Fluval Bug Bites Tropical Formula Review
Quick Overview
In Depth Overview
Quick Search
Introduction
This review of Fluval Bug Bites Tropical Formula is from my personal use of the product and is written from a hobbyist perspective.
Fluval surprised me a few years back with the launch of their Fluval Bug Bites Tropical Formula food, or just Bug Bites as they are generally called. I remember how popular it became amongst hobbyists back then, and nowadays you can find the food readily available in stores around the US. Due to its popularity, the food also has branched out to form many “spin-off” foods like the Fluval Bug Bites Flakes or the Fluval Bug Bites for Bottom Feeders.
With all of the popularity and praise of the food, is it any good? Are Bug Bites food worth the purchase? In my review below I will cover what I like and don’t like about the food in detail.
Do Fish Like the Food?
This is an easy one. Yes, my fish enjoy the food quite a bit. They rate it two thumbs up, five stars, and certified fresh. Years ago, when I first tried Fluval Bug Bites, my fish liked it too. The only problem I have with fish eating the food is that the smaller fish have a problem getting the pellets down because of their size. I will address this later in the article.
Package Sizing and Pricing
The Fluval Bug Bites Tropical Formula small-sized granules come in one size, the 1.6oz jar. Larger granules come in three sizes, the 1.6oz jar, the 4.4oz bag, and the 3.7lb bucket. For the small and large granule 1.6oz jar, it will cost you about $4.50, which is about $2.81 an ounce. In my opinion, this is a great price for the ingredients you get.
Granule Overview
Here is where the tropical granules start to get a little dicey for me. The size of the granules is simply not uniform enough. They are all wacky shapes and sizes. This is technically why they are called granules and not pellets I am sure, but this causes problems when feeding different-sized smaller fish. It also causes problems with some granules not sinking properly. I have the same problem with other foods as well, like Fluker’s Finsect Food they recently came out with.
I also do not like how big some of the pellets are. The company advertises that the small-medium size granules are under .14cm. However, as you can see in the photo, the sizing has a wide variety. My neon tetras have some trouble eating them which is the fish they advertise on the container. The one good thing about the granules is that they are fairly easy to break up into smaller bits, unlike Fluker’s Finsect food. I just don’t appreciate breaking them down if it’s advertised for small fish. Perhaps they need a nano version?
Ingredient Quality
Bug Bites are known and became popular for one main ingredient, bugs. I am quite curious that no company made a push for an insect-based food in the past. Some would argue that a quality whole fish protein is the best protein option for aquarium fish, which I partially agree with. The reality is that most fish eat bugs in the wild and I believe them to be a great option for a protein source. Bugs are also argued to be a more sustainable protein source compared to fish. Regardless, the food has clearly caught on with hobbyists and has helped push the Bug Bites line of foods into popularity.
Bug Bites specifically use black soldier fly larvae as the main ingredient in their line of foods because of their ease of production, cost, and nutrition. The second ingredient for the tropical formula is also a solid protein source, salmon. And the rest of the ingredients are your standard binders, vitamins, and minerals to help balance it out.
Overall, I appreciate the ingredients and for the price, I think they are great.
Market Availability
Due to the food’s popularity and company size, you can find Fluval Bug Bites Tropical Formula at just about any fish shop or online retailer.
My Final Verdict
In conclusion, I really like the Fluval Bug Bites Tropical Formula. I believe the cost per ounce and ingredient quality to be a great combo; I like that the food uses an ingredient that most fish would commonly eat in the wild; I like that my fish enjoy the food; and I like that the food is easy to find.
The only negative I have is the granule’s variety in size. Beyond that, I would certainly recommend giving this food a try.
Where to Purchase Fluval Bug Bites Tropical Formula
Thanks for reading!
If you believe this food is something you would like to try, feel free to use the link below to purchase some for yourself.
I am currently on a mission to build a definitive list of fish food reviews that I have personally tried. Be sure to check out my “Master List” of reviews here!