Optimum Feeding Of Fish in Fish Aquariums: What Kind of Food?

Different diets for different species

Feeding freshwater fish a stable diet that is suited to their species is absolutely essential. Proper feeding supports a healthy immune system, stimulates growth and breeding, improves the appearance of fish and encourages activity. Different species of fish have need of different diets so it is essential that you research the dietary habits of the fish you plan to put in your aquariums.

Discovering the right type and consistency of food

The type of diet and food consistency can be judged by taking into consideration three divisions of two groups.

The first section is the type of food. Herbivores eat plant-based food only, carnivores are meat-eating fish and omnivores eat both plant and animal matter. Most fish fall into this third section.

There are also different levels at which fish feed in aquariums so it is essential to present food in a texture suitable for fish which collect food from the surface, fish that feed on food which has been dropped into the water, and fish that gather food from the bottom of aquariums.

What will you offer?

All fish need a balanced diet rich in fats,carbohydrates,proteins, vitamins and minerals. Here are a variety of foods you may consider, depending on the nutritional requirements of the fish in your fish tank aquariums.

Herbivore fish need food high in fibre, such as algae and vegetables. These fish will enjoy lettuce, zucchini, spinach, nettles, maize, carrots and peas. You need to make sure that these vegetables are boiled so they are soft, and broken down into suitably sized pieces. These foods provide various vitamins, minerals and trace elements. I also recommend using Spirulina for herbivores as it provides them with easily digestible vegetable protein.

For carnivores and omnivores, a diet rich in protein will be required. This can be provided through live food (ensuring it is nourishing), home-made or commercial foods. Thin slices of cooked white meat or raw red meat can be used, live small fish (e.g. feeder goldfish), freeze-dried or live worms, daphnia, brine shrimp, Tubifex, and krill. Meat, brine shrimp and worms are best fed as a luxury rather than as a daily meal. Tubifex fosters growth and may be used as a conditioning food to get your fish in good condition before breeding. In my opinion, I recommend krill as a dietary basis for carnivorous and omnivorous fish. They are rich in protein, contain amino acids and Omega 3 fatty acids for general health, carotenoids to bring out bright colors in fish, vitamins and minerals which boost the immune system, dietary roughage for better digestion, and stimulating carbohydrates. Krill are also low in fat and salt. They are excellent for helping a sick fish recuperate or to bring an already healthy fish up to peak fitness for breeding or showing. For predatory carnivores who like to catch moving things, you can suspend non-live food from a fork and lower it into the aquarium in front of the fish, wiggling it around to give the impression it is alive!

Dry foods

There are several types of dry foods for instance granules, pills, flakes, grains, wafers and pellets. These can all be bought in various textures depending on the type of fish you want to feed and the various depths of the water column they live in. The majority of these prepared foods are of a high-quality, calculated to give a balanced diet and are fortified with extra vitamins and minerals, so it is important to add them in the diet. Different formulas can also be used once in a while such as preparation for breeding or for developing color. It is also very practical as it is easy to store and doesn't require any preparation. The risk of disease or parasites being introduced into tank aquariums with food is also completely removed.

Enjoy!

Diversity is the real key to good fish nutrition. Therefore, it is vital to provide your fish with a variety of different suitable foods to ensure they obtain a balanced diet for their optimum health and their interest in and enjoyment of food.

Copyright © 2009 Jill Kaestner @ Kaestner Marketing LLC

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Jill Kaestner I intend to give you with professional advice on setting up, stocking and servicing your aquariums. With personal familiarity in tropical freshwater aquariums and extensive professional research, information and guidance in my articles can be trusted. I have also created 'Aquarius', an online store to share with you some of my unique aquariums bowls.

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