Tropical Red Mico Colour Sticks – 32g, 80g & 1kg Packs

Tropical Red Mico Colour Sticks are floating, extruded fish-food sticks made to resemble red chironomid larvae, commonly called bloodworms. The standard sticks measure approximately 6 x 0.8 mm and are labelled by Tropical as a complete, colour-enhancing food for omnivorous and carnivorous ornamental fish. The formula contains 50% crude protein, red-pepper extract, astaxanthin, beta-glucan and stabilised vitamin C.

This is the standard Red Mico Colour Sticks formula, not the separate XXS product. It is available here in three manufacturer-confirmed sizes: 100 ml / 32 g, 250 ml / 80 g and 3 L / 1 kg. Select a pack according to the number and size of suitable fish you feed, how quickly you can use dry food while it remains fresh, and the storage space available.

Why the name is Red Mico, not Red Micro

Mico is the official product spelling used by Tropical. It is not a missing letter and should not be changed to “Micro”. Tropical also makes a different product called Red Mico Colour Sticks XXS. The XXS version has a 0.4 mm stick diameter and a different declaration, while the standard product sold on this page is specified as 6 x 0.8 mm.

The distinction matters when choosing food by mouth size. The standard sticks are not automatically a nano-food merely because an older description called them micro sticks. Compare the 0.8 mm diameter with your fish's mouth, feeding behaviour and normal diet. Fish that cannot comfortably take the supplied stick need a genuinely smaller food rather than an assumption that every red stick is the XXS formula.

What do the sticks look like and how do they behave?

The food consists of slim, red, floating sticks. Tropical describes their form as resembling chironomid larvae. They are a prepared dry food, not real bloodworms and not a freeze-dried or frozen animal food. Their bloodworm-like appearance is a shape and presentation feature.

Tropical explains that aquarium current can set the floating sticks in motion. This movement is intended to make the food resemble moving larvae and encourage feeding interest. You can use a gentle surface or filter current to distribute a small portion, but the aquarium's flow should still suit the fish. Do not increase flow merely to animate food if it causes fish to struggle or pushes every piece into an inaccessible corner.

Because the sticks float, they are easiest for fish that feed at the surface or rise into the upper water column. Bottom-feeding species may need an appropriate sinking food instead. In a mixed aquarium, check that shy fish and lower-level feeders receive food made for their normal feeding zone rather than assuming one floating product reaches every animal.

Which fish are Red Mico Colour Sticks intended for?

Tropical identifies the standard formula for omnivorous and carnivorous aquarium fish living in freshwater, marine and brackish water. The official product sheet illustrates that scope with examples including angelfish, tiger barbs, Odessa barbs, giant danios, mollies, swordtails, platies, paradise fish, dwarf gouramis, pearl gouramis, Boesemani rainbowfish, bettas and Gardner's killifish.

That list is guidance, not a universal compatibility promise. A fish should be offered this food only when its diet, mouth size and feeding zone are suitable. Herbivorous specialists, tiny fry, obligate feeders and species with a prescribed veterinary diet may need something different. Marine or brackish suitability on the label also does not mean every marine animal eats the same food.

For a wider choice of formats, browse the fish-food range. Compare the complete declaration and particle size, not only the photograph or the word “tropical”.

Which pack size should you choose?

All three options are the same standard Red Mico Colour Sticks formula in different pack sizes. Volume and net weight are both shown because light, extruded foods occupy more space than their weight alone may suggest. The current options are manufacturer-confirmed and remain separate variants on one product page.

A bigger container is not automatically better value if it remains open for too long. Estimate how much your fish actually consume, keep waste low through portion control, and select a pack you can store correctly. Serving counts are not stated because fish size, number, temperature and feeding plan vary.

Complete ingredient composition

The current official declaration for standard Red Mico Colour Sticks lists the ingredients below in descending category order. Ingredient categories are reproduced as the manufacturer declares them; the listing does not invent individual fish species, cereal types or oil sources that are not named.

Formulations and regional labels can change. Check the declaration on the supplied container before feeding if an ingredient matters for your aquarium or if a veterinary professional has advised avoiding a particular component. The pack in hand takes precedence over an online transcription.

Analytical constituents

The analytical declaration describes broad nutrient groups rather than ingredient quality on its own. It is useful for comparing foods, but it should be read alongside the composition, food form and the needs of the intended fish.

The 50% crude-protein figure supports the manufacturer's positioning for omnivorous and carnivorous fish. It does not mean that every high-protein food suits every fish, nor that more food produces faster or healthier growth. Match the ration to the animal and avoid chronic overfeeding.

Vitamins, trace elements and colourant

Tropical highlights astaxanthin and red-pepper extract as the principal colour-enhancing ingredients. Beta-glucan and stabilised vitamin C are also part of the manufacturer's product positioning. These ingredients support the nutritional purpose of the formula; they do not promise that every fish will develop a particular shade or reach the colour shown on packaging.

What does colour-enhancing mean in practice?

Fish cannot display pigment that their genetics, life stage and physiology do not support. A colour-enhancing food supplies selected dietary pigments, but the visible result also depends on species, sex, age, health, stress, lighting and the rest of the diet. The correct expectation is nutritional support for natural colour expression, not an instant dye effect or a guaranteed transformation.

Astaxanthin is the declared colourant, while red-pepper extract contributes to the formula's pigment profile. Feed the product according to the label and assess the fish's overall condition, appetite and waste. Do not increase the ration in an attempt to force faster colour. Excess feed adds nutrients to the aquarium and can damage water quality.

If a different food format better suits your aquarium, compare Tropical Vitality & Color Flakes. The two products should be chosen by formula, particle form and fish behaviour rather than by colour wording alone.

How to feed Tropical Red Mico Colour Sticks

Tropical's stated direction is simple: feed several times daily in small portions. It does not specify a universal number of sticks, a fixed number of seconds or one ration for every species. A safe practical interpretation is to begin with a modest amount, watch which fish can take it comfortably, and stop before uneaten food accumulates.

1. Check suitability first. Confirm that the fish is omnivorous or carnivorous and can take a 6 x 0.8 mm floating stick.
2. Offer a small portion. Distribute only enough to observe active feeding without a layer of food collecting at the surface.
3. Watch every group. Make sure dominant fish do not take the entire ration while shy fish miss out.
4. Stop when interest falls. Remove persistent leftovers where practical rather than adding more.
5. Adjust the next portion. Fish size, number, temperature, life stage and other foods all affect the appropriate ration.

Several small feeds are not permission to feed continuously. Each portion contributes to the total daily intake. If work or aquarium management makes multiple feeds unsuitable, follow the pack guidance and seek species-specific advice rather than compensating with one oversized meal.

Can this be the only food?

The product is declared as a complete feed for ornamental fish, but the phrase “complete feed” does not remove the need to match food to the species. Some aquariums benefit from a planned rotation of suitable formats so surface, mid-water and bottom feeders all receive appropriate nutrition. Variety should be purposeful rather than a random mix of treats.

For omnivorous fish that also take plant-rich foods, compare Tropical Spirulina Granulat or Tropical 3-Algae Granulat. For a different animal-protein approach, review Tropical Insect Menu Granules S. Those links are alternatives for comparison, not instructions to combine every food in one day.

Bottom feeders may benefit from a format such as Tropical SuperVit Tablets B, provided its declaration suits the species. Check each product independently and keep the overall ration controlled.

Red Mico sticks, real bloodworms, flakes or granules?

Red Mico Colour Sticks resemble bloodworms but do not contain live larvae as the food form. This gives a consistent dry format without pretending it is identical to frozen, live or freeze-dried bloodworm. If you specifically want an actual preserved invertebrate food, compare the Tropical Red Mico freeze-dried bloodworm product and read its separate declaration.

Storage and freshness

Keep the container closed, dry and away from direct heat or sunlight. Do not reach into the pack with wet fingers or a damp spoon. Moisture can cause clumping and makes any dry food harder to assess or portion. Store the pack where aquarium splashes and condensation cannot reach it.

Use the printed best-before date and storage directions on the supplied container. Do not decant the food unless the new container preserves the product identity, batch and date information. If the food becomes damp, develops an unusual odour, changes texture unexpectedly or shows contamination, stop using it.

The 3 L / 1 kg bucket is intended for a much higher rate of use than the small tubs. Keep it tightly sealed between feeds and use a clean, dry measure. Avoid topping a new pack onto old remnants because that obscures batch age and makes cleaning difficult.

Feeding without compromising water quality

No dry food is automatically “clean” or “low waste”. Water impact depends heavily on how much enters the aquarium, how much fish consume, filtration capacity and maintenance. A well-sized stick can make feeding easier to observe, but uneaten sticks and excessive nutrients still become waste.

• Reduce the next portion when food remains uneaten.
• Check that all fish can take the stick rather than repeatedly spitting it out.
• Do not add extra food merely because the sticks remain visible at the surface.
• Test water and maintain the filter according to the aquarium's stocking and feeding load.
• Change only one part of the feeding plan at a time so you can judge the result.

Persistent leftovers can indicate overfeeding, unsuitable stick size, poor placement, stress or a food that does not match the fish. Treat that as useful evidence and correct the cause.

Ordering and UK delivery

Choose the required pack size above and review the current delivery information before checkout. Delivery dates, services and thresholds are maintained on that policy page rather than frozen into a product description. New customers can use WELCOME10 for 10% off a first order, subject to the current checkout terms.

This is dry fish food, not livestock. For general ordering, payment or dispatch questions, use the current Tropical Fish Co FAQ or contact the team before ordering a bulk pack.

Tropical Red Mico Colour Sticks FAQs

Is “Mico” a spelling mistake?

No. Red Mico Colour Sticks is the official Tropical product name. Changing it to Red Micro would make the listing less accurate.

Is this the Red Mico XXS food?

No. This is the standard 6 x 0.8 mm product. Tropical's separate XXS formula has a 0.4 mm diameter and a different declaration.

Are these sticks made from bloodworms?

They are prepared extruded sticks shaped to resemble chironomid larvae. They are not live, frozen or freeze-dried bloodworms.

Do the sticks float?

Yes. Tropical describes them as floating sticks. Normal filter current can move them through the upper water, which may attract feeding attention.

How large is each stick?

The manufacturer states approximately 6 mm long by 0.8 mm in diameter for the standard product.

Which fish can eat Red Mico Colour Sticks?

They are intended for suitable omnivorous and carnivorous ornamental fish that can take the stick size. Tropical states freshwater, marine and brackish-water use, but each species still needs a diet and mouth-size check.

Are they suitable for nano fish or fry?

Do not assume so. The standard stick is 0.8 mm in diameter and 6 mm long. Tiny fish and fry may require a genuinely finer food such as a separately declared XXS or fry formula.

What is the crude-protein level?

The checked manufacturer declaration lists 50% crude protein, with 7.5% crude oils and fats, 2% crude fibre and 8% moisture.

Which ingredients support colour?

The formula declares red-pepper extract at 3,800 mg/kg and astaxanthin at 120 mg/kg. Visible colour still depends on genetics, age, health, stress, lighting and the overall diet.

How often should I feed it?

Tropical directs several small feeds daily. The manufacturer does not give one universal stick count or a fixed consumption time, so adjust small portions to the fish and avoid leftovers.

Can I use it as a complete food?

It is labelled as a complete feed for ornamental fish. It is appropriate only when the species, mouth size and feeding zone match; specialist feeders may need another formula.

Can freshwater and marine fish both eat it?

The manufacturer states freshwater, marine and brackish-water use for suitable omnivorous and carnivorous fish. Water type alone does not prove dietary suitability for every species.

Which size should I buy?

Choose 100 ml / 32 g for lower use or a first trial, 250 ml / 80 g for regular use, or 3 L / 1 kg only where turnover and dry storage justify a bulk bucket.

How should I store the food?

Keep it sealed, cool and dry, away from sunlight, condensation and wet utensils. Follow the best-before date and storage instructions printed on the supplied pack.

Will it guarantee brighter fish?

No. Tropical positions the formula as colour-enhancing, but no food can guarantee a particular colour. Feed appropriately and judge the fish's overall health and condition rather than colour alone.

Does the first-order discount apply?

New customers can use WELCOME10 for 10% off a first order, subject to the current checkout terms.

Manufacturer sources checked

Sources checked:

• Tropical Red Mico Colour Sticks official product offer - exact name, intended fish, stick dimensions and manufacturer package sizes.
• Tropical Germany official product page - standard-product composition, analytical constituents, additives and feeding direction.
• Tropical 2026 product catalogue - current manufacturer product-range context.
• Tropical's Red Mico Colour Sticks video - official visual demonstration of the product form.

Online declarations can lag behind a packaging update. If the supplied pack differs, follow its current label and contact Tropical Fish Co before feeding when the difference affects your aquarium.