Feeding Your Fish

What you feed your fish and how much you feed them is actually a very important part of fishkeeping. Sometimes, it can even come down to the point of how you feed them. Most people think that sprinkling a few flakes into the water is enough and I can assure you that this is not the case at all. You can't feed the same food to different types of fish as they all have different dietary requirements. It’s important to know what your fish eat in nature and try to match that diet accordingly. Feeding a correct diet is essential for growth and the health of our fish. Your fish will enjoy having a variety of foods offered to them, so let's see what they are...

Some fish require foods which are rich in protein (carnivores), some plants and algae (herbivores) and some a combination of both (omnivores). There are many different foods available and many different brands to choose from. They will all vary in shape, size, ingredients and sinking capability. Some of these foods are flakes, sinking pellets, freeze-dried food, frozen food, live foods and wafers. You are literally spoilt for choice. Always make sure to check the label so you know what ingredients they contain. Freeze-dried foods and live foods are particularly good for fish that require a lot of protein. For herbivores, there are flake foods and sinking algae wafers that are specially formulated to give them much more vegetable material and less protein. Personally, I always try to give my fish a varied diet of everything they need. I have many different brands of foods that I use. Don't hesitate to try several brands to find the one your fish likes the best. Afterall, some fish can be really fussy eaters! I try to mix and match foods throughout the week so that my fish get something different each day. As well as colour enhancing ingredients, a lot of my fish foods contain insect meal which provide many benefits for the fish. I highly recommend using foods with insect meal and the fish seem to love it.

Some fishkeepers prefer to give their fish live food such as brine shrimp, daphnia, river shrimp, micro worms and blood worms. You can buy these from your local aquatic store but they tend to only last a few days so should be fed as soon after purchase as possible. Some fishkeepers prefer to culture their own. If live food isn't available at your local aquatic store or if it is too much of a hassle to raise, frozen foods are also a good alternative. Unlike live foods, they pose no risk of introducing disease to your livestock and will last a long time in your freezer which is why they are becoming more and more popular.

Is it possible to over-feed? Yes it is! Overfeeding is a very common mistake and and it can lead to a wide range of problems in the aquarium. As well as causing problems to fish, overfeeding clogs up the filter with waste and any uneaten food breaks down into toxins that can dirty the water and cause a spike which will be harmful for your fish. If your water tests show high nitrate levels, it is very likely that you are overfeeding your fish. I always say when in doubt, underfeed! You are less likely to give yourself problems by doing it this way. A little break from food now and again won't cause any problems either. When you leave to go on holiday for a week or so, don't worry about not feeding the fish. They will be absolutely fine. The worst thing you could do is add a holiday block into the tank as it will just pollute your water and cause you more problems. In the event that you do overfeed, try and quickly remove the uneaten food from the tank by using a siphon or a net. Remember that no matter how innocent they look, some fish can be very greedy and most of them are opportunistic eaters so don't fall into the trap of giving them more food than what they need no matter how much they beg for it. Some fish are well known to recognise their owners and come to the tank when feeding time is due.

How often should I be feeding my fish? The answer to this question relies solely on the species of fish. In general, most fish do well on one or two feedings per day. In my experience, little and often is always the best way. Fry will need to be fed a lot more frequently than this however and remember that they will require a lot of protein for healthy growth. In general, feed your fish the amount they will consume in approximately two minutes. The timing of feeding is not critical (although best kept regular) apart from the exception of nocturnal feeders which are better fed when the aquarium lights go off. Nocturnal species include many species of Catfish and Plecos. You should consider adding sinking pellets or wafers to your bottom feeder’s diet as these will be much appreciated and last a bit longer in the water for them to eat. Plecos will also appreciate some courgette, cucumber and peppers among other vegetables, as they are full of the nutrition which they need.

Feeding time is always a highlight when fishkeeping, for both the fish and fishkeeper. It can be very interesting to watch all of the many different feeding behaviours to grab the best bits of food that are offered. Make sure to observe your fish when they are feeding because a healthy fish is always a hungry fish. If your fish appear not to be interested in any food that has been offered, there is usually a problem! While they are all visibly feeding, it will also be easier to spot any missing fish, diseases or any other issues that you may need to be addressing in your aquarium. More information on this is discussed in our other articles. When keeping an aquarium, fish feeding is one of those things that you want to get just right. Diet is very important so always make sure to research into the specific dietary requirements of the fish in your care. I hope that this article has been helpful for you.

Feeding Your Fish

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