AAP Premium All Natural Carnivore
SKU:
$4.99
$4.99 - $15.99
per item
Ingredients: Whole Menhaden Fish Meal, Corn Bran, Kelp, Green Pea Flour, Human Grade Spirulina Powder, Astaxanthin, Menhaden Fish Oil, Paprika, and Cayenne Pepper. Vitamins: A, E, K, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, C, M, H, D3, B12.
Nutritional Analysis: 40% Protein, 6.6% Fat, 14.2% Starch, 21.1% Fiber, 1% Sugar, 12.4% Minerals/Ash, and 4.7% Moisture.
Recommended Usage:: A Carnivore is a fish that eats other living creatures including fish, invertebrates, insects, insect larvae, etc.
Examples: East African Haplochromines Cichlids, Cyprichromis & Julidiochromis Cichlids from Lake Tanganyika, Jaguar Cichlids, Oscars, Acaras, and many other similar fish in their natural dietary habitats. Crumbled to correct size, the Carnivore is excellent for Bettas. As well the tendency to at first float then sink often attracts Bettas to this ultra premium fish food if placed near the Betta!
Press Description + for more info
The original creator of of the ingredients and process for Paradigm and now "AAP Clay Neighbors Premium Fish Food" fish foods has been breeding Rift Lake African cichlids going on 30 years now.
He tried every single manufactured fish food there is on the market and was never completely happy with any of them. So then fish food guru Clay Neighbors began studying the ingredients and nutritional analysis of each type of food by making comparison charts.
Then he took all the knowledge he learned about the different types of fish and their dietary needs by breeding fish plus all the research he had compiled on the different fish foods on the market including AAP founder Carl Strohmeyer's in depth Fish Nutrition article which he and Carl discussed at length in an aquarium forum for some time. He then decided that he could make a fish food far superior to any other food available.
Now the creator (Clay N) has decided to step it up a notch even more with an even newer formula that is 100% natural and better than his original Paradigm formula.
This food is unique, unlike how even most of the other better fish foods that do not correctly limit/optimize proteins along with energy levels and fiber content. In the end Clay Neighbor's Custom is designed for fish longevity and long term health, NOT fast grow out as fish foods based on many aquaculture studies are based on (as AAP Founder Carl Strohmeyer's long term tests can confirm).
With Clay Neighbor's custom it is all about the Analysis, unlike most other premium fish foods that focus primarily on the ingredients!!!
While there are many other prepared fish foods (or even good DIY recipes) that utilize top quality ingredients (including similar copycat fish foods), this AAP Custom Fish Food by Clay N. is unique in that it seeks to optimize ingredients, such as the before mentioned proteins and especially energy levels instead of the popular "the more, the better of quality ingredients".
As well, correct fiber content is something even other super premium fish food woefully lack. WHY? The cost of increasing fiber content to optimum levels is cost prohibitive, which is why Clay Neighbor's Premium which is sold at generally the same price as other premium foods is actually a much better value. In fact Clay Neighbors Custom Fish food has now become the "Gold Standard" when it comes to fiber content and energy levels and the importance of these energy levels explain a lot of the results for long term fish health of Carl Strohmeyer's long term fish food trials among his 1000s of aquarium under his care!!!
Reference: Fish Nutrition - IMPORTANCE of Energy Level Optimization
As well, this fish food optimizes the amount of Spirulina used, since there is an optimal amount (reference: Spirulina as a Fish Food).
This is to be sold exclusively as "AAP Premium Custom All Natural" whereby the creator decided the protein make up could be improved. The creator felt the fish were getting more than needed with 99% of the foods available, which made for unnatural bulky fish. It can also cause some health issues with long term feeding as too much protein also can lead to premature renal failure, which unfortunately many of the otherwise very best competing foods tend to ignore this issue and go with "the more the better". The binders of the food have also been reworked with kelp and peas.
Aquarium and Pond Fish Food Nutrition Experts, Paradigm
First: He wanted to make a binder using a minimal amount of starch. He originally used egg whites with the Paradigm formula, but later switched over to pea flour that he personally grinds so as to make sure protein levels were not so high that it would produce fatty fish and early onset renal failure as many fish foods can do by not considering optimum protein sources.
Reference as to protein: Fish Nutrition - Protein/Amino Acids
Second: These "AAP Premium All Natural" are designed to maximize net energy gain.
This makes feeding less and getting at least as much or more energy gain possible.
When the fish can use more of the food it leads to less waste in your aquarium. Less waste in your aquarium obviously means a cleaner tank, lower nitrates, and therefore healthier and happier fish.
What "AAP Premium All Natural" is offering is in depth research by Clay and others after working on it for over five years (decades when all the research that went into formula is considered). Clay actually found the low limit for energy aka fat, sugar and starch. In the study fish stopped breeding after being fed one of the last trial diets of less than 21-22% combined fats & starch. This means that the females didn't have enough reserve energy to produce eggs. Clay Neighbor's "AAP Custom" raised the energy a little and voila the fish started breeding again. With that being said you can rest assured your fish are getting the proper amount of energy and avoid their liver being covered in stored energy aka fat. We use the sugar and starch first since they can store very little if any.
Third: "AAP Premium All Natural", along with its predecessor, Paradigm Fish Foods, are not a pellet or a flake its a crumble. This way you only have to buy one size. You adjust the size of the food to tailor to your individual fish. More importantly, the process producing pellets and most flake foods often produces high heat that can destroy many important water soluble vitamins such as Vitamin C. While AAP Custom uses low heat dehydration to produce crumbles and no need to supplement other than the natural ingredients included.
Admittedly one of the Cons of a fish food crumble is quick usability and neatness. AAP's founder, as a long time professional in aquarium fish nutrition will be the first to admit that these fish food crumbles are not as user friendly as a pellet or flake. As well since these fish food crumbles have no binders and seek to optimize fiber, they can easily crumble to a very fine powder (which is still often usable). HOWEVER, if you do not mind spending an extra minute feeding your fish, these crumbles are superior to ANY other form of fish food in retaining nutritional value and fiber!! As well, for Cichlids, both American and African for which this fish food was first tested and designed for by its creator, these crumbles are actually quite easy to feed right out of the bag and IN FACT THERE IS NO BETTER FISH FOOD FOR YOUR CICHLIDS BY A WIDE MARGIN AS PER THE SCIENCE OF FISH NUTRITION!
You spend hundreds (and hundreds) of dollars on your fish....so why not give them the very best fish food you that you possibly can!!!
WHY DOES "AAP PREMIUM ALL NATURAL" & PARADIGM USE CERTAIN INGREDIENTS?
Whole Menhaden Fish Meal, which is 92.8% digestible. This is an excellent number for a fish food ingredient. The whole fish is dried, cooked and ground into meal. 64.2% protein with a complete amino acid profile, 8.9% fat/lipids, 8.3% moisture and 18.6% minerals. Vitamins Present: B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12, H and M. 92% Omega 3 and 8% Omega 6.
Whole Menhaden Fish Meal contains Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Potassium, Phosphorus, Iron, Zinc, Manganese, Copper, Chromium, Selenium, Molybdenum, Chromium, Vanadium and Cobalt. More as to why this is superior fish meal: Fish Nutrition - Amino Acids & Whole Menhaden Fish Meal.
FRESHLY MILLED Green Pea Flour: Our unique fresh milled pea flour a great source of fiber and is also used to lower protein. This ingredient contains 26.6% protein without a complete amino acid profile, 2.4% fat/lipids and 28.2% starch, 27.7% fiber, 6.9% sugar, 3% minerals and 5% moisture. Pea flour is a superior source of vegetable matter for fish, with one of the most complete vegetable nutritional make-ups of any vegetable sources, including kelp. Reference: Fish Nutrition - Pea Flour.
Corn Bran: An excellent albeit expensive source of soluble fiber. Corn bran has a minimal effect on flavor, texture or processing characteristics. Fiber also supports healthy digestive functions. Corn Bran Proteins also provide structural support for the body and boost immunity. More about fiber: Aquarium Fish Nutrition - Fiber.
Human Grade Spirulina Powder: Spirulina is blue green algae (Cyanobacterium). It is a simple, onecelled form of algae that thrives in warm, alkaline freshwater bodies. Spirulina is 57.1 percent complete protein, with all essential amino acids in perfect balance. Spirulina also provides high concentrations of many other nutrients amino acids, chelated minerals, pigmentations, rhamnose sugars (complex natural plant sugars), trace elements, enzymes that are in an easily assimilable form. 57.1% protein with a complete amino acid profile, 7.1% fat/lipids, 25% carbohydrates, 8% minerals and 2.8% moisture. Vitamins Present: A, B1, B2, B3, B5, C. 40% Omega 3 and 60% Omega 6. Spirulina contains Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Potassium, Phosphorus, Iron, Zinc, Manganese, Copper, Selenium, Iodine and Silicone. The fish's immune system sees spirulina as a bacteria so it boosts the fish's immune system.
Natural Astaxanthin Powder: Excellent ingredient to improve fish''s color in the red/orange spectrum, promote growth and stimulate spawning. This ingredient is 24% protein without a complete amino acid profile, 14% fat/lipids, 14% minerals, 38% carbohydrates, 8.5% moisture and 1.5% Astaxanthin. 0.8% Omega 3 and 92% Omega 6.
Crude Menhaden Fish Oil: Is pressed from Menhaden. 100% fat/lipids. 92% Omega 3 and 8% Omega 6.
Paprika: Paprika has antiinflammatory properties and gives a boost to the immune system. This ingredient is 15% protein without a complete amino acid profile, 13% fat/lipids and 8.4% starch, 37.5% fiber, 10% sugar, 7% minerals and 9.1% moisture. It is a very good source of Iron. Vitamins Present: A, C, E, K,and B6. 11% Omega 3 and 89% Omega 6. Paprika contains Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Potassium, Phosphorus, Iron, Zinc, Manganese and Selenium. Note: Usually drying reduces Vitamin C to almost nothing however drying Paprika actually increases the Vitamin C.
Cayenne Pepper: Cayenne Pepper has antibacterial properties and aids in digestion. This ingredient is 12% protein without a complete amino acid profile, 17% fat/lipids and 19.4% starch, 27.4% fiber, 10.2% sugar, 6% minerals and 8% moisture. Vitamins Present: A, C, E, K, B1, B6, B2, B3, M and Choline. 11% Omega 3 and 89% Omega 6. Cayenne Pepper contains Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Potassium, Phosphorus, Iron, Zinc, Manganese and Selenium.
We now provide the option of a convenient canister/jar for those who prefer the convenience of a jar/canister over the re-sealable bag. If you prefer the canister/jars, our suggestion both to save money and for freshness is to use these containers for convenience then later refill with the bags which are easier to keep air & moisture free.
Please note: By nature a "crumble" will have more fine particles or "dust". We compensate for this in weight (in other words a 2 oz bag has more than 2 oz.). As well this "dust" is excellent fry food as it 100% as nutritious as the larger crumbles.
FEEDING TIPS:
AAP Custom/Paradigm Fish Foods are not your typical fish food, so often different ways of administering this product are required over other dried fish foods.
(1) For larger fish: Simply feeding direct of grinding between fingers is all that is necessary.
(2) For medium fish: Lightly hitting with a a hammer (preferably in a plastic bag) works well.
(3) For smaller fish: Again the use of a hammer or rolling pin works well (again in a plastic bag).
AAP Custom Fish Food user Devon Trigg's suggestion:
"Clay Neighbor's AAP Custom takes pride in being able to provide a food they allow the aquatic keep to choose how the food is needed for different fish kept.
For me, I take some of the large chunks and put them in a bag, use these as sinking food for my bottom dwellers. Then I have a bag where I have taken a hammer and broke the food up as fine as I can. I use this for my top dweller by sprinkling it over the top. I also take a pitch and hold it under water and release it for the middle feeders.
It's also an idea to soak the fine food and then pour it into the tank. This will allows the food to sink."
The original creator of of the ingredients and process for Paradigm and now "AAP Clay Neighbors Premium Fish Food" fish foods has been breeding Rift Lake African cichlids going on 30 years now.
He tried every single manufactured fish food there is on the market and was never completely happy with any of them. So then fish food guru Clay Neighbors began studying the ingredients and nutritional analysis of each type of food by making comparison charts.
Then he took all the knowledge he learned about the different types of fish and their dietary needs by breeding fish plus all the research he had compiled on the different fish foods on the market including AAP founder Carl Strohmeyer's in depth Fish Nutrition article which he and Carl discussed at length in an aquarium forum for some time. He then decided that he could make a fish food far superior to any other food available.
Now the creator (Clay N) has decided to step it up a notch even more with an even newer formula that is 100% natural and better than his original Paradigm formula.
This food is unique, unlike how even most of the other better fish foods that do not correctly limit/optimize proteins along with energy levels and fiber content. In the end Clay Neighbor's Custom is designed for fish longevity and long term health, NOT fast grow out as fish foods based on many aquaculture studies are based on (as AAP Founder Carl Strohmeyer's long term tests can confirm).
With Clay Neighbor's custom it is all about the Analysis, unlike most other premium fish foods that focus primarily on the ingredients!!!
While there are many other prepared fish foods (or even good DIY recipes) that utilize top quality ingredients (including similar copycat fish foods), this AAP Custom Fish Food by Clay N. is unique in that it seeks to optimize ingredients, such as the before mentioned proteins and especially energy levels instead of the popular "the more, the better of quality ingredients".
As well, correct fiber content is something even other super premium fish food woefully lack. WHY? The cost of increasing fiber content to optimum levels is cost prohibitive, which is why Clay Neighbor's Premium which is sold at generally the same price as other premium foods is actually a much better value. In fact Clay Neighbors Custom Fish food has now become the "Gold Standard" when it comes to fiber content and energy levels and the importance of these energy levels explain a lot of the results for long term fish health of Carl Strohmeyer's long term fish food trials among his 1000s of aquarium under his care!!!
Reference: Fish Nutrition - IMPORTANCE of Energy Level Optimization
As well, this fish food optimizes the amount of Spirulina used, since there is an optimal amount (reference: Spirulina as a Fish Food).
This is to be sold exclusively as "AAP Premium Custom All Natural" whereby the creator decided the protein make up could be improved. The creator felt the fish were getting more than needed with 99% of the foods available, which made for unnatural bulky fish. It can also cause some health issues with long term feeding as too much protein also can lead to premature renal failure, which unfortunately many of the otherwise very best competing foods tend to ignore this issue and go with "the more the better". The binders of the food have also been reworked with kelp and peas.
Aquarium and Pond Fish Food Nutrition Experts, Paradigm
First: He wanted to make a binder using a minimal amount of starch. He originally used egg whites with the Paradigm formula, but later switched over to pea flour that he personally grinds so as to make sure protein levels were not so high that it would produce fatty fish and early onset renal failure as many fish foods can do by not considering optimum protein sources.
Reference as to protein: Fish Nutrition - Protein/Amino Acids
Second: These "AAP Premium All Natural" are designed to maximize net energy gain.
This makes feeding less and getting at least as much or more energy gain possible.
When the fish can use more of the food it leads to less waste in your aquarium. Less waste in your aquarium obviously means a cleaner tank, lower nitrates, and therefore healthier and happier fish.
What "AAP Premium All Natural" is offering is in depth research by Clay and others after working on it for over five years (decades when all the research that went into formula is considered). Clay actually found the low limit for energy aka fat, sugar and starch. In the study fish stopped breeding after being fed one of the last trial diets of less than 21-22% combined fats & starch. This means that the females didn't have enough reserve energy to produce eggs. Clay Neighbor's "AAP Custom" raised the energy a little and voila the fish started breeding again. With that being said you can rest assured your fish are getting the proper amount of energy and avoid their liver being covered in stored energy aka fat. We use the sugar and starch first since they can store very little if any.
Third: "AAP Premium All Natural", along with its predecessor, Paradigm Fish Foods, are not a pellet or a flake its a crumble. This way you only have to buy one size. You adjust the size of the food to tailor to your individual fish. More importantly, the process producing pellets and most flake foods often produces high heat that can destroy many important water soluble vitamins such as Vitamin C. While AAP Custom uses low heat dehydration to produce crumbles and no need to supplement other than the natural ingredients included.
Admittedly one of the Cons of a fish food crumble is quick usability and neatness. AAP's founder, as a long time professional in aquarium fish nutrition will be the first to admit that these fish food crumbles are not as user friendly as a pellet or flake. As well since these fish food crumbles have no binders and seek to optimize fiber, they can easily crumble to a very fine powder (which is still often usable). HOWEVER, if you do not mind spending an extra minute feeding your fish, these crumbles are superior to ANY other form of fish food in retaining nutritional value and fiber!! As well, for Cichlids, both American and African for which this fish food was first tested and designed for by its creator, these crumbles are actually quite easy to feed right out of the bag and IN FACT THERE IS NO BETTER FISH FOOD FOR YOUR CICHLIDS BY A WIDE MARGIN AS PER THE SCIENCE OF FISH NUTRITION!
You spend hundreds (and hundreds) of dollars on your fish....so why not give them the very best fish food you that you possibly can!!!
WHY DOES "AAP PREMIUM ALL NATURAL" & PARADIGM USE CERTAIN INGREDIENTS?
Whole Menhaden Fish Meal, which is 92.8% digestible. This is an excellent number for a fish food ingredient. The whole fish is dried, cooked and ground into meal. 64.2% protein with a complete amino acid profile, 8.9% fat/lipids, 8.3% moisture and 18.6% minerals. Vitamins Present: B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12, H and M. 92% Omega 3 and 8% Omega 6.
Whole Menhaden Fish Meal contains Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Potassium, Phosphorus, Iron, Zinc, Manganese, Copper, Chromium, Selenium, Molybdenum, Chromium, Vanadium and Cobalt. More as to why this is superior fish meal: Fish Nutrition - Amino Acids & Whole Menhaden Fish Meal.
FRESHLY MILLED Green Pea Flour: Our unique fresh milled pea flour a great source of fiber and is also used to lower protein. This ingredient contains 26.6% protein without a complete amino acid profile, 2.4% fat/lipids and 28.2% starch, 27.7% fiber, 6.9% sugar, 3% minerals and 5% moisture. Pea flour is a superior source of vegetable matter for fish, with one of the most complete vegetable nutritional make-ups of any vegetable sources, including kelp. Reference: Fish Nutrition - Pea Flour.
Corn Bran: An excellent albeit expensive source of soluble fiber. Corn bran has a minimal effect on flavor, texture or processing characteristics. Fiber also supports healthy digestive functions. Corn Bran Proteins also provide structural support for the body and boost immunity. More about fiber: Aquarium Fish Nutrition - Fiber.
Human Grade Spirulina Powder: Spirulina is blue green algae (Cyanobacterium). It is a simple, onecelled form of algae that thrives in warm, alkaline freshwater bodies. Spirulina is 57.1 percent complete protein, with all essential amino acids in perfect balance. Spirulina also provides high concentrations of many other nutrients amino acids, chelated minerals, pigmentations, rhamnose sugars (complex natural plant sugars), trace elements, enzymes that are in an easily assimilable form. 57.1% protein with a complete amino acid profile, 7.1% fat/lipids, 25% carbohydrates, 8% minerals and 2.8% moisture. Vitamins Present: A, B1, B2, B3, B5, C. 40% Omega 3 and 60% Omega 6. Spirulina contains Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Potassium, Phosphorus, Iron, Zinc, Manganese, Copper, Selenium, Iodine and Silicone. The fish's immune system sees spirulina as a bacteria so it boosts the fish's immune system.
Natural Astaxanthin Powder: Excellent ingredient to improve fish''s color in the red/orange spectrum, promote growth and stimulate spawning. This ingredient is 24% protein without a complete amino acid profile, 14% fat/lipids, 14% minerals, 38% carbohydrates, 8.5% moisture and 1.5% Astaxanthin. 0.8% Omega 3 and 92% Omega 6.
Crude Menhaden Fish Oil: Is pressed from Menhaden. 100% fat/lipids. 92% Omega 3 and 8% Omega 6.
Paprika: Paprika has antiinflammatory properties and gives a boost to the immune system. This ingredient is 15% protein without a complete amino acid profile, 13% fat/lipids and 8.4% starch, 37.5% fiber, 10% sugar, 7% minerals and 9.1% moisture. It is a very good source of Iron. Vitamins Present: A, C, E, K,and B6. 11% Omega 3 and 89% Omega 6. Paprika contains Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Potassium, Phosphorus, Iron, Zinc, Manganese and Selenium. Note: Usually drying reduces Vitamin C to almost nothing however drying Paprika actually increases the Vitamin C.
Cayenne Pepper: Cayenne Pepper has antibacterial properties and aids in digestion. This ingredient is 12% protein without a complete amino acid profile, 17% fat/lipids and 19.4% starch, 27.4% fiber, 10.2% sugar, 6% minerals and 8% moisture. Vitamins Present: A, C, E, K, B1, B6, B2, B3, M and Choline. 11% Omega 3 and 89% Omega 6. Cayenne Pepper contains Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Potassium, Phosphorus, Iron, Zinc, Manganese and Selenium.
We now provide the option of a convenient canister/jar for those who prefer the convenience of a jar/canister over the re-sealable bag. If you prefer the canister/jars, our suggestion both to save money and for freshness is to use these containers for convenience then later refill with the bags which are easier to keep air & moisture free.
Please note: By nature a "crumble" will have more fine particles or "dust". We compensate for this in weight (in other words a 2 oz bag has more than 2 oz.). As well this "dust" is excellent fry food as it 100% as nutritious as the larger crumbles.
FEEDING TIPS:
AAP Custom/Paradigm Fish Foods are not your typical fish food, so often different ways of administering this product are required over other dried fish foods.
(1) For larger fish: Simply feeding direct of grinding between fingers is all that is necessary.
(2) For medium fish: Lightly hitting with a a hammer (preferably in a plastic bag) works well.
(3) For smaller fish: Again the use of a hammer or rolling pin works well (again in a plastic bag).
AAP Custom Fish Food user Devon Trigg's suggestion:
"Clay Neighbor's AAP Custom takes pride in being able to provide a food they allow the aquatic keep to choose how the food is needed for different fish kept.
For me, I take some of the large chunks and put them in a bag, use these as sinking food for my bottom dwellers. Then I have a bag where I have taken a hammer and broke the food up as fine as I can. I use this for my top dweller by sprinkling it over the top. I also take a pitch and hold it under water and release it for the middle feeders.
It's also an idea to soak the fine food and then pour it into the tank. This will allows the food to sink."