Best Pellets Fish Food of 2026

Janie Foster Avatar
Janie Foster
Last Updated: Jan 8, 2026

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Pellets Fish Food is an excellent choice for fish owners who want to provide their aquatic pets with a well-rounded and nutritious diet. These pellets are specially formulated to meet the dietary needs of a variety of fish species, including tropical fish, goldfish, and koi. They are made with high-quality ingredients and contain essential vitamins and minerals that promote fish health and vitality. Pellets Fish Food is easy to digest and won't cloud the water in your aquarium or pond. With regular use, this fish food can help keep your fish healthy, happy, and thriving.

At a Glance: Our Top Picks

Tetra Goldfish Variety Pellets Cover #TOP 1
Tetra Goldfish Variety Pellets
ftb score rating icon 9.9
API Bottom Feeder Pellets with Shrimp Cover #TOP 2
API Bottom Feeder Pellets with Shrimp
ftb score rating icon 9.8
Aqueon Cichlid Fish Food Pellets, 25oz Cover #TOP 3
Aqueon Cichlid Fish Food Pellets, 25oz
ftb score rating icon 9.6

Top 10 Pellets Fish Food

Tetra Goldfish Variety Pellets

77035
Tetra Goldfish Variety Pellets Cover
Tetra Goldfish Variety Pellets, Balanced Diet, 1.87 Ounce

Tetra Goldfish Variety Pellets are a specially formulated and highly nutritious staple food for your goldfish. The colorful and floating pellets contain a scientifically developed mix of vitamins, minerals and trace elements that enhance your fish's naturally brilliant colors. With the ProCare formula, this food also helps to support your goldfish's immune system for their optimal health and longevity. Simply feed your fish two to three times daily with only as much as they can consume within several minutes.

What We Like
Specially designed for goldfish
Scientifically developed mix of highly nutritious ingredients
Enhances natural colors of goldfish

API Bottom Feeder Pellets with Shrimp

API
841C
No Color
API Bottom Feeder Pellets with Shrimp Cover
API BOTTOM FEEDER PELLETS WITH SQUID Fish Food 7.9-Ounce Container

API Bottom Feeder Pellets are designed to provide your fish with the essential nutrients they need for healthy growth. The pellets are made with optimal protein sources, ensuring your fish receive the best nutrition possible. With ingredients like shrimp, mussel, and seaweed, these pellets not only enhance your fish's diet but also offer a delicious taste they will enjoy. Additionally, the formula is crafted for easy digestion, which helps reduce toxic ammonia levels in the water, leading to a cleaner and clearer tank environment. You can feed your fish as much as they can consume in 30 minutes, accommodating their slower feeding habits.

What We Like
High-quality protein sources
Improves fish nutrition
Easy digestion formula
Cleaner aquarium water

Aqueon Cichlid Fish Food Pellets, 25oz

100106184
Aqueon Cichlid Fish Food Pellets, 25oz Cover
Aqueon Cichlid Slow Sinking Fish Food Pellets, Medium Size, 25 Ounce

The Aqueon Cichlid Fish Food Pellets are premium quality, containing nutritious ingredients such as shrimp and squid meal that all types of cichlids should enjoy. They naturally attract fish, support a healthy immune system, bring out true colors, and provide the essentials for proper growth and vitality. The formula creates less waste and will not cloud water when used as directed. It's perfect for South American, West African, and Carnivorous Rift Lake Cichlids.

What We Like
Premium quality ingredients
Encourages healthy immune system and growth
Less waste and won't cloud water
#TOP 4

Hikari Tropical Fish Food, 0.77 Oz (22g)

42055211024
Black
Hikari Tropical Fish Food, 0.77 Oz (22g) Cover
Hikari Tropical Semi-Floating Micro Pellets Fish Food, 0.77 Oz (22g)

Hikari Tropical Fish Food offers superior nutrition with a premium selection of marine and vegetable proteins that meet the dietary needs of small tropical fish. The semi-floating micro-pellets sink slowly, allowing fish at all levels of the tank to receive the nourishment they require to thrive. The granules are precisely colored and covered with a unique micro-coating that prevents nutrition loss and water clouding while krill and spirulina help produce vivid coloration for your fish.

What We Like
Fish love the food
Enhances fish color
Perfect size for small fish
Reduces tank maintenance
Easy to crumble for fry
#TOP 5

TetraCichlid Floating Cichlid Pellets

AQ-77063-10
Original
6 Ounce (Pack of 1)
TetraCichlid Floating Cichlid Pellets Cover
TetraCichlid fish Floating Cichlid Pellets 6 Ounces, Nutritionally Balanced Diet (77063)

TetraCichlid Floating Cichlid Pellets are hearty and protein-rich pellets that are perfect for top- and mid-water-feeding cichlids. This nutritionally balanced diet is scientifically developed to enhance the fish's natural beauty with a natural color enhancer. The Procare formula helps support the fish's immune system for optimal health and long life. Moreover, the clear-water formula ensures that the water does not get cloudy when used as directed. It is suitable for all stages of the fish's life.

What We Like
Protein-rich cichlid food
Enhances fish's natural beauty
Supports fish's immune system
Does not cloud water
#TOP 6

API Tropical Mini Sinking Pellets Fish Food 1.7 oz

API
822A
Browns
API Tropical Mini Sinking Pellets Fish Food 1.7 oz Cover
API TROPICAL MINI PELLETS Mini Sinking Pellets Fish Food 1.7-Ounce Container

The API Mini Sinking Pellets provide a well-rounded diet designed specifically for your tropical community fish. Packed with essential nutrients, this food supports the overall health and vitality of your aquatic pets. It includes high-quality proteins like squid and shrimp, which promote strong growth and development. The formula is designed to help your fish absorb nutrients efficiently, reducing waste and keeping your aquarium water clean and clear. Feeding your fish twice daily with these pellets makes it easy to meet their dietary needs and maintain a healthy tank environment.

What We Like
Complete balanced nutrition
High-quality protein sources
Efficient nutrient absorption
Reduces aquarium waste
Supports tropical fish growth
#TOP 7

API Goldfish Pellets 7-Ounce

API
833C
WHITE
7 Ounce (Pack of 1)
API Goldfish Pellets 7-Ounce Cover
API GOLDFISH PELLETS Fish Food 7-Ounce Container

The API Goldfish Pellets are designed to support your fish’s health and your aquarium’s cleanliness. These pellets provide the right balance of protein and fiber, which helps your goldfish digest food easily and stay healthy. The formula makes sure your fish efficiently use nutrients, so there’s less leftover waste and ammonia, keeping your tank water clear and safe. Additionally, the food contains yeast, garlic, and vitamins C and E to boost your fish’s immune system, helping them stay strong and resistant to illness. Feeding is simple—just give your goldfish what they can eat in three minutes, up to twice daily.

What We Like
Balanced protein and fiber
Reduces waste and ammonia
Supports immune health
Maintains clear water
#TOP 8

Aqueon Shrimp Pellets Sinking Food, 3.25 oz

100106188
Aqueon Shrimp Pellets Sinking Food, 3.25 oz Cover
Aqueon Shrimp Pellets Sinking Food for Tropical Fish, Goldfish, Loaches, Catfish and Other Bottom Feeding Fish, 3.25 oz

Aqueon Shrimp Pellets are specially formulated sinking food for bottom dwelling fish. Made with nutritious ingredients that fish are naturally attracted to, these pellets are designed to be easily utilized by fish, resulting in less waste. The food supports a healthy immune system, enhances the vibrant colors of the fish, and provides the essential nutrients for proper growth and vitality. Additionally, when fed as directed, these pellets will not cloud the water, ensuring a clean and clear environment for your fish. Ideal for species like Cory Catfish, Catfish, Loaches, and South American Cichlids, these pellets are approximately 9mm in diameter.

What We Like
Nutritious ingredients
Less waste
Supports healthy immune system

Aqueon Shrimp Pellets Sinking Fish Food, 6.5 oz

100106189
Reds
Aqueon Shrimp Pellets Sinking Fish Food, 6.5 oz Cover
Aqueon Shrimp Pellets Sinking Food for Tropical Fish, Goldfish, Loaches, Catfish and Other Bottom Feeding Fish, 6.5 Ounces

The Aqueon Shrimp Pellets Sinking Fish Food is a nutritious and well-formulated food designed for bottom-dwelling fish like Cory Catfish, Catfish, Loaches and South American Cichlids. The pellets are approximately 9mm in diameter and will not cloud the water when fed as directed. The food ingredients are nutritious and naturally attract fish while the formulation ensures that fish utilize more of what they eat and create less waste. The food supports a healthy immune system, helps bring out the true colors of the fish and provides the essentials for proper growth and vitality.

What We Like
Nutritious and well-formulated
Does not cloud water when fed as directed
Supports healthy immune system, color, growth and vitality of fish
#TOP 10

Fluval Bug Bites Cichlid Fish Food, Pellets

A6581
White
Fluval Bug Bites Cichlid Fish Food, Pellets Cover
Fluval Bug Bites Cichlid Fish Food, Pellets for Medium to Large Sized Fish, 3.53 oz., A6581

Fluval Bug Bites Cichlid Fish Food is a nutrient-rich tropical fish food that contains up to 40% Black Soldier Fly Larvae as the first ingredient. It is high in multiple proteins like whole salmon that are rich in Omega 3 and 6, fortified with essential vitamins, amino acids, and minerals for a balanced daily diet. The slow sinking pellet format allows all fish to feed at their preferred depth, and it is sustainably processed in small batches for quality control and maximum freshness. Made in Canada with no artificial fillers, colors or preservatives.

What We Like
Nutrient-rich with up to 40% Black Soldier Fly Larvae
High in multiple proteins like whole salmon for healthy skin, scales, and fins
Fortified with essential vitamins, amino acids, and minerals for a balanced daily diet
Sustainably processed for quality control and maximum freshness
Made in Canada with no artificial fillers, colors, or preservatives
Buying Guide Image

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is in fish food pellets?

It depends on the type of food you buy, but most flaked foods are made up of a combination of fish meal, squid meal, shrimp meal, earthworms, spirulina, and vitamins and minerals.

2. Is pellets good for fish?

Pellets are usually also packed with nutritional goodness to help fish be happy and healthy. Of course, pellets are larger than fish flakes and heavier, and thus they are usually made to sink, but there are some floating fish pellet foods out there too.

3. Do fish prefer flakes or pellets?

In my experience of feeding countless Betta fish over the last 20 years, I would say there is no doubt they prefer pellets over flakes. With that said, however, I don't think there is enough in it to make a massive difference either way. I wouldn't bin a perfectly good tub of flakes foods and go buy some pellets.

Editor's Notes

During our pellets fish food research, we found 24 pellets fish food products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 323,524 customer reviews through our big data system to write the pellets fish food list. We found that most customers choose pellets fish food with an average price of $7.10.

The pellets fish food are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of pellets fish food, including Tetra, API, Aqueon, Hikari, Fluval. The seller of top 1 product has received honest feedback from 384 consumers with an average rating of 4.7.

Written by
Janie Foster Avatar

Janie Foster is a writer & pet blogger from Los Angeles, she enjoys living with her two cats and three dogs. She owned her first dog 10 years ago and then started her personal blog to record her dog's daily life. Throughout her personal life, she has developed specialized knowledge in pet care, pet nutrition, feeding habits, and more.