Question:
What do you feed a fish?
Feeding Flake Food
Flake food is commonly overfed to aquarium fish. Keep in mind that an aquarium fish's stomach is generally the size of their eye. Feed only the amount of flake food that the fish will consume in 30 to 60 seconds. Two very small feedings per day is better than one large feeding per day. Excess food will decrease the water quality and increase filter maintenance.
Damselfish
This is a great starter fish, and looks cute too, with its black body and white dot. It does become aggressive later on in its life.
Cyclops
Cyclops are the same as Daphnia, but predatory. They can damage fish eggs and very young fry. They are best fed to condition breeders on a limited use basis.
Black Worms
These bacteria-infested worms are among the best sources of protein for the fish and are an excellent conditioning food for breeding preparation. But be careful, frequent feedings will cause the fish to become fat and impair breeding. Because black worms are generally collected or raised under non-sanitary conditions, diseases are far more likely on a steady diet of worms. Thoroughly rinse worms in chlorinated water (tap water) before feeding to your aquarium fish.
Pelletized Food
Pellet aquarium food is available in all sizes suitable for small, medium and large fish. Pellet food will float on the surface or slowly sink to the bottom, depending on the specific type of pellets. Larger fish and finiky eaters will generally accept pellets over flake food. Choose the size of the pellet according to the size of your fish for to avoid uneaten pellets from cloging the filter.
Feeder Fish
Several large fish, including cichlids and piranhas will eat live fish as part of their diet.
It is generally not necessary to "grow your own". Many fish stores stock offer inexpensive "feeder guppies" or "feeder goldfish" as part of their ordinary stock. For fish like piranhas, a small piece of raw chicken or a strip of fish fillet will work just as well as a live fish. Feeding live fish is not recommended because it will increase the aggresiveness of your fish and led to an increased chance of introducing disease pathogens into the aquarium.
Flake Food Types
Flake food is the most common food for feeding aquarium fish. Flake food is available in several different varieties from vegatable flakes to high protein content flakes to goldfish flakes. These specialty diets are designed for specific types of fish to optimize their color, growth, and health in the aquarium.
Culturing Black Worms
I don't recommend trying to culture black worms yourself. They will live on the bottom of a tank, eating detritus and waste. Altough they can be fed banana peels. Filter water intensively. Collect them by sieving gravel with worms through a net.
Black Worms
Black worms are fed to condition breeders and should be fed on a limited basis if at all. If too many worms are fed to the fish at one time, the worms will burrow into the gravel and hide, risking fouling the tank.
Aquarium Frequently Asked Questions
What are some freshwater fish?
What plants are good for my tank?
What are Deionization or DI filters used for?
How do I stop tubifex from smelling?
How do I clean aquarium gravel?
How do I make sure my aquarium gravel is safe to use?
How many worms can I feed my fish at one time?
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| Jerry Mayo |
