Keeping an open bag of freeze-dried fish right

How to store freeze dried fish treats comes down to three things: press the bag shut after every use, keep it cool and dry, and keep it out of direct sunlight. No refrigerator is part of it. Our listings state no shelf life, so check your own bag for a printed date.

How should you store freeze-dried fish treats once the bag is open?

Reseal it, every time. That is most of the job. Every one of our fish listings asks for a closed bag, so that is the habit to build.

The minnow listing says: "Reseal the bag after you open it. Store it cool and dry, out of direct sunlight." The sardine, sardine head and anchovy listings all ask for a closed bag in a cool, dry place. The sunlight note is only on the minnow listing, and it is an easy habit to keep for all four fish.

The steps, in the order you do them:

• Take out what you need for the session.
• Press the closure shut along its whole length, and check that no crumbs are caught in it.
• Put the bag back in a cool, dry spot.
• Wash your hands, because these fish are freeze-dried raw.

That last step is not optional decoration. The sardine heads listing says it plainly: this is raw fish, so wash your hands after handling it. The same goes for the other three. The FDA's advice for any raw pet food goes further: wash with soap and water for at least 20 seconds after handling it, then clean and disinfect what it touched (FDA, Get the Facts on raw pet food, updated 2018-02-22, opened 2026-10-16).

Do freeze-dried fish treats need a refrigerator?

Not according to the listings. The sardine page says no refrigerator, and the anchovy page says the same. The minnow listing asks only for a resealed bag in a cool, dry place, out of direct sunlight.

The listings simply say it is not needed, so we would not add that step to the routine.

The same goes for the freezer, and for moving the fish into a jar. The listings give the resealed bag, kept cool and dry, and say nothing about either one. Since they are not part of the instructions, we do not recommend them. If you want to try a different method, ask Sniff and Shift first.

How long do freeze-dried fish treats last?

We cannot give you a number, and we would rather say that than invent one. The product information we work from does not state a shelf life or a best by date for any of the fish, including the minnows. This page will not make one up.

What you can do is read the bag in your hand. If a date or storage note is printed on it, that answers the question for that bag. If you cannot find one, ask Sniff and Shift through the product page before you guess.

Because the number is unknown, the habits carry more weight. A bag that is resealed each time, kept cool and dry, and used at a steady pace is easier to keep an eye on than one that is opened, forgotten and opened again months later. If a piece looks, feels or smells different from the rest of the bag, leave it out.

Where should the bag live: pantry shelf or treat pouch?

Both, with a division of labor. The main bag lives on a shelf. The treat pouch holds only what you need for the day.

For the main bag, think cool and dry in plain terms: a cupboard or pantry shelf away from the stove and the sink, in a room that does not run hot. Steam, splashes and a sunny windowsill are the things to avoid.

For the pouch, pack a small amount and leave the rest sealed. The listings say to break the sardines and anchovies into pieces for rewards, so do that at home. If you want the full carry routine for training, we keep that on its own guide, and the guides hub lists the rest.

One bag serves the dog and the cat, so you do not need a second storage spot for each. Treats of every kind are a treat or topper, not a complete diet, and fresh water should be nearby when you feed them.

How do you keep the fish smell contained?

By keeping the bag closed. Freeze-dried fish smells like fish, and the listings are open about it. The smell escapes when the bag is open and when the closure is not fully shut, so the fix is the same as the storage routine.

A few habits help:

• Reseal the bag right away, not at the end of the session.
• Keep strongly scented bags apart from other pet food if the smell bothers you.
• Wash your hands and any dish you used after handling the fish.

If you keep more than one fish around, a multi-bag set is easy to store the same way, since all the bags want the same thing: closed, cool and dry. The Fish Trio puts three of them in one order.