Zooplankton is the primary food source for many fish species in freshwater and marine water. These fish species have adapted to this food over many generations.
What is plankton?
Scientists define plankton as organisms which cannot move against currents. Thus it is not the size of the organism that defines it as plankton, but its movement. In fact plankton can be as long as several meters in length (e.g. Venus girdle, Cestus veneris, with nearly 2 m length)! A distinction is made between two groups of plankton: animal plankton (zooplankton) and vegetable plankton (phytoplankton). Since plankton are extremely high-energy, big sea dwellers like blue whales or whale sharks can live on plankton alone, without having to recourse to eating larger plankton-eating prey.
The revolution in fish nutrition
It is a fact that every fish, excluding the absolute specialist feeder, lives off the plankton passing by in its natural habitat. JBL has now found a way to keep pure arctic plankton harvest fresh and long lastingly packed (temperature process-controlled) without artificial preservatives. As a result you now have the opportunity, for the very first time, to feed your aquarium fish with freshly caught plankton.
The zooplankton for Plankton Pur is sustainably sourced by a special fishing method in the cold, unpolluted Arctic waters of Norway. Immediately after the harvest of the zooplankton (mainly crustaceans and molluscs) for JBL PlanktonPur it is gently preserved with a newly developed method, where preservatives are completely avoided. The high quality and the gentle processing of this natural product is also discernible through its high water content. Natural plankton has a water content (moisture content) of 80 – 90%. This natural water content is maintained in JBL PlanktonPur and is extremely palatable even to the most sensitive ornamental fish species. JBL PlanktonPur is ideally suited for the breeding of tropical seawater and freshwater fish species. The special processing used for JBL PlanktonPur ensures that the individual zooplankton organisms are not harmed. This reduces the loss of nutrients to a minimum and guarantees the ornamental fish a high intake of vitamins, trace elements and other vital nutrients. Scientific studies have shown that the excellent supply of vital nutrients enhances the colouration and well-being of ornamental fish in an aquarium.