Neptun
Fish feeding is a very important, broad topic. The question of proper nutrition of fish is so extensive that it is impossible to give a specific answer for all cases in one article. Nevertheless, we will try to consider the main points of such an important issue to have a clear, albeit general idea about it.
The complexity of the issue is due to the great variety of species kept behind the glass of aquariums. Each of them has its own food preferences, as well as physiological features. To an observant naturalist, his pets themselves will tell what they liked, and what it is better not to offer them any more.
Anatomy tells you how fish prefer to feed.
Take a look at your subjects. The structure of their body in most cases is adapted to the consumption of a particular type of food, in one way or another. Namely straight back, mouth directed upward in representatives of the genus danio will indicate to us that this fish is adapted to take food from the surface of the water. Its rapid maneuvers under the water surface also indicate the ability to quickly grab an insect that fell on the water. The size of the mouth, for example in danio rerio will tell us that the insect should be very small. Some kind of gnat or water viper.
In catfish, on the contrary, the straight line of the abdomen is straight, the mouth is directed downward, which indicates its ability to search for food near the bottom.
Physiology won’t be left out either
Also, all inhabitants of our aquariums can be (with some convention) divided into predators, herbivores and animal-eaters. Animal-eating species feed on invertebrate animals (mollusks, crustaceans). Plant-eaters prefer vegetarian foods. Predators prey on their own kind as well as other vertebrate animals. For proper selection of food for each species, you should know what it eats in the wild, as well as observe your pets during feeding to determine which of your proposed treats they take more willingly. And when there is a lack of familiar food, living creatures can switch to an alternative food base. So, for example, goldfish loves moths. But if you forget to satiate it in time, you can say goodbye to cattail, peacefully growing in the corner of the aquarium.
Feed requirement and quantity are determined by the age and size of the fish.
Fry of viviparous species can eat almost immediately after birth small crustaceans or slightly mashed dry food.
And the fry of almost all spawning first two or three days do not need food at all and exist at the expense of nutrients filling the yolk sac. But when this stock will be exhausted, they need to start giving food. Moreover, small crustaceans are too big for them. And bark, for example, itself is not averse to snack on fry. Starter food for fry spawning species are infusoria and rotifers. The meal at the fry should be at least 4 – 6 times a day. Fry grow quickly, they are not able to get at one feeding the entire portion of nutrients, which would be enough for a day.
At the same time, adult fish, even small, infusoria will not be satiated with infusoria. They need a larger food. Live-bearing guppies, mollinesia, swordfish, spawning danio, barbs, neon are suitable for small moths, trumpet fish, daphnia (including dried).
Larger fish such as telescope or American cichlids need larger food. They may be satisfied with large moths, earthworms (small or cut up), chopped meat.
Feed fish that need it with plant food such as scalded boiled and chopped lettuce, cabbage, dandelion leaves, oat flakes.
Everything is good in moderation, even fish feeding.
Do not overfeed your pets. Because of their limited mobility, they can become obese. But it is not a good idea to starve them either. It is better to give food twice a day. During the evening meal should observe your fish. First, during the meal is easiest to identify the sick fish, and secondly, you can adjust the size of the portion of food. Feeding fish live slow-moving food (moths, trubichnik, dry daphnia) should take about five minutes. If during this time all the food is not eaten, you should remove from the aquarium remains of food, and the next feeding of fish to conduct a smaller portion. Movable food such as live bark, live crustaceans should be eaten in twenty to thirty minutes.
Fish feeding Diversity has never hurt anyone
Do not give the fish the same type of food all the time. The food must be sufficient, nutritious and varied. To comply with this recommendation sometimes have to show a lot of ingenuity. But here to help amateurs come manufacturers of artificial feed, which today more than enough – “Hikari”, “Aquarian”, “King”, British”, “Neski”, “Knitz”, “Nutra Fin”, “Nippon”, “Sera”, “Tropical”, “Tetra”, “Wardley”, “Wita”.
Peculiarities of feeding with canned food
It is better to feed fish with dry food through a special floating ring, which will prevent dry particles from spreading across the water surface. Before using artificial concentrates, it is advisable to read the instructions for use and adhere to them. Some products require soaking with water before use.
Supplemental foods also include frozen, dried and freeze-dried feeds.
Feeding frozen food to fish should only be done after the food has thawed and reached ambient temperature.
Live feeds such as moths, tubeworms are better given through special mesh feeders, which will slow their fall to the bottom where they can burrow into the ground.
Properly nourished fish can withstand short-term starvations of up to seven days. Of course, this should not be the rule.
Automatic feeder and fish feeding
If you have to go away for a longer period of time on official business or you are going on vacation, then feeding fish should be transferred to a neighbor (for a decent reward) or (which is better, as practice shows) on an automatic feeder.
Let’s summarize some of the results.
- Feeding of fish should correspond to its physiology (predatory, herbivorous, animal-eating), age (fry or adults), during spawning some species do not eat at all.
- Feeding fish should be varied and sufficient (diversify the menu can be at the expense of artificial feed, adults should be given food twice a day).
- The serving of food should be appropriate to the anatomical structure of the animal.
As mentioned at the beginning of this page fish feeding is a rather vast topic. Therefore, it is difficult to cover it completely in one article. But we have covered the main points of the topic. Hopefully, now you have a general, but clear idea of how and what to feed your pets. And each of the issues raised here will be discussed in more detail in future articles.
