If your Angelfish seem a big sluggish, your Gold Gourami a bit listless, and your Red Serpae Tetra a little pale, then you should be examining how they are fed, and what they eat.

Proper nutrition is the basic building blocks on which animals derive energy. These building blocks can be basically broken down into protein, carbohydrates, fat, fibre, trace elements and vitamin content. The balances of these nutrients are different for each animal.

How to Feed Your Fish

Improper feeding is the leading cause of fish health problems. Uneaten food spoils quickly, and if consumed, can make fish sick or reduce their appetite. As it decays in the aquarium, it also raises ammonia to dangerous levels.

Fish often get excited at feeding time and may miss food before it sinks or is pulled into the filter. To ensure even shy fish get a chance to eat, follow these steps:

1. Offer a very small amount of food.

2. Once the food is consumed, offer a small amount a second time.

3. Observe the fish to determine if repeating is necessary up to three or four times. 

You can offer foods to your fish two to three times a day.

Foods That Add Zest!

The best feeding advice is simple: feed your fish as they would eat in the wild. They naturally spend the day foraging for small amounts of food, which keeps them active and supports a balanced diet for healthy, vibrant fish.

Feeding fish the same food at the same time each day can change their behavior. Some may become inactive instead of foraging, while others grow aggressive out of boredom. A steady diet of old, dry food can also lead to health issues and dull their natural colors.

A wild fish’s diet, on a daily basis, is comparable to a menu offered at a family restaurant. Offering a mix of flakes, pellets, crisp flakes and frozen or freeze-dried fish foods can improve your fish’s disposition and health. Give your fish a different food at every feeding.

Natural Foods to Consider:

• Brine Shrimp – This little crustacean is a favourite among all small tropical fish. They are available in frozen or freeze-dried states. Live brine shrimp eggs can easily be hatched at home in salt water kept at 25°C (77°F) and aerated with an air stone. Once the eggs hatch, the baby brine shrimp need only be rinsed in tap water before offering them to your fish.

• Krill and Other Plankton – These great treats have enormous benefits for your fish. They are available in frozen or freeze-dried states. Krill are rich in omega 3, omega 6, and provide a powerful antioxidant called astaxanthin. These supplements are not found in sufficient quantities in basic fish food. Planktons are a source of beta-carotene, which will increase the red factors in fish colouration. Central and South American cichlids will benefit from krill.

• Red Grubs (Blood Worms) – Due to their bright red colouring, these fly larvae are fantastic for improving the colouration of your fish. They are available in frozen or freeze-dried states. They are a favourite food among bettas, gouramis, and livebearers.

• Spirulina Flakes, Pellets and Discs – Spirulina is considered a super food because it contains the most remarkable concentration of nutrients known in any food, plant, grain or herb. This is the perfect food for your herbivorous fish and a great supplement to any diet.

• Tubifex Worms – In their live form, these worms have gotten a bad rap for having been known as disease transmitters. Freeze-dried and frozen tubifex worms are a clean and healthy alternative fish food. The compacted worms can be stuck to the inside glass of the aquarium to offer a feeding challenge to your fish. Catfish and loaches dream of feasting on tubifex.

Shape and Texture

• Flake-style foods are best for small to medium-sized fish and provide the cleanest source of food for your aquarium. The flake shape remains floating on the surface for better visibility. Do not crush fish foods into smaller pieces. Larger sizes are more visible to the fish. Once flake food becomes wet, the texture becomes soft and easy for the fish to bite. Small crumbs and dust will settle into the gravel or become clogged in the filter.

• Pellet-style foods are less processed and usually offer better nutritional value. Pellet-style foods are available in sinking and suspended formats to allow fish to eat in a more natural way. Select a pellet size smaller than your fishes’ mouths, but large enough to be visible. Pre-soaking pelleted foods in freshwater for two minutes will soften the pellets to allow delicate eaters to readily consume the food.

• Crisp-style flakes and crumbles are best for medium to large species and offer similar benefits as flakes and pellets. The different textures are greatly appreciated by your “wet pets.”

• Freeze-dried foods offer a natural food source without the need for refrigeration or the hassle of keeping them alive. Rehydrating small portions of freeze-dried foods prior to feeding is recommended.

• Frozen foods provide all the nutritional values of their live counterparts. Even picky eaters find frozen foods hard to resist. It is recommended to thaw out small portions before offering these foods to your fish.

Food Storage

All fish foods are properly packaged to maintain nutritional quality. Once the container is opened, vitamin content and freshness begin to deteriorate. Always store dry foods in a sealed container in a cool and dark location to maintain the quality as long as possible. Purchase food containers that will be consumed in a two-month period. 

CHECKLIST FOR FEEDING FISH

• Staple fish food flakes and pellets

• Brine shrimp (frozen or freeze-dried)

• Krill (frozen or freeze-dried)

• Red grubs (frozen or freeze-dried)

• Spirulina (flakes, pellets or discs)

• Freeze-dried tubifex worms

Please ask your pet counsellor what other items pertain to your particular fish’s needs.  

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