So you’ve just bought yourself a fighter fish tank, or are planning on purchasing one soon. Congrats!
Your precious little fish will love eating the food that you feed them, and you will be able to tell how much they enjoy each meal by how fat they become. When it comes to caring for your precious little creatures, you want to make sure that they are healthy and comfortable, and that’s what prompted you to purchase a fish tank in the first place. But now that they are living in your home, it’s time to decide how much food you should be feeding them each day. Here’s a guide to help with that decision.
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How Much Do They Need?
It’s not unusual for aquarium owners to wonder how much food their fish should be eating. After all, they were living in the wild before you took them home, and perhaps their natural diet consisted of worms, tadpoles, insects, and other small fish, plants, and invertebrates. When you removed them from their natural habitat and placed them in your tank, you changed their diet to one that was mostly prepared by you. So it’s understandable that you would want to know how much food they need to survive.
The reality is that fish do not need tons of food to survive. Instead, they need nutrients in the water that will help them grow and develop, along with the food that you are feeding them.
If you’re reading this, I assume that you’re familiar with the general care instructions for freshwater aquariums. Those are still the best guidelines when it comes to keeping healthy fish, and they don’t vary too much from one type of fish to another. Keep the water clean, oxygenated, and at a constant temperature around 68-70 degrees Fahrenheit by adjusting the tank’s water level with a water pump. And most importantly, make sure that the food that you’re giving them is good quality.
How Much Is Good Quality?
It’s quite a common practice for fish producers to label their food as “quality” fish food, and that is exactly what it is: food specifically designed for fish. Some of the most popular quality fish foods on the market include:
- Natural foods such as fish skin, blood, and bones
- Minced meat such as chicken gizzards, chicken livers, and duck livers
- Canned fish
- Tubifex worms
- Armenian worms
- Fathead worms
- Daphnia
- Crickets
- Water fleas
- Hornworms
- Bloodworms
- Liver bits
- Crayfish
- Premixes of meat and fish skin
- Hake fish are quite popular because they’re a great source of high-quality protein
- Herring are also quite popular because they’re among the first fish that people think of when they think of eating fish
- Salmon and trout are also quite popular because they’re widely available and relatively inexpensive
- And then there are freshwater fish such as eels, which enjoy a good meal every now and then but don’t really require large quantities of food to thrive
These are all great choices for fish. And if you’re thinking about purchasing any of their products, make sure that they are approved for use with tropical fish!
How Much Should I Feed My Juvenile Fish?
When your fish are young, they will eat a little bit more than adults, simply because their digestive systems are still developing and they need more food to grow. The general guideline is 1.5-2% of their body weight in food each day, preferably in small amounts several times a day, gradually increasing the amount as they get older.
So if you have a 4-inch fish and you feed them 1 ounce of fish food each day, in 7 days they will be eating 1.8 ounces of food. After one month, they will be consuming 2.4 ounces of food each day. That’s a lot of food for a small fish. And you’ll have to make sure that you change their diet to meet their growing needs or they’ll become lethargic and sickly. Make sure that your adult fish are of a similar size to prevent any unnecessary stress on them when they’re feeding. For instance, if you have a big fish that’s 6 inches long, then you should feed a small one that’s 4 inches long to prevent your big one from eating them all.
What About My Native Fish?
If you have a collection of native fish species in your tank, then the food that you’re feeding them will influence the flavor of your water and the tank’s environment. Most freshwater fish are omnivores, which means that they will eat whatever is put in front of them. They also like to spawn in fresh water, so make sure that the water in your tank is always clean and free of any toxins, especially before and after the spawning season. During that time, be extra careful not to put any food in the tank or otherwise fertilize the water.
The reality is that not all fish are equal when it comes to feeding recommendations, and you shouldn’t just follow the guidelines without thinking about what makes the most sense for your situation. If you think that your fish are eating too much and want to change their diet to something less filling, then doing so can have drastic consequences for their overall health.
The Final Word
When you’re shopping for a new fish tank, don’t just look at the price tag. Instead, look at the various components that make up the tank, and think about how much space you have to work with. Once you place the order and the tank arrives at your home, take some time to learn how to properly maintain it. That’s the best way to ensure that your fish live a long and happy life (and it’s the most convenient way for you to enjoy their company). And last but not least, don’t be afraid to experiment with different types of foods to see which ones your fish prefer. Your fish will thank you for it, I’m sure.