A Guide to Feeding Your Fish

Just like you, your fish need the right balance of protein, fats, carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins to survive and thrive. There are many commercial foods available to meet your finned friends' needs; it's up to you to maintain a fresh supply of the appropriate formula for the inhabitants of your aquarium. And just like you, your fish will appreciate a little variety every now and then.

High Quality Fish Food Pellets Are a Must

The basis of your fishes' diet should be a high-quality commercial food. But because not all fish are created equal--some are vegetarian, some are carnivores, some are omnivores--not all foods are created equal. Ask your aquarist to recommend the best food for the fish in your tank. The key to proper feeding is not to overdo it. Overfeeding can result in water pollution, should your pets leave uneaten food to rot. Experts recommend offering small amounts--only what your fish can eat before it falls to the bottom, which translates to about as much as you can pinch between a finger and thumb--two or three times a day.

It's also a good idea to buy more than one kind of commercial food and rotate feedings. You wouldn't want to eat the same thing every meal, and neither do your fish. You may notice that different-shaped foods behave differently once they hit the water, and this is certainly not by accident. Flakes, for example, initially float and then slowly sink, allowing some nibbletime for fish who swim mainly in the midsection of the tank. Some grains and pellets sink quickly, and are great for bottom-feeding fish. Tablets can either be dropped in or stuck to the tank at varying water levels. With variety and careful planning, you can accommodate all the fish in your tank.

Jazz Up Fish Food with Frozen Treats

Fresh and frozen foods add pizzazz to the diet. They're also incredibly nutritious and, if you're a fish, they taste delicious. Available live or freeze-dried in cube form, Tubifex worms are sure to be a big hit with your pets. Don't forget to rinse and clean them well before offering them to your fish, as they can carry bacteria and parasites. Brine shrimp, bloodworms and freeze-dried water fleas are good choices, too. If you have vegetarian fish, spice up the menu with frozen kelp and small pieces of fresh lettuce or spinach. Offer these fresh and frozen foods a couple of times a week, and always take care to remove all leftovers from the tank.

Keeping your pets well fed when you're away on vacation is much easier with fish than it is with other species. Having a friend or neighbor take over feeding duties is ideal, but you can also use an automatic dispenser that drops small amounts of food into the tank at different times or slow-dissolving food tablets. Check out your aquarium supply store to find out more about these options.