Channel Button

There are 4 articles on this title. You are reading the article ranked and rated #4 by Helium's members.

Pets & Animals   >

Aquarium Fish

Get a Widget for this title

Choosing the right food for your aquarium fish

Choosing the right food for your fish largely rests on the type of fish that you have in your aquarium. When feeding your fish, especially a community tank, you should vary the types of foods that you give them. The usage of different types of foods will help to maintain a healthy lifestyle, preserve the fish's colors, prevent disease, and lower stress.

Every fish should have a well balanced diet, and the better your fish's diet(s) are, they better they will look, perform, and socialize. I feed my community a wide range of varied types of fish foods. They consist mostly of freeze-dried foods that are second to best because the normally live food is quickly rinsed and then freeze-dried on the spot to preserve moisture, flavor, and appearance.

For adult mid-large sized fish:

Krill are an excellent food to feed to your fish. Although they contain about 10% fat and relatively low protein levels, they are an exceptionally tasty treat. For large fish, you can feed the whole krill. For smaller fish, you can crumble it up into little bit-sized pieces.

Plankton are also make excellent feeders. They have a higher crude protein, lower fat, and a high level of ash. They are also smaller, so the smaller fish in your tank will be able to easily consume these little guys.

Blood worms are my favorite feeders and they are, in my opinion, the best food for your fish. They have a high level of crude protein-65%, a low crude fat level-5%, and a high moisture content-6.5%. They are small enough that all may enjoy their benefits, yet big enough for other fish to scoop up. I always have to add more because the fish just love them so much.

Brine shrimp are also excellent feeders, and make great treats. I use frozen brine shrimp to feed to my fish, and they love them. I feed these more rarely, mainly because they are slightly more expensive, there a less of them, and I have to wait for them to defrost after I take them out of the freezer before I can feed them to the fish. They are not a great source of protein or anything else for that matter, but they are tasty, and the fish love them.

Live feeder fish are the best, and sometimes the only, choice for larger fish. I have a needle nose freshwater fish that is so picky that he will only eat live guppies. He will never eat flake food, freeze-dried, or even the frozen brine shrimp. Sometimes, feeder fish are the only food some fish will eat.

For baby fish:

Baby brine shrimp are the best food to feed to your newly hatched or lain baby fry. They contain very high levels of protein, which the small fry need for growth, and yet are small enough for them to consume. They are also very tasty and your fry will gobble them all up.

Egg yolk is another great way to provide your fry with the necessary amounts of protein needed to promote good growth. Simply boil an egg, take only the yolk, and mash it with some water and administer very, very small portions to your fry with a toothpick. The only draw back, is that it tends to cloud up the water quickly.

Fish flake foods are the best sources for all the different vitamins and nutrients needed to promote good health in any type of fish, big or small. No fish should ever be deprived of fish flake food because it carries everything the fish needs.

Learn more about this author, Mr. Aquarist.
Contact this writer Click here to send this author comments or questions.


Below are the top articles rated and ranked by Helium members on:

Choosing the right food for your aquarium fish

  • 1 of 4

    by FrankenPen

    With the variety of foods available to today's aquarist, it can often be difficult to determine the "best" food to feed your

    read more

  • 2 of 4

    by K Bert

    HIKARI KNOWS WHAT FISHES LIKE!

    Hikari brand fish food has been on the market in US for over 30 years and they have been researching

    read more

  • 3 of 4

    by Christy

    Choosing the right food for your fish, depends on what kind of fish you have. All fish have their own certain requirements.

    read more

  • 4 of 4

    by Mr. Aquarist

    Choosing the right food for your fish largely rests on the type of fish that you have in your aquarium. When feeding your

    read more

Add your voice

Know something about Choosing the right food for your aquarium fish?
We want to hear your view. Write_penWrite now!

Helium Debate

Cast your vote!

Is euthanasia of cats and dogs sometimes the most compassionate option?

Click for your side.

91517

Featured Partner

Chesapeake Service Systems

Chesapeake Service Systems (CSS) has partnered with Helium, giving you the chance to write for a cause. Browse C...more

What is Helium? | Buy Web Content | Contact Us | Privacy | User agreement | DMCA | User Tools | Help | Community | Helium’s Official Blog | Link to Helium

Helium, Inc.
200 Brickstone Square Andover, MA 01810 USA