How Long Does Lab Block Keep?

[The Serpent Merchant]

A local feed store has Mazuri 9F in stock for a great price, but they only sell the big 50 Lb bags of it. I'm just starting up a small ASF breeding colony, and would like to know how long the shelf life on lab block is. What is the best way to store it? (In the bag/tightly sealed plastic tub/refrigerated/etc.)

Honestly the price is so good I might even be willing to accept some loss if need be.

Thanks.

[Skilla6000]

How much is it per bag? and for my rodent food, I have an air tight big made for like dog food, holds about 60-70 lbs of food. You can find the at Walmart or any other big name bean store. And how long does it last? It does not really matter, even if it does go stale, they're still going to eat it...

[The Serpent Merchant]

50 lb bag of 9F $22.50 (That's $0.45 per lb)

Mazuri charges $30.49 + $9.99 shipping for the same thing on their website.

[I-KandyReptiles]

I'd buy it and just keep it in a seal tight container. In all honesty, I don't think they'd care if it gets a bit "stale".

[satomi325]

It doesn't matter if it goes stale. However, you have to worry about the nutrients breaking down over time and causing deficiencies.

In room temperature, feed is good for about 6 months from the mill date. If you have it sealed in the freezer, it can last about a year or less.
In hot temperatures, you have about 2 weeks or less before the food starts to loose nutrients.

You can still feed 'bad' food, but would have to supplement for the lost/unbalanced nutrients.

[sorraia]

I've read/heard the shelf life is about 6 months. If you refrigerate or freeze it, it may last longer than that. Air tight container is the best way to store it at room temperature. If you have the space/ability to refrigerate or freeze it, ziplock bags work great.

[The Serpent Merchant]

If my math/assumptions are correct it will take me around 15 months to use an entire bag, so I will probably have a good amount of loss. That said I still think I'm going to go for it. Even if I lose half the bag It will still only cost as much as I'm currently paying for Harlan Lab block at my local reptile shop.

Living in hot/humid Florida I'm probably going to have to get a little extreme if I want to get 6-12 month shelf life. I have a chest freezer with enough room in it to keep the block in, do you guys think it would work?

[Skilla6000]

If my math/assumptions are correct it will take me around 15 months to use an entire bag, so I will probably have a good amount of loss. That said I still think I'm going to go for it. Even if I lose half the bag It will still only cost as much as I'm currently paying for Harlan Lab block at my local reptile shop.

Living in hot/humid Florida I'm probably going to have to get a little extreme if I want to get 6-12 month shelf life. I have a chest freezer with enough room in it to keep the block in, do you guys think it would work?

If there is room in the freezer yes, and I think you could make that food go by alot faster, with my mice/asfs I give them a co start supply of food, so some 50lb bags may last me a week some may last me 2 weeks all depends on how hungry they are

[The Serpent Merchant]

If there is room in the freezer yes, and I think you could make that food go by alot faster, with my mice/asfs I give them a co start supply of food, so some 50lb bags may last me a week some may last me 2 weeks all depends on how hungry they are

Well at this point I only have 1.3 ASF's. I'm planning on expanding soon but I will still have a pretty small colony by most people's standards.

[I-KandyReptiles]

Well at this point I only have 1.3 ASF's. I'm planning on expanding soon but I will still have a pretty small colony by most people's standards.

Wait till they're producing. LOL