Frozen Spirulina Mysis Shrimp Bio-Pure — 3.5 oz Cube and 16 oz Flat - Hikari

Hikari's spirulina mysis is the same shrimp as the regular Bio-Pure, lifted with spirulina algae. The manufacturer describes it as live mysis shrimp frozen at their nutritional peak, a natural source of fatty acids, enhanced with spirulina for coloration and form.

In this clip filmed at the store, we show how to turn an ordinary frozen food into something that feeds the fish and the rest of the tank.

Why the spirulina version instead of the plain one

Hikari credits this version with three things the plain mysis does not claim: fatty acids and fibre beneficial to most freshwater and marine fish, a treat almost any fish can readily consume and digest — herbivores in particular — and a combination of vitamins, spirulina algae and live mysis shrimp you cannot duplicate at home. This is the one to reach for in a tank holding tangs, zebrasomas or other grazers that need plant matter alongside protein.

How it is made

• Three-step sterilization: free of harmful parasites, unwanted bacteria and foul odour
• Gut-loaded with bio-encapsulated multi-vitamins before freezing
• Rapid freezing that holds the original colour, taste and texture
• Whole animals rather than broken pieces
• No-touch cubes for clean portioning

Two pack sizes

3.5 oz (100 g) cube pack, 32 cubes — Hikari item #32550

The everyday size: one cube per feeding, nothing to break off, nothing to weigh.

16 oz (454 g) flat pack — Hikari item #32590

For well-stocked tanks or daily feeding. Break off the portion you need, the rest goes back in the freezer.

Ingredients and guaranteed analysis

Mysis shrimp, water, spirulina, vitamin B12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (stabilized vitamin C), riboflavin (vitamin B2), thiamine mononitrate, biotin, choline chloride, folic acid, calcium pantothenate, inositol, niacin.

How to feed it

Hikari says to feed no more than your fish will consume within 30 to 45 seconds, no more than twice daily. Remove anything left once the feeding period ends. The manufacturer aims it at freshwater and marine fish such as cichlids, angels, triggerfish, wrasses, and seahorses too.

Manufacturer warning: handling a frozen food derived from a live animal can cause the same allergic reaction as handling the live animal itself. Wash your hands immediately after use and avoid contact with your nose and mouth before washing.

Our advice

Do fish really need frozen food? Not always — good quality pellets can be enough. But I do recommend it: fish love it, it creates real interaction at feeding time, and the small bits that break loose go on to feed the benthic fauna, the corals and the whole system. It is more complete. I also recommend varying the menu: it is not good for them to always eat the same thing.

On spirulina, you have to understand the principle. "Brine shrimp isn't nutritious" — think of brine shrimp as a container. When you buy brine shrimp enriched with spirulina: spirulina is extremely nutritious, but it is a powder, and fish don't eat powder. So the producer stuffs the shrimp full of spirulina, then freezes them immediately. Same principle here, except the container is a mysis — bigger and meatier than a brine shrimp. You hand your fish a shrimp they love, and it carries the algae.

Vita-Chem is a product we love and use ourselves at the store. It goes into any food — frozen first — and it can be used at any time. Vitamins are made for exactly this: improving fish colour and vitality. I like it especially for new fish: there is an appetite stimulant in it that makes food irresistible. A fish that won't eat, you put some in its food and it eats. It is a very good product for giving vigour, keeping diseases away, keeping problems away — it has all the good things in it. That is why we use it at the store.

— Stéphane, Aquarium ReefSolution

Why buy from ReefSolution

Authorized Hikari dealer, a dedicated reef store in Laval with in-store pickup and delivery across Canada. The tools we use ourselves at feeding time:

• Boyd Vita-Chem Marine — the vitamin supplement to mix into frozen food before you serve it.
• Seachem Garlic Guard — garlic-based appetite stimulant for picky fish.
• Easy Feed Pipette 385 mm — place food exactly where you want it.
• Two Little Fishies Julian's Thing — the syringe-style feeder that works as well on a coral as on a shy fish.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between spirulina mysis and regular mysis?

Same shrimp, with spirulina added to the recipe. Hikari claims fibre on top of the fatty acids and aims it explicitly at herbivorous fish. The published guaranteed analysis is identical to the plain mysis.

Does it really improve fish colour?

The manufacturer presents spirulina as a contribution to coloration and form. It publishes no measured figure on this — if you see a percentage somewhere else, it did not come from Hikari. Write to us with your fish list and we'll tell you where spirulina actually makes a difference.

Can I feed this to corals?

Hikari intends this product for fish. The bits that break loose at feeding time do get caught by corals and tank fauna, but if you are looking for a food designed for corals, this is not the one.

Shipping note: frozen food ships express in an insulated cooler with ice packs. Partial or complete thawing during transit is normal — especially in summer — and does not affect the product's quality for your fish. Dry ice would cost a fortune with zero quality benefit; we don't offer it. Be there to receive your package and place it directly in your freezer upon delivery.