Nutrition per type

General

As a rule, fish kept in an aquarium with a constant water temperature need only be fed daily. Pond fish require feeding every second day in summer and once weekly in winter. Provided the fish are in an established tank with some plant material, they may be left for up to two weeks without food. If going on holidays it is NOT advised to “feed the fish up” before leaving, or to “make up for it” upon return.

A variety of food is best offered to the fish and only feed enough so that it is all eaten within five minutes. Otherwise the wasted food will decompose and make the water smelly and clouded possibly causing ill health in the fish.

The choice of food available to be fed to fish includes dried food, live food, frozen or freeze-dried foods and human foods. Dried foods are generally balanced diets. However, fishes fed solely on dried food often suffer digestive problems or constipation. Dried foods include pellets, flakes, floating foods or those that sink and are manufactured to suit the fish breed. Always consider whether your fish are bottom feeders, middle feeders or surface feeders.

Some species of fish do not possess teeth. They either swallow chunks of food whole or use a method called filter feeding, which filters the incoming water for food particles. Fish do not chew, not even the species that do have teeth.

Live foods provide roughage for the fish and also sometimes a psychological benefit in that the fish need to “catch” the live food. Suitable live foods include earthworms (whole or chopped), white worms, brine shrimp and tubifex . All of these can be bred, hatched and grown at home. Bloodworms and other frozen fish food can be bought from Petwise.

Frozen or freeze-dried foods provide a safe and convenient way of providing natural foods to fish at little expense.

Human foods also provide variety for your fish. The selection includes ox heart, liver, prawns, zucchini, peas and spinach.

Each species of fish would have individual nutrition requirements. However, as a broad guideline, food types to be fed can be generally broken down according to the fish group.

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Nutrition per type:

TROPICAL FISH

Tropical fish are usual omnivores. Thus the easiest way to feed tropical fish is to supply a variety of flaked tropical food or frozen or dried foods. Plants in the tank provide a source of food also to the species such as the Barbs in addition to the processed foods.

CICLIDS

Dependent on the breed of the Cichlid, they may be herbivores, carnivores, omnivorous, insectivorous or piscivorous, that is, a fish that in nature would eat another fish half its size every other day.

GOLDFISH

A wide range of goldfish foods are available in flake form. The goldfish also appreciates live (frozen or freeze dried) foods as well as vegetable matter. Therefore it is advised plants suitable for the goldfish are planted in your tank.

NATIVE FISH

Native freshwater fish such as the Barramundi and Rainbow fish are generally carnivores or omnivores. A wide variety of suitable pelleted foods are available for these fish. They also enjoy live foods such as insects or worms in addition to plant material. Live foods are sold at Petwise.

MARINE

The diet of marine fish can be very specific according to the species of the fish. The diet may include plankton, live foods such as other fish (guppies are ideal), plant matter, algae and so on. Good quality flaked, frozen and dry foods are available. Human foods also such as spinach and peas provide a tasty treat.

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