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7 Best Frozen Foods For Saltwater Fish – 2024 Reviews & Top Picks

Lindsey Stanton Profile Picture

By Lindsey Stanton

A saltwater aquarium tank

Gone are the days where we only feed our fish a pinch of flakes a couple of times a day. As science and nutrition information has advanced, we’ve learned more about meeting the needs of our fish. For saltwater fish, a nutrient-dense, varied diet is important for health and longevity. Frozen foods are a fantastic way to bring nutrient-rich variety to your fish’s diet without the hassle of transporting or raising live food.

We’ve found the top frozen food picks for your saltwater aquarium fish to help you make an educated decision and save you money by bringing you only the best of the best.

A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites of 2024

Rating Image Product Details
Best Overall
Winner
Piscene Energetics PE Frozen Flat Pack Mysis Shrimp Piscene Energetics PE Frozen Flat Pack Mysis Shrimp
  • Nutrient-dense
  • Can be used to condition fish for breeding
  • Stimulates a feeding response even in picky fish
  • Best Value
    Second place
    Hikari Mega-Marine Algae Hikari Mega-Marine Algae
  • High in protein
  • Formed into worm-like sticks to stimulate feeding
  • Supports osmotic activity with minimal energy expenditure
  • Premium Choice
    Third place
    San Francisco Bay Brand Sally’s Frozen Krill – Premium Choice San Francisco Bay Brand Sally’s Frozen Krill – Premium Choice
  • Stimulates hunting instincts
  • Rich in omega-3 fatty acids and astaxanthin
  • Alternative to live feeder fish and invertebrates
  • Hikari Bio-Pure Jumbo Blood Worms Hikari Bio-Pure Jumbo Blood Worms
  • 5 ounces of food in 24-portion blister pack
  • Gut-loaded for maximum nutritional payoff
  • Rich in vitamins
  • minerals
  • omega fatty acids
  • and color enhancers
  • Ocean Nutrition Formula Two Ocean Nutrition Formula Two
  • Two package sizes
  • Can be fed as a primary diet
  • Formulated to retain its shape as it thaws
  • The 7 Best Frozen Foods for Saltwater Aquarium Fish

    1. Piscene Energetics PE Frozen Flat Pack Mysis Shrimp – Best Overall

    Piscene Energetics PE Frozen Flat Pack Mysis Shrimp

    Check Price on Chewy
    Package size: 8 ounces
    Protein content: 5%
    Diet type: Omnivore, carnivore

    The best overall frozen food for saltwater aquarium fish is the Piscene Energetics PE Frozen Flat Pack Mysis Shrimp. This 8-ounce pack contains freshwater Mysis shrimp, but it is appropriate for saltwater fish as well. Mysis shrimp are nutrient-dense, containing almost 70% protein and over 8% fat. This food stimulates a feeding response in even the pickiest omnivorous or carnivorous fish, and it can be used to support breeding in your fish. It can be fed frozen or thawed and rinsing prior to feeding can reduce the risk of water cloudiness. Mysis shrimp are naturally rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which helps support bright color development. Since this is a flat pack, it can be difficult to portion out appropriate amounts of food at one time.

    Pros
    • 8 ounces of Mysis shrimp per pack
    • Nutrient-dense
    • Stimulates a feeding response even in picky fish
    • Can be used to condition fish for breeding
    • Can be fed frozen or thawed
    • Rinsing reduces the chances of water cloudiness
    • Rich in omega-3 fatty acids
    Cons
    • May be difficult to portion food out when frozen

    2. Hikari Mega-Marine Algae – Best Value

    Hikari Mega-Marine Algae

    Package size: 5 ounces
    Protein content: 75%
    Diet type: Herbivore, omnivore, carnivore

    The best frozen food for your saltwater fish for the money is the Hikari Mega-Marine Algae, which comes in a 3.5-ounce pack containing 32 frozen cubes. The cubes are packaged in a no-touch blister pack form. This food is formulated for herbivores and omnivores, but your carnivorous fish may love it as well due to its protein content of around 75%. Within each frozen cube is formed sticks that are worm-like in appearance, stimulating hunting and feeding in your fish. It supports osmotic activity and contains a combination of vitamins and ingredients that most people cannot replicate at home. Make sure you’re feeding an appropriate amount of this food because uneaten food will lead to water cloudiness.

    Pros
    • Best value
    • 5 ounces of food in a 32-portion blister pack
    • High in protein
    • Formed into worm-like sticks to stimulate feeding
    • Supports osmotic activity with minimal energy expenditure
    • Contains ingredients that are difficult to replicate at home
    Cons
    • Uneaten food will rapidly cloud the water

    3. San Francisco Bay Brand Sally’s Frozen Krill – Premium Choice

    San Francisco Bay Brand Sally’s Frozen Krill – Premium Choice

    Package size: 16 ounces, 32 ounces, 96 ounces
    Protein content: 80%
    Diet type: Omnivore, carnivore

    The top premium choice for feeding your saltwater fish frozen food is the San Francisco Bay Brand Sally’s Frozen Krill. This food is available in three package sizes, including a 96-ounce mega pack. These krill contain around 80% protein and are appropriate for omnivores and carnivores alike. They are rich in omega-3 fatty acids and astaxanthin, both of which support color development in fish. This is a great alternative to live feeder fish and will still stimulate hunting instincts in your carnivores. This food should be thawed in room temperature or cool water before feeding, and since it comes in flat packs, it may be difficult to break off the appropriate portion size.

    Pros
    • Three package sizes
    • High in protein
    • Rich in omega-3 fatty acids and astaxanthin
    • Can be used to condition fish for breeding
    • Alternative to live feeder fish and invertebrates
    • Stimulates hunting instincts
    Cons
    • Should be thawed before feeding
    • May be difficult to portion food out when frozen

    4. Hikari Bio-Pure Jumbo Blood Worms

    Hikari Bio-Pure Jumbo Blood Worms

    Package size: 5 ounces
    Protein content: 6%
    Diet type: Omnivore, carnivore

    The Hikari Bio-Pure Jumbo Blood Worms are available in a 3.5-ounce blister pack with 24 frozen cubes. The no-touch packaging means you never have to handle these blood worms, and they’re high in protein at almost 64%. They’re a great source of vitamins, minerals, omega fatty acids, and color enhancers, and they are gut-loaded to ensure maximum nutrition. These are larger than your average blood worm, making them ideal for larger carnivores and omnivores. Some people report allergic reactions to blood worms, so it’s important to avoid handling them when possible.

    Pros
    • 5 ounces of food in 24-portion blister pack
    • High in protein
    • Rich in vitamins, minerals, omega fatty acids, and color enhancers
    • Gut-loaded for maximum nutritional payoff
    • Ideal for large carnivores and omnivores
    Cons
    • There are allergy concerns with blood worms so handling them should be avoided

    5. Ocean Nutrition Formula Two

    Ocean Nutrition Formula Two

    Package size: 7 ounces, 14 ounces
    Protein content: 75%
    Diet type: Herbivore, omnivore

    The Ocean Nutrition Formula Two frozen food is specially formulated for marine herbivores and omnivores. It’s available in two package sizes and comes in blister packs of 70 cubes. It contains 75% protein, thanks to marine algae and seafood ingredients, like plankton and squid. This food can be offered as a primary food and is formulated to be fed 1–3 times per day. It’s recommended to offer this food as a frozen cube because it is formulated to retain its shape as it thaws, allowing your fish to easily consume it with minimal mess. Avoid overfeeding, though, since excess food will quickly cloud the water.

    Pros
    • Two package sizes
    • 70 cubes in each 7-ounce blister pack
    • High in protein
    • Can be fed as a primary diet
    • Formulated to retain its shape as it thaws
    Cons
    • Uneaten food will rapidly cloud the water

    6. Hikari Bio-Pure Rotifers

    Hikari Bio-Pure Rotifers

    Package size: 75 ounces
    Protein content: 5%
    Diet type: Omnivore, carnivore, coral

    The Hikari Bio-Pure Rotifers are the perfect frozen food option for fry, small fish, and corals. It contains over 77% protein, as well as DHA, EPA, and bio-encapsulated multivitamins. It’s also rich in microalgae, which supports nutrient density, nutrient cycling, and clearer water. This food comes in a 1.75-ounce package of 40 mini cubes in a blister pack, allowing for no-touch handling of the food. Although these are mini cubes, they may still be too large for small fry and corals, so make sure you aren’t accidentally overfeeding by offering a full cube. Overfeeding will lead to water clouding.

    Pros
    • Perfect for fry, small fish, and corals
    • High in protein
    • Contains amino acids and bio-encapsulated multivitamins
    • Rich in microalgae
    • 75 ounces of food in a 40-portion blister pack
    Cons
    • Mini cubes may be too large for small fish and invertebrates
    • Uneaten food will rapidly cloud the water

    7. San Francisco Bay Brand Sally’s Frozen Brine Shrimp

    San Francisco Bay Brand Sally’s Frozen Brine Shrimp

    Package size: 4 ounces
    Protein content: 7%
    Diet type: Herbivore, omnivore, carnivore

    The San Francisco Bay Brand Sally’s Frozen Brine Shrimp are a great treat for fish of all types. This food comes in a 4-ounce flat pack of brine shrimp, which contain high levels of fatty acids, astaxanthin, natural pigments, and protein. It can stimulate a feeding response in picky and sick fish, ensuring everyone in your tank is eating well. It also stimulates brilliant color production and growth. This is a flat pack, so portioning may be difficult. This food should be thawed prior to feeding. Uneaten food will quickly cloud the water, so make sure to only feed as much as your fish can quickly eat.

    Pros
    • 4 ounces of food in a flat pack
    • Rich in fatty acids, astaxanthin, and natural pigments
    • High in protein
    • Can stimulate a feeding response
    • Stimulates brilliant colors and healthy growth
    Cons
    • Must be thawed before feeding
    • Uneaten food will rapidly cloud the water
    • May be difficult to portion food out when frozen

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    Buyer’s Guide: Selecting The Best Frozen Foods For Saltwater

    Choosing the Best Frozen Food for Your Saltwater Aquarium Fish

    When it comes to picking the right frozen food for your fish, you’ll need to consider your fish’s nutritional needs and your goals. Obviously, herbivores have different nutritional needs than carnivores, but does your fish need color support or weight gain? Maybe it’s recovering from an illness? Choosing foods that provide the right nutritional support, whether it’s high protein, fat, or specific vitamins and minerals, will help your fish reach its maximum health level.

    Also consider your goals for your fish. Are you hoping to stimulate spawning in your fish or enhance their energy levels, or are you just trying to bring more variety into their diet? Choosing foods that nutritionally support the goals you have for your fish and your tank will help you rapidly achieve your goals.

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    Conclusion

    If you’re in the market for frozen foods for your saltwater aquarium fish, use these reviews to guide you through the best products available. The best overall choice is the Piscene Energetics PE Frozen Flat Pack Mysis Shrimp, which is nutrient-dense, stimulates a feeding response, supports healthy colors, and can condition your fish for breeding. For a better value product, then the Hikari Mega-Marine Algae is the best option for your herbivores. This food provides a nutritional profile that is difficult to achieve at home. If you’re feeding carnivores, then the Hikari Bio-Pure Jumbo Blood Worms are a fantastic option for health support and satiety.


    Featured Image Credit: Dobermaraner, Shutterstock

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