Putting freeze-dried fish in a pet's stocking

A fish treat stocking stuffer can be a 1.5 ounce bag of freeze-dried sardines or a 2 ounce bag of anchovies. Each is a single ingredient, and each listing names dogs and cats. Tell whoever gets the gift that it is a treat and not a meal, and that they decide how much their pet gets.

Which fish treat bags fit a stocking?

The smallest bag with a stated size is the 1.5 ounce bag of freeze-dried whole sardines. Here is every bag, using only the sizes the listings state:

• Sardines: 1.5, 3 and 6 ounce bags.
• Anchovies: one size, a 2 ounce bag.
• Sardine heads: one size. We do not print a weight.
• Minnows: a 2 ounce bag, sold out.

For a small fish treat gift, the choice is mostly a choice of fish and size. Each bag is a single ingredient, freeze-dried raw in small batches in Malvern, Pennsylvania from imported fish. The sardine listing says nothing is added, and the anchovy listing says no grains, fillers or dyes go in.

Does a fish stocking stuffer work for a cat too?

The listings say it does. The sardine listing names cats and says to break up or crumble the fish for them. The anchovy listing includes cats as well. The sardine heads listing names cats too. The Fish Trio page calls the heads "the one cats tend to claim first," which is the page's own observation.

A stocking stuffer for cats still needs one conversation: the cat's share belongs to the cat's veterinarian. We give no amount for a cat, and the person who owns the cat is the one to ask. Keep a watch on the cat while it eats, and keep fresh water out.

What should the person getting the gift know?

Write these on the card, or tell them when you hand it over.

• It is a treat or a meal topper. It is not a complete diet.
• Fresh water goes out with it, and someone watches the pet eat.
• It is freeze-dried raw fish. The sardine heads listing puts the hand-washing line this way: "This is raw fish, so wash your hands after handling it."
• If the pet has had trouble with seafood, the anchovy listing's FAQ says, "If your dog has had trouble with seafood before, ask your veterinarian first."
• Every bag holds whole fish or whole heads, bones and all, and we make no bone claim of our own. The sardine heads listing's FAQ says, "If you are unsure about your own dog and fish bones, ask your veterinarian."

For a dog, the sardine listing's FAQ says, "Hold all treats to about 10 percent of the day's calories." The calculator on the site uses 10 percent as its default, and the sardine page credits the figure to VCA's treat guidance. It is for dogs. A cat's share is a call for the cat's veterinarian.

A gift for someone else's pet lands with the owner first. They know the animal, so keep the card plain and leave the decisions to them.

How should the bag wait until the day?

Sealed, somewhere cool and dry. The sardine listing and the anchovy listing each skip the refrigerator and ask for the bag to be resealed once open. The minnow listing adds "out of direct sunlight," and that line belongs to the minnows alone.

The listings do not state a shelf life, so we will not guess one. Check the bag. Treat the gift like a part waiting for its install date: in its package, closed up, until the day arrives.

Is the Fish Trio a bigger gift?

It is three bags instead of one. The Fish Trio holds whole sardines in the 3 ounce size, anchovies and sardine heads, and the listing says it is a single ingredient in every bag and suitable for dogs and cats. The Fish Trio page lays out its own comparison: sardines largest, anchovies smaller and drier, and heads the crunchiest.

We wrote a longer piece on what is in the box and how it fits together, in the fish treat variety pack guide. More fish guides are in the guides hub.