How to check if your TetraBits are original ?

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How to check if your TetraBits are original ?

Unread post by superbsite »

How to check if your TetraBits are original ?
Most of us hobbyists seem to have doubts on the TetraBits if they are original or not. Some say the pellets float, some say they sink; some say they emit a red colour in the water but no one has definite proven answers. Doubts still remain.

I wrote to the company directly on this issue providing them will all the details of the product I purchased
and received favorable replies with direction where you can order your original TetraBits from.

First read the mail received from them and their responses and then you can view pictures and videos
explained below

The Correspondence

QUOTE
Dear Mr. Pio,

Thank you very much for your mail. Based on the details given I confirm that you bought an original Tetra Product.
We are able to follow up each batch number in Melle.  Maybe Aquazona can give information on retailer sales price in India.
Normally you can identify the original Tetra products by the help of the EAN Code as the first figures refer to the country, state and company.
Furthermore Tetra foods always have an original sealing with Tetra printed or punched on the sealing foil.

Best regards and have a nice weekend

Ursula Kirchhoff
Supervisor Affiliate Coordination
TetraEurope
Melle - Germany
Phone: +49 (0) 5422 105-380
Fax:   +49 (0) 5422 105-77380
eMail: ursula.kirchhoff@eu.spectrumbrands.com
http://www.tetra.net

Tetra GmbH, Herrenteich 78, 49324 Melle
eingetragen beim Amtsgericht Osnabrück, HRB 19028
Geschäftsführer: Jochem van Rietschoten, Dr. Andreas Rouvé, Anja Krüger
------------------------------------

The India counterpart responded

Company Name                               M/s Aakar Aquarium
Contact Person                                 Mr. Sandeep
Contact no.                                      09967981592

Company name                                M/s Aquaria
Contact Person                                 Ms. Bella
Contact no.                                      022-26421400

Please do not hesitate to contact us, if any products are not available with the dealer, so we can arrange
from Delhi without any courier charges.

Mamta
For AQUAZONA EXPORTS
aquazona@nda.vsnl
UNQUOTE

Heres my explanation

The Product
Each Product has a barcode. See Picture as indicated below.
Image

You can type the barcode in this site
http://gepir.gs1.org/v32/xx/default.aspx?Lang=en-US/

Image


After you enter the barcode online you will get information of the company

Image

As you can see the barcode is linked and registered to Tetra – Germany

Your Tetra container will have the Lid with a Tetra Logo at the top and at the bottom there will be batch
number and expiry date of the product printed
Image


As the company mentions, the sealing foil will carry the Tetra logo in either printed or embossed form
Left picture is from online. Right picture is what I have.
Image


Note : TetraBits Complete pellets sink. No doubt about it. And they do not emit any colouration…
Image


Video link : http://tinypic.com/r/2i6l4s0/5

…Neither do they breakup in the water unless you churn the whole thing up like I did below to feed smaller fish.
Image


Should you have any doubts contact the above representatives to clarify with them on other types of Tetra products, since I’ve covered only TetraBits Complete here :)


Edit : After Posting the above

I realised that some hobbyists have genuinely got duped and theres no way of stopping it because only after you buy and spend you money the deed is done.

However we can take some precautions and provide suggestions to the Tetra Company

Precautions
1) Buy from the dealer/retailer suggested by them
2) Destroy your label and container. Or use your containers to store your Micros and Macros. But ensure that this container if its out in the trash it is destroyed completely. Just like how you would destroy a foreign perfume or liquor bottle. That way its not available to use or reuse at all for fake products.
There's no stopping a local LFS from creating his own can, forging the logo and foil but he has to incur these costs and may think twice before venturing.

Suggestions
1) The Tetra company should insert a small unique code in the fish-food which should then be checked online. In this way it will be securitized.
2) If you have been duped report the shop name with complete address back to Germany or India about it. Don't remain silent about it.
You can collect Walter/Micro/Beer/Grindals/ - Worm Cultures and plant cuttings from my tanks after I've pruned. +919833462069
All this for Free for Hobbyists.
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Re: How to check if your TetraBits are original ?

Unread post by SCORPIO »

Nice and informative.
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Re: How to check if your TetraBits are original ?

Unread post by parthapratim22 »

today have to check mine surg
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Re: How to check if your TetraBits are original ?

Unread post by sumer »

A very informative thread :)
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Re: How to check if your TetraBits are original ?

Unread post by prajjwal »

Great info.... atlist we still have genuine food from Tetra in India ,,,,

Thanks for sharing in nice details
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Re: How to check if your TetraBits are original ?

Unread post by pinaki_pal »

Its a great share...........I just checked my TB n found it is genuine ....:) :) feeling happy.....thanks for sharing
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Re: How to check if your TetraBits are original ?

Unread post by juanico »

good info indeed.

has someone ever bought faked TB in delhi?
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Re: How to check if your TetraBits are original ?

Unread post by Romi »

juanico wrote:good info indeed.

has someone ever bought faked TB in delhi?
i got a sachet twice. yes, they sell fake tetrabits in sachets also. The dealer was very embarassed when i told him it was fake but he was not surprized. i fed it to my goldfish, who ate it with gusto. But the other fish habituated to real Tetrabits didn't. the packing looked tacky too but i wanted to try it, even though i was already suspicious when i took it. yes, it was cheap!
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Re: How to check if your TetraBits are original ?

Unread post by Romi »

Very good thread, Pio!

i dont bother to wet the tetrabits to feed to smaller fish. i just crush it between two fingers when dry. after a while, it gets easy!
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Re: How to check if your TetraBits are original ?

Unread post by jack »

Thank you very much for sharing. Its very informative :)
Finally i am Broke but Happy :D
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