Breeding Aquarium Fish - Fish Food For Your Fish

Your new aquarium is ready, so did you think about what kind of fish food your new fish will eat? If you are not careful, you could be doing permanent damage to your new pets. The danger comes not only with giving them the wrong type of food, but also how it can affect the delicate balance of the aquarium ecosystem.

The first thing you must think about is knowing what type or species your fish belongs to. Don't skimp on research in this area. If you have this information down, then finding the proper fish food will be much easier. One of the basic things to know is whether or not your fish are carnivores, herbivores, or omnivores. There are fish that can feed on algae flakes and who would not touch something like shrimp flakes. These are your herbivores, and they will also eat things like vegetable pellets, vegetable flakes and spinach. Carnivores like to feast on worms and small insects. Omnivores will eat almost any fish diet, but they prefer their food still moving.

Did you know that fish are very similar to human beings? Not quite like in the movie "Finding Nemo," but they need a balanced diet also.

So what is the most important part of a fish's diet? You guessed it, protein. Look for those foods that have fishmeal or shrimps on the label. Fat should be the lowest nutrient on the fish food label. Too much and they can have their liver damaged. A bit of fiber is also fine. Again, with all of this, keep in mind what type of basic food your fish eat.

The size of the aquarium or fish tank can have a role in what type of fish food you use. In general, a larger tank will have larger fish, so maybe flakes are not the best choice. In a very small tank with smaller fish, a pellet may not work that great. If you are feeding flakes to your fish, only give them a pinch at a time. If they are able to gobble them up right away, then give them another pinch. Whatever food that isn't eaten will drop to the bottom of the tank and start making the aquarium water dirty. Do not overfeed your fish. They do tend to recognize the person who normally feeds them so they might try and eat every time you give them food.

Keep an eye on the expiration dates that are on the fish food packages. You wouldn't feed food that is past it's freshness date to your family, and the same is true for all of your pets.

Although fish flakes are one of the more common foods, there are pellets and floating stick foods, as well as freeze-dried foods and blood worms. Yummy!

As you go and get a snack for yourself, remember to think about your fish and what type of fish food to give them. Remember the most important rule though, don't over feed them.

Breeding Aquarium Fish