One of the most enjoyable parts of the fish-keeping hobby is feeding your fish. Unfortunately, it can also be one of the most confusing. Am I feeding too much? Too little? Am I feeding my fish the right kinds of food? What if my fish aren’t eating? Hopefully, we at Suffolk County Fish and Reef can help take some of the guesswork out of feeding your fish.
The first question that most people ask when they set up a tank is, “What should I feed my fish?” As there are a wide variety of fish species with a wide variety of diets, your best bet regarding what to feed your fish is to ask one of our aquarists. Generally speaking, however, here are some guidelines to help you pick the most appropriate food for your fish:
- Most fish will take pellets or flakes. You will want to make sure that you choose a pellet or flake size appropriate to the size of your fish(es). Cichlids, for example, will take a larger pellet than Tetras. One thing to keep in mind when deciding between flakes and pellets; flakes are generally used for freshwater fish, while pellets may be used for fresh or marine fish.
- Frozen foods are also a good choice; they retain much of the nutritional and aesthetic value of the live foods that fish encounter in the wild. Many varieties of frozen foods are available, and are often fortified with protein and other essential nutrients.
- Freeze-dried foods, like frozen foods, retain much of their nutritional value. You’ll typically find freeze-dried bloodworms, brine shrimp, or krill, among other varieties.
- Live foods are always a treat for any species of fish. Many of the types of live foods available for purchase will actually colonize your tank (living in live rock and/or live sand), making them readily available anytime your fish become hungry. These varieties of live food will also help keep your tank clean by living off of fish waste and algae.
Now that you know what to feed your fish, the next thing for you to consider is how much to feed your fish. Have you ever heard that old saying, “Your eyes are bigger than your stomach?” Well, as far as your fish are concerned, that is exactly the case. Most fish will continue to eat and eat and eat until they very literally eat themselves to death. This is, in part, a survival strategy; as with most creatures in the wild, fish aren’t always guaranteed three square meals a day. Very often, they can go days without a meal coming along. To combat this, most fish become opportunistic eaters, meaning that they will eat as much as they can, whenever they can. Unfortunately, this can lead to overeating, which in turn can lead to severe illness or even death.
So how much should you feed your fish? The general rule of thumb is to feed a little bit of food at a time, as much as they can eat over the course of about three minutes. But how much is a little at a time? Generally speaking, a little at a time would be about as much food as you can fit between your forefinger and your thumb (a pinch). A major variable regarding feeding would be how many fish you have in your tank, and what kind of fish you have. For example, three African Cichlids will consume a lot more food over the course of three minutes than ten Tetras. Keep in mind, however, that it is always better to err on the side of underfeeding than overfeeding. A favorite saying around Suffolk County Fish and Reef is that “more fish will die from overfeeding than will ever die from starvation.”
What happens if you overfeed your fish? Aside from any physical damage to the fish themselves, any uneaten food can also wreak havoc on your tank. As leftover food sinks to the bottom of the tank, it begins to break down and release ammonia and nitrite into the water. And as any fish-keeper knows, you do not want any excess ammonia or nitrite in your water. Therefore, it is very important that any and all uneaten food is immediately siphoned out of your aquarium.
But what happens if your fish just aren’t eating? There are several things to consider if this has become a problem for your tank. First, take notice of where in the tank your fish generally live. For example, most species of catfish tend to dwell on the bottom of your tank. If this is the case, they may not be eating simply because the food isn’t reaching them. Try using some sinking wafers or pellets. Other types of fish only eat at night, in which case sinking pellets or wafers may also be useful. Simply drop one or two into the tank before you go to sleep, and any nocturnal fish in your tank can pick at them over the course of the night.
It is also a good idea, if your fish aren’t eating, to check the temperature of your tank. Make sure the parameters are appropriate for the type of fish you are keeping. It is also possible, believe it or not, that your fish just plain don’t like the food you are feeding them. Some fish can be very finicky eaters. If you suspect this is the case, try switching up the types of foods you are feeding your fish.
As always, if for any reason you suspect that there is something wrong with your fish, do not hesitate to call and speak to one of our aquarists. Many times you can troubleshoot feeding problems with the suggestions listed above, but it is always better to err on the side of caution.
For more tips and tricks regarding the care and keeping of your aquarium, be sure to check us out on Facebook. Also be sure to read through the Livestock Guarantee and Acclimation Guidelines you received when you purchased your fish for more information regarding feeding your fish.
