EP345: Not All Fish Food is Created Equal with Chris Clevers of Hikari Sales USA

Today's episode features Chris Clever, the President of Hikari Sales USA, and Eric Triplett discussing the subject of aquatic fish food and fish husbandry. Clever asserts that most fish foods prioritize marketing over nutritional research, contrasting this with Hikari's extensive research and development process, which can take years and includes a dedicated research lab in Japan. The discussion explains how poor-quality food impacts fish health and water quality due to undigested waste and also covers the importance of feeding frequency, proper pellet size, and the company's preference for frozen food supplements over live foods due to contamination risks. Furthermore, Clever provides a brief history of the Hikari brand, which originated in the late 1800s by raising carp as food fish, and highlights the Saki-Hikari line as a top innovation featuring beneficial probiotics. Key Takeaways: Prioritize food based on nutritional research and scientific development rather than focusing only on marketing stories. Feed fish small amounts of food multiple times throughout the day to maintain an optimized metabolism. Select the smallest size pellet your fish will accept to increase the surface area available for digestion. Avoid mixing different brands of fish food, as this disrupts the carefully balanced nutritional profile of a quality diet. Invest in both a high-quality fish food and an effective water conditioner to reduce long-term maintenance issues and enjoy your hobby more. 🔗 Links and Resources Business & Sales Tools Contractor Sales Secrets Book a Call with Eric Triplett  Pond Industry Resources The Pond Digger Helix Pond Filtration EasyPro Pond Products CORAL—The Reef & Marine Aquarium Magazine Atlantic-Oase Fitz Fish Ponds – Koi Trips  Pond Trade Magazine Hikari Fish Food Events & Communities 2025 LCR Summit (Oct. 20–21, Louisville, KY) EQUIP (Oct. 22 -24, Louisville, KY) TWT Contractor Circle (Facebook Group) TWT Contractor Power Circle (Facebook Group) Social Media The Pond Digger on Instagram The Pond Digger on Facebook Train With Triplett on TikTok