Guide
Minnows or sardine heads: comparing two bags
Updated
Freeze dried minnows vs sardine heads comes down to a whole fish against a part. The minnow is a whole marble goby in a 2 ounce bag, sold out right now. The heads are whole sardine heads, and the heads label prints numbers the minnow listing does not. Neither bag has a second ingredient, and both listings name cats.
What is the difference between freeze-dried minnows and sardine heads?
One is a complete fish and the other is a piece of one. It is a bit like comparing a whole engine with a cylinder head: same family, different thing to hold.
The minnow listing describes the whole marble goby, species Oxyeleotris marmorata, and says that is the only ingredient. The fish is whole, not filleted, ground or pressed. The sardine heads listing describes whole heads "with the bones and the eyes still in them."
Bones stay in both: the minnow is a whole fish, and each head is a whole head. We make no bone claim for either bag. Watch your pet eat, keep pieces to a size that suits it, and put any bone question to your veterinarian.
What exactly is in each bag?
Each bag holds a single ingredient. The minnow listing states "No additives or preservatives." The sardine heads listing says only that nothing is added.
Both are freeze-dried raw, in small batches, made in Malvern, Pennsylvania from imported fish. That wording covers the minnows and the heads alike.
Freeze-dried raw means you handle the bag as you would any raw fish. The sardine heads listing says: "This is raw fish, so wash your hands after handling it." The minnow listing's serving lines do not repeat that sentence, so we credit it to the heads listing and apply the habit to both bags.
Neither bag is a complete diet. The listings call them a treat or a meal topper, with fresh water out and a person watching.
What does each listing and label give you?
The biggest gap is paperwork. The heads bag carries a printed guaranteed analysis. The minnow listing gives no guaranteed analysis and no calorie figure, so we will not make one up.
| Freeze-dried minnows | Freeze-dried sardine heads | |
|---|---|---|
| What is in the bag | Whole marble goby | Whole sardine heads |
| Species or part | Oxyeleotris marmorata, whole fish | Heads only |
| Bag size | 2 ounce resealable bag | One size, weight not given here |
| Guaranteed analysis | Not given on the listing | Printed on the label |
| Energy figure | None on the listing | Approximately 94.9 kcal/oz |
| Crunch on our scorecard | 4 of 5 | 4 of 5 |
The heads bag says: "Metabolizable Energy: 3,347 kcal ME/kg (approximately 94.9 kcal/oz)". No minnow figure sits beside it. For the minnows, the listing only tells you to adjust the treat quantity to your pet's size, activity level and calorie needs.
The crunch row is our own scorecard, the rating Sniff and Shift gives each fish, and it is not a fact about the animal. Both fish score 4 of 5 for crunch and 3 of 5 for training reward. Details for the heads are on the sardine heads page. The minnow listing sits on the freeze-dried minnows page.
Are both bags listed for dogs and cats?
Yes. The minnow listing's fit chart says adult dogs of all sizes, with one bag for dogs and cats. The heads listing names adult dogs of every size and adds cats.
For dogs, the minnow listing says the minnows can go in whole or crumbled over food as a topper. On the heads listing, the two uses are a crunchy reward and a crumbled topper. A dog's share is set from the daily calories your veterinarian gives you.
For cats, the cat's veterinarian sets the share, and we give no figure. The Fish Trio page, which holds the heads, calls them the crunchiest of its three fish and "the one cats tend to claim first." That is the page's observation, not a promise about your cat.
Can sardine heads stand in while the minnows are sold out?
Right now the minnow button says "Sold out, back soon." No restock date is given, and the minnow page takes no orders ahead of stock.
Whether the heads can stand in is your call. They are a different part of a different fish, with a label the minnows lack. The two scores match on our scorecard. The heads listing says they come in a bag with larger and smaller heads, and no two match. If you want to see how the heads compare with a whole fish, read sardine heads vs whole sardines.
Questions
Does the minnow listing print a guaranteed analysis?
No, and it gives no calorie figure either. The sardine heads label prints both. If you need numbers for the minnows, ask your veterinarian instead of working from an estimate, because we have none to give.
Do both bags vary from piece to piece?
Yes. The minnow listing describes a bag that mixes bigger and smaller fish, lighter and darker ones, with size and color changing fish to fish. The heads listing says no two heads match, and that a bag mixes larger and smaller heads. Neither listing says why.
Is either one in the Fish Trio?
The sardine heads are. The Fish Trio holds whole sardines in the 3 ounce size, anchovies and sardine heads. The minnows are not on that list. The Trio page is a separate product with its own contents, so check that page for the details.
Do I wash my hands after either one?
The sardine heads listing says: "This is raw fish, so wash your hands after handling it." The minnows are freeze-dried raw as well, so it makes sense to do the same with them. Wash up after you handle either bag.
Can my cat move from minnows to sardine heads?
Both listings name cats, and the Fish Trio page calls the heads "the one cats tend to claim first," which is the page's observation. Whether to switch, and how much your cat gets, is a question for your cat's veterinarian. Watch your cat eat, and keep fresh water out.