GROW Pellets 0.5 mm — Growth Food for Fry and Juvenile Fish 60 g - New Life Spectrum

New Life Spectrum GROW is a 0.5 to 0.7 mm sinking pellet at 45% protein, designed for fry and juvenile fish.

A young fish does not eat less than an adult: it eats differently. It needs a pellet small enough for its mouth and a protein density that maintenance food does not have. According to the page published by New Life Spectrum, GROW is made to help fry, juveniles and young fish reach their maximum potential, with the brand's highest proportion of squid protein, whole Antarctic krill, whole fish and marine omega-3.

Guaranteed analysis

That is the highest protein level of any New Life Spectrum line we carry: 45% against 39% for Thera+A and Probiotix, and 37% for the core line. New Life Spectrum also adds vitamins A, D, E and C to GROW, along with marigold and astaxanthin.

Pellet size and format

• Small pellet: 0.5 to 0.7 mm (0.02 to 0.03 in)
• Size offered here: 60 g (2.1 oz) jar — the only size the manufacturer makes
• New Life Spectrum also makes a 200 to 300 micron fry starter powder for the earliest stages; it is not in our catalogue

How much should you feed? New Life Spectrum does not publish it

New Life Spectrum publishes no feeding directions — no frequency, no amount — on its product pages or on its Learn page, and nothing on when to move from the powder to the pellet either. If you find a precise number elsewhere, it does not come from the manufacturer. Write to us with the species and age of your young fish: we answer from what we see in the store.

The ReefSolution tip

My little trick with NLS pellets

To pick the right pellet size, I simply look at the fish's mouth. The pellet should be small enough that it can swallow it easily, without chewing on it or constantly spitting it back out. If a fish takes the pellet and spits it out several times, before assuming it doesn't like the food, simply try a smaller pellet size.

For meals, I also like to alternate between pellets and flakes. Pellets can be the main food, then you give flakes at some meals. It varies the way the fish feed a little, and the food stays available at different spots in the water column.

And yes, my little trick with Vita-Chem also works with sinking pellets. I simply put the portion of pellets in a small container, add a few drops of Vita-Chem, mix, and let it sit for about 1 to 3 minutes before feeding. If I want to prepare several meals in advance, I can also make small portions, put them in a container or a small bag, and freeze them. That way, my portions are ready and I only take out what I need for the meal. No need to let them soak for 20 minutes. The goal is simply to moisten them and let the Vita-Chem penetrate the pellet a little.

And above all, I only prepare small portions. Once a portion is thawed, it goes to the fish — I never refreeze it.

It's a simple little trick, but with marine fish, it's often exactly these little details that make the difference.

Frequently asked questions

At what age can you feed GROW to fry?

New Life Spectrum publishes no age. What it does state is that the 0.5 to 0.7 mm GROW pellet targets juveniles and small growing fish, and that the earliest stages go through its 200 to 300 micron powder.

How is GROW different from regular New Life Spectrum food?

The protein level. GROW states 45% minimum against 37% for the core line, with the brand's highest proportion of squid protein.

Does GROW come in a size bigger than 60 g?

No. New Life Spectrum makes GROW in a 60 g jar only.

Why buy from ReefSolution

ReefSolution is an aquarium store in Laval, Quebec, and New Life Spectrum GROW ships across Canada. For later, once the young fish have grown: Marine Fish 1 mm for a saltwater tank, Thera+A 1 mm for stressed or newly acquired fish, Vita-Chem Marine for the soak described in the tip, and the Easy Feed pipette to place food exactly where the small ones are.