for quite some time. However if by some chance I have a food that has been in the cupboard for more than 2 years I generally replace it simply because I dont think the nutrients in the food would be good after that time. Most foods dont last anywhere near that long though.

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Before you criticize someone walk a mile in their shoes. That way you're a mile away and you have their shoes.

Most dry foods dont really go bad unless you live in a very humid environment or you get them wet. What does happen however is that vitamins will start to degrade within weeks of unsealing the packet, as they start to oxidise, or are broken down by bacteria and fungi on a microscopic level. Dry foods are only truly dry prior to opening, once opened they will pick up ambient moisture almost immediately. Its probably better for people who use very little food to buy new foods in every 2-3 months if they havent got through it all. Mind you i'm lucky if a 200g tub lasts me two weeks.....

Long is right. Once you open the container, it starts to go downhill, especially with this newfangled super vitamin C or whatever marketing hype they have on the cans now.

Usually, it's good for around 6 months after you open it, depending on the conditions.

I get the larger sized containers of food and to prevent any risk of them going bad (I live in hot and humid :%)) I just keep the main portion in the freezer and take out a small ammount at a time.
Makes it easier (and cheaper ) to buy one set of foods for home and office then take however much I need.

I've seen foods that had been sitting around for years though...and it didnt look fuzzy .

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Most nutrients in any animal food or probably any other dried food be it for human or animal will start to break down within 6months of being exposed to air. After a year most products aren't really worth feeding. Freezing it can extend that but I still wouldn't expect much nutrient value after 10months or so.

Try to consume the fish foods in 6 months time & you shouldn't have any problems.



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If you do not use a lot of foods it pays to buy in smaller amounts. If it is starting to go off you will know very quickly it will give off a very nasty smell. It is best noticed as soon as you open the sealed container.
I buy all my frozen Blood Worms bulk 10 packets at a time and keep them in the deep freezer until I am ready for the next one.

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