Three fish in one box: the Fish Trio up close

Our fish treat variety pack is the Fish Trio: one bag of whole sardines, one bag of anchovies and one bag of sardine heads. Each bag holds a single ingredient, and the listing calls the box suitable for dogs and cats. It is the quickest way to try all three fish at once.

What is in the fish treat variety pack?

The Fish Trio listing gives the contents plainly:

• One bag of freeze-dried whole sardines, 3 ounce size
• One bag of freeze-dried anchovies
• One bag of freeze-dried sardine heads

Every bag is a single ingredient. The listing says the trio is freeze-dried in small batches in Pennsylvania by Sniff & Shift LLC. The bags are made in Malvern, Pennsylvania from imported fish. They go into the freeze dryer raw, so the heads listing's advice applies to the whole box: "This is raw fish, so wash your hands after handling it."

We state the sardine size because the listing does. We do not state a size for the anchovy or heads bags inside the box, because the bundle record does not.

How do the three fish in the box differ?

The Fish Trio page compares its own three fish, and we pass its words along.

Sardines are the largest. The page says to break one in half for a small dog. Anchovies are described as smaller and drier and the easiest to pocket. The heads are the crunchiest, and the page calls them "the one cats tend to claim first." That last line is the page's observation, not a rule.

The single listings add a little. The sardines are sold whole with head, tail and bones on. The heads keep their bones and eyes, and the listing says no two heads match. The anchovies have a strong natural fish smell, and their size, shape and color vary.

On the sardine, heads and anchovy listings alike, the crunch scorecard reads 4 out of 5 and training value 3 out of 5. Those are our own ratings, and they do not separate the fish. The difference you will notice is size and shape, not score.

Whole fish means bones in, and we make no bone claim of our own. Supervise, size each piece to the pet, and ask your veterinarian if you are unsure about your own dog or cat and fish bones.

How is the box priced against three single bags?

The listing says the Fish Trio is priced below the three bags bought separately. It also says the box ships free on its own. We type no numbers here, because prices change and the page should be the one to show them. The buy button below renders the live price.

If you want to check the claim for yourself, open the three single pages, add them up, and compare with the box. The three pages are whole sardines, sardine heads and anchovies.

Is the variety pack for dogs, cats or both?

Both. The listing calls the trio suitable for dogs and cats, and the single listings agree. The sardine, anchovy and heads listings name adult dogs of all sizes and say cats can have them too.

The shares are separate. For a dog, the sardine page's treat calculator starts at 10 percent of the day's calories, and the calculator note credits VCA's treat guidance. That figure is for dogs. A cat's treat share comes from the cat's veterinarian, and we give no number for cats. The listings also call these treats or toppers, not a complete diet.

What does the variety pack leave out?

Three things.

First, the minnows. They are not in the box, and the minnow page is sold out right now, with the button reading "Sold out, back soon." We have no date and take no orders ahead.

Second, label numbers. The bundle record carries no guaranteed analysis or calorie figures, so the box page does not show them. Each single page does.

Third, a recurring order. The box is not offered on one, and that is all we will say about it.

For feeding, portions and storage across the range, our guides hub has the rest.