Overfeeding is the number one killer of aquarium fish. It is one of the easiest ways to prevent premature death in fish if done correctly. The stomach of a fish is the size of its eyes. In nature, fish graze on algae and micro-organisms in ponds and lakes. The algae not only act as laxatives, and they are also low-calorie food that does not overload their digestive system. Fish are not accustomed to a large amount of feeding with dry pellets and flakes. Especially when we lack the water change routine in caring for them. Before you read this article, you should understand the size of the aquarium that is necessary to host your fish. And also, know what type of food is best for your specific type of fish. Feel free to read some of my other posts on choosing the right food for your fish. Here are some tips and guides on how to properly feed your fish.
1. Feed for only 15 to 30 seconds.
Ideally, most fish only need 15 to 30 seconds of feeding. This is especially true when you are feeding aggressive fish such as the African Cichlids. Their guts are not made for a large amount of food, and because of their aggressive nature, they may over-eat in a concise amount of time. I presoak my food and only give several pellets per fish. Large fish such as the Goldfish may require slightly more food at one time, but you still do not need to feed them for more than 30 seconds. Fancy goldfish, specifically, is very fragile and sensitive to bloating. This can cause severe swimbladder disease, and you may notice an imbalance of swimming in these creatures. For other feeds, they will feed aggressively and finish off all the food very quickly.
2. Make sure all the food is eaten and not hit bottom.
Carefully observe the amount of food that you are feeding your inhabitants. Your goal is not to let the food hit bottom. That is, if they are top and mid-water feeders. Fish such as the goldfish and plecos most often do not feed at the top of the water. Or at least they shouldn’t. But healthy fish should eat the food right away, and the food should not hit the bottom of the tank. If the fish behaves differently, such as facing the wall or looks pretty sleepy. Do not feed the fish as something might be wrong with the water. Also, do not feed the fish when you first get them from the pet store. Fish can survive up to two weeks without food, granted they are healthy. If you see the fish food hitting the bottom, you should try to get it out of the tank as it may raise the ammonia level and crash your nitrogen cycle.
3. Feed only once or twice a day.
Set up a schedule and only feed once or twice a day. For most fish, feeding once a day is more than enough to keep them thriving. Surprisingly, African cichlids have a small stomach, and they only require one feeding per day that last about 15 to 30 seconds, like I mentioned above. Ensure that you always feed at the same time of the day, so your fish know it is time for food. I always feed at 8 am. Like humans, you don’t want to overload them with food before bedtime. If you are interested in grooming your fish, you can increase the number of feeds to three to four times a day. Be careful and not overfeed too much at one time. Goldfish breeders in Asia can feed up to sixteen times a day, but you also need to change the water every day to keep up the waste generated by the amount of food you put into the aquarium.
4. Use food that increases gut transit time.
Certain foods are better than others. That is why I do not recommend buying an over-the-counter food that is cheaply made. Food rich in vegetables and spirulina help reduce constipation and bloating in fish. Like in humans, the amount of fiber helps bulk up and help us pass the food we digest. Fish also have different requirements, some like more protein-based, and some enjoy more vegetable-based. Make sure to do thorough research before buying the food. For example, goldfish love vegetable-based sinking pellets with transit bacteria in their food, such as the Saki-Hakari food. It is one of the best food Asian groomers use to grow giant and chubby goldfish. On the other hand, Northfin has a great formula with their cichlid pellets that enhance the color of the African cichlid fish and the tropical fish. I had tremendous success with Northfin in keeping AC. In conclusion, choosing a food and how much to feed can be challenging, but you can search online quickly to see what other professional fishkeepers use for the specific type of fish that you are keeping. In that way, you eliminate all the variables and increase your success with fishkeeping.
Thank you so much for reading my blog. I hope this article has been helpful for you. Feel free to comment, like, and subscribe if you enjoy posts like this. Check out my favorite fishkeeping items with the links below.
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