what to feed aquarium fish

Top 10 Live Foods to Feed Your Aquarium Fish

1. Baby Brine Shrimp. When it comes to raising baby fish or encouraging adult fish to spawn, you can’t beat baby brine...
2. Snails. Many fish — like puffers, loaches, and larger South American cichlids — enjoy eating live snails.
3. Vinegar Eels. Typically, egg-scattering fish such as tetras, rainbowfish, and killifish...

Full Answer

What fish can live in an aquarium?

What Types of Fish Can Live Together in an Aquarium?

• Guppies. Guppies are one of the most popular tropical species to keep in aquariums. ...
• Zebra Danio. Danios are extremely social and hardy species, so they are a perfect choice for a community aquarium.
• Tetra. Tetras, especially the Neon Tetras, like to live in peaceful communities. ...
• Swordtail Fish. ...
• Gouramis. ...

How to feed aquarium fish?

What to Feed Your Catfish In An Aquarium?

• The Usual Aquarium Feed. The typical aquarium feed consists of pellets or other store bought food that’s specifically made for catfish.
• Frozen Dried Food. Catfish also enjoy frozen foods like shrimp, blood worms and even brine shrimp. ...
• Small Crustaceans. ...
• Small Worms. ...
• Feeder Guppies. ...
• Rotten Cheese. ...
• Sardines. ...
• Snails. ...

What is the best food for freshwater fish?

The first type is dry fish food, and there are several varieties:

• Flakes: fish flake food is probably the most common option of them all, as pretty much all the common types of aquarium fish will go for it.
• Crisps: these crisps tend to float for a long period of time. ...
• Granules: these also tend to sink very slowly to the ground, so it’s available to all the fish in the tank. ...

More items...

What is the best fish food brand?

• shark
• swordfish
• king mackerel
• tilefish

What do you feed fish at home?

Live Food: Options include live brine or ghost shrimp, feeder fish (for larger carnivorous fish), crickets, and worms. Greens: If your fish are the type to munch on aquarium plants, such as anacharis, give them greens as well. Options include lettuce, cucumber, zucchini, and spinach.

What can I feed my fish if I don't have fish food?

Cooked vegetables (peas, cauliflower, pumpkin, carrots, etc.), boiled or steamed, are great food alternatives to fish food flakes once in a while for your omnivorous and herbivorous aquarium fish. You can even feed some fish (goldfish and koi in particular) cooked rice or oatmeal.

Do aquarium fish need food everyday?

For the most part, feeding your fish once or twice a day is sufficient. Some hobbyists even fast their fish one or two days a week to allow them to clear their digestive systems. Larger, more sedentary fish can go longer between meals than smaller, more active fish.

Can u feed fish bread?

Eating bread is bad for fish health because it contains too many carbs and, depending on the bread variety, too much fat for their digestive system to handle properly. Fish require a varied diet of protein and nutrients, which makes bread a bad choice when feeding your fish.

How many days can a fish go without eating?

Most healthy aquarium fish can go three days to a week without eating. However, it usually isn't recommended to go more a day or two without feeding unless completely necessary.

How do I know if my fish is hungry?

How To Tell If Your Fish Is HungryYour fish is digging around the substrate (searching for food).Waiting and the top of the aquarium (for feeding time).Behavior changes (aggression).Noticeable weight/size changes.Slow or sluggish behavior.

How often should you change the water in a fish tank?

Change 10 to 15 percent of the water each week. If your tank is heavily stocked, bump that up to 20 percent each week. A lightly stocked tank can get by for two weeks, but that should be the maximum length of time between water changes as you do not want to place any stress on your fish.

How often should you clean a fish tank?

Depending on how many fish you have, and how messy they are, most tanks require cleaning about once every two weeks. Cleaning should involve: ✔ Siphoning the gravel to remove any debris and uneaten food, and changing about 10-15% of the water. ✔ Check the filter is working correctly.

What do fish eat in an aquarium?

This is what will be the primary diet of your aquarium fish. These processed dried foods are what most aquarium owners feed their fish. These come in flakes, pellets, cubes, etc. They also come in floating or quick sinking variety.

What do fish eat?

As we all know, a lot of fish in nature feed on worms, larvae, many types of insects, and even other fish. Well, that is true for a lot of species of aquarium fish too. You can get live food for a lot of these fish.

Can herbivores eat greens?

It is a great practice to feed greens or vegetables to herbivore fish if you have access to the proper ones. If you have aquarium plants, then you might spot the fish nibbling on them sometimes. It is a good idea to provide these fish with fresh veggies.

What is the best food for fish?

Another nutritious food you can purchase for fish is freeze-dried fish food. With this option, you get many of the benefits of fresh food, but the moisture is taken out. You can find freeze-dried food in the same section as live food. This type is not nearly as nutritious as live food. Your fish will get more value out of it in comparison to flakes or pellet based food. Overall, freeze-dried food is pretty cheap and can be used on an everyday basis for many fish.

What do corals eat?

Corals have developed several unique ways to feed — they receive nutrients from symbiotic algae, catch solids such as plankton, and absorb dissolved organic matters in the water. In this article,...

What is fish flakes?

Fish flakes are available anywhere pet food is sold. They are also well-liked by fish and pet owners. Fish flakes are inexpensive and easy to get access to. This makes them a great food choice for new fish owners. Flakes have the basic nutrition your fish needs. Some flakes are also tailored for specific breeds.

Can you feed fish pellets?

Pellets better encompass the nutritional needs of your fish. They will give a fish the most nutrition in a small-sized pellet. You can use pellets to feed your fish every day. This type of fish food is priced around the same as flakes. So consider giving them a try. We recommend this product the most for people new to fish. Pellets are among the best food for fish!

Is live food better for fish?

The last and most nutritious food we will introduce to you is live foods. Live food is harder to get ahold of and can be a little pricier than other foods. Still, the benefits of live food are undeniable. Your fish will live a longer and healthier life with this kind of food.

How To Feed Different Kinds Of Aquarium Fish

Different species need different foods. What you feed your fish will be determined by what your fish eat naturally. If you have a carnivorous species, you will need to make sure to feed your fish foods high in protein. On the other hand, if you have a herbivore, then plant matter is very important.

Kinds of Fish Foods

There are several kinds of fish foods to choose from. How you choose will depend on the size of your fishes mouth, their feeding habits and if they are salt or freshwater fish. Take a look at the following types of fish food.

How Much Should Fish Be Fed?

It's better to underfeed your fish than overfeed. Overfeeding can lead to the development of dangerous chemicals in the water that could potentially kill your fish. The rule of thumb is to feed your fish as much as it can eat in 2 to 3 minutes. Remove any uneaten foods and adjust the next feeding.

Conclusion

It's much better to underfeed your fish. They will stay healthy for longer and there is no risk of poisoning them with decaying food. Just make sure to research your fish to find out if they like meat or plants and where in the tank they like to eat. You’ll figure out the feeding thing in no time.

Why do fish eat herbivores?

Here are some tips to help provide the best possible feeding program for your fish: Herbivorous fish tend to forage throughout the day because it takes a lot more plant material to satisfy their nutritional needs than the amount of meat protein for carnivores. Omnivorous fish have it best because they have many more options for suitable food items.

What part of the water column do fish feed in?

Another consideration is what part of the water column your fish feed in. Fish can be: Surface feeders. Mid-water feeders. Bottom feeders. Most fish will learn to take food wherever it’s available, but shy fish may wait until food drifts into their “safe zone”.

How to tell if a fish is overfeeding?

The term “overfeeding” means feeding more food than your fish needs or wants to eat in one feeding. Even hobbyists who only feed once a day or every other day can be guilty of overfeeding if the food is not completely consumed in less than 2 or 3 minutes. Here are some tell-tale signs of overfeeding: 1 Uneaten food remains in the aquarium after 5 minutes, but the fish show no interest in it. In extreme cases, a fuzzy or cottony white fungus may begin to grow on the bottom or on decorations and plants. 2 Aquarium water is cloudy or hazy and has a foul odor to it. Foam or froth may be present on the surface. 3 Filter media becomes clogged in a matter of days after cleaning. 4 Excessive algae growth. Even with proper filtration and water changes, nitrate and phosphate accumulation from heavy feeding can contribute to excessive algae growth. 5 Ammonia or nitrite levels are elevated. 6 Chronically high nitrates or low pH.

How long does it take for fish to overfeed?

Even hobbyists who only feed once a day or every other day can be guilty of overfeeding if the food is not completely consumed in less than 2 or 3 minutes. Here are some tell-tale signs of overfeeding: Uneaten food remains in the aquarium after 5 minutes, but the fish show no interest in it.

How to feed frozen food to turkey?

When feeding frozen foods, dispense food a little at a time using a turkey baster or large syringe to make sure everyone gets some. Drop a little food at the surface for top feeders and gently squirt some lower into the water column for mid-water and bottom feeders.

What fish have higher metabolic rates?

Small active fish like danios and newly hatched fry have higher metabolic rates and should be fed frequently, especially when kept at warmer temperatures. Water temperature regulates fishes’ metabolisms and influences how often and how much they need to be fed.

How long do pellets stay on the surface of a fish feeder?

Flakes and some pellet foods typically linger at the surface for a minute or two before beginning a slow descent to the bottom, making them good choices for surface and mid-water feeders. Soaking dried foods or “swishing” them at the surface will help them drop faster for mid-water feeders.

Why is cheap aquarium food bad for fish?

So nutrition with such feed will eventually weaken the fish’s body, because together with food it does not receive all the necessary substances for immunity. Ingredients that are actually harmful to the health of the inhabitants are less common.

Why is live food important for fish?

Live food is recognized as the most nutritious due to its high protein content. It pollutes the aquarium less than dry food. Due to the nutritional value of live food, it is advisable to feed fry and fish during the breeding season. But the danger of such food is the possibility of infection of fish if there is an infection in the larvae and worms.

Why are additional formulations needed for fish?

Also, additional formulations are suitable for fish that do not have time to fill up with everyone during the feeding period.

Is wheat flour bad for fish?

Wheat flour. Even for the human body, it is recognized as not particularly useful, and for fish unaccustomed to such a product for digestion, flour can be harmful. It does not contain useful substances, it only greatly increases the level of glucose in the body. And this provokes obesity in fish. Wheat flour is especially harmful to fish in medium-sized aquariums, where they are not able to spend extra energy.

Can pets eat homemade food?

Most often, homemade food is fed to their pets by experienced aquarists who want to achieve a completely healthy meal with all the necessary vitamins and minerals. After all, even the most highly valued and complete feed with constant feeding can cause a deficiency of some substances in the body.

How long should I feed my fish after the aquarium lights are off?

Most fish are awake during the daytime, so pick a fish feeding time that is at least 10 to 15 minutes after the aquarium light turns on. That way everyone is awake, alert, and ready to eat. However, if you have nocturnal species like kuhli loaches or plecos, make sure to feed them after the aquarium lights have turned off for the day.

How long can a fish go without food?

Adult fish can often go one week without any food, depending on their size, metabolism, and the water temperature. However, if you have a tankful of newborn fry that require constant feedings, it may be best to set up an automatic fish food feeder or find a pet sitter who can take care of their needs.

Why do betta fish have rounded abdomens?

Betta fish are prone to overeating, so feed them just enough food to have a slightly rounded abdomen without any excessive bulging. Overfeeding can ultimately cause health issues such as fatty liver disease, constipation, or bacterial and fungal infections from the poor water quality.

Can bettas eat frozen food?

However, they will also readily eat frozen and live foods. See our collection of betta foods for examples of what we feed our bettas.

Do fish gain weight when they eat?

So if you are feeding your fish plenty of food but they cannot seem to gain weight, they may need some antiparasitic or deworming medication to rid them of any unwanted hitchhikers.

Do kuhli loaches eat in the dark?

Since the other fish are less active in the dark, this extra nighttime feeding gives them a better chance of getting enough food. Nocturnal creatures like kuhli loaches may be too shy to come out and eat in the daytime, so make sure to provide some extra food when the lights are off.