With most fish being reared in a completely artificial environment the fish keeper takes upon the responsibility to provide a 'balanced diet' for the well-being of their fish.

Today, based on research and aquacultural projects across the globe the feed requirements for most of the common freshwater (and increasingly commercial marine species), specific nutritional requirements have been established. A competitve diet makes the most efficient use of selected ingredients and limits wastage and subsequent pollution from undigested feed.

For the fish keeper the main issues are optimal health and value for money. The ZM fry and Granular feeds have benefitted from access to the best feed ingredients and manufacturing technology available and extensive testing before final formulation. An introduction to the nutritional elements is given below.

Protein for energy, growth and repair. Most fish have a requirement of 28-55%.

For the ZM Granular feeds processed fishmeal from the pelagic fish in the North and South Atlantic oceans have been the main source of protein. The principle species used are Sardines, Herring, and the Norway Pout. The commercal value of fishmeal is influenced by its processing technique (the best uses the Low Temperature cooking method) to preserve maximum nutritional value, and the degree of protein digestibility. The ZM fry feeds use highly digestible shrimpmeal in place of the fishmeal to boost nutritional value and also act as a feed attractant.

Processed fishoil from the same pelagic 'oily' fish mentioned above provide the valuable lipid source for the diet. The lipid content will provide boost the fishes health with the fat soluable vitamins and unsaturated fatty acids.To a small degree the lipid content will also be used as an energy source releasing more of the expensive protein content for growth and repair.

Carbohydrate for energy; some omnivorous species can utilise high levels of carbohydrates in their diet, not such an important requirement for carnivorous species. Varying levels of 0-55+% can be expected amongst fish.

Carbohydrate from sources such as cereals, raw starch, sugars, and gums offer the largest and cheapest energy providing component of the diet.

Apart from forming the bulk of the diet the carbohydrates are instrumental in binding all the ingredients together during pellet manufacture.

During feed manufaction process the prepared vitamin and mineral mixes are normally added to the feed mix before the cooking process.

As vitamins can be readily degraded by the temperature of the cooking process 'stabilised' Vitamin C products are now used to ensure the end product has a content of at least 100-300mg/kg.