Discover the importance of understanding the dietary needs of carnivorous, herbivorous, and omnivorous fish, and learn how to cater to their specific nutritional requirements.
This episode explores various food options, from commercial pellets and flakes to live and frozen foods, offering insight into how each type contributes to a balanced diet. Host Arthur Preston also shares tips on creating homemade fish food and the benefits of using feeding rings and maintaining a clean-up crew in your aquarium.
As a fish keeper, this episode guides you through observing your fish's behaviour during feeding time, the significance of food variety, and the common pitfalls to avoid, such as overfeeding. Enhance the colours and vitality of your fish by following Arthur's actionable advice and become a more informed aquarist, ensuring your fish not only survive but thrive.
00:00:00 --> 00:00:06 Welcome to this episode of the Aquarist's Edge, a podcast for home aquarists just like you.
00:00:06 --> 00:00:10 Learn more about how to keep a thriving aquarium and discover ideas and tips
00:00:10 --> 00:00:12 to give your aquarium the edge.
00:00:12 --> 00:00:15 And now, over to our host, Arthur Preston.
00:00:20 --> 00:00:24 Feeding our aquariums might seem a very straightforward task,
00:00:24 --> 00:00:26 but there's a lot more to it than meets the eye.
00:00:27 --> 00:00:31 When we feed our tanks correctly, we ensure our fish thrive,
00:00:31 --> 00:00:34 they display vibrant colours and they exhibit natural behaviours.
00:00:34 --> 00:00:38 So let's find out more about this important part of aquarium care.
00:00:39 --> 00:00:43 We need to figure out what it is that our fish need to eat. Just like us,
00:00:43 --> 00:00:46 fish have specific dietary requirements based on their evolutionary history
00:00:46 --> 00:00:49 and what they naturally consume in the wild.
00:00:49 --> 00:00:53 First of all, we have our carnivores, the meat eaters.
00:00:54 --> 00:00:57 These fish have evolved to hunt and to consume other animals.
00:00:57 --> 00:01:01 They possess larger stomachs designed for less frequent protein-rich meals.
00:01:02 --> 00:01:07 And examples of these fish would be your African cichlids, bettas, discus and oscas.
00:01:08 --> 00:01:12 Carnivores require a diet that's high in protein to meet their energy needs.
00:01:12 --> 00:01:17 And this can include commercial foods such as high-protein flakes and pellets,
00:01:17 --> 00:01:23 specifically designed for carnivorous fish. And then let's not forget our live and frozen foods.
00:01:24 --> 00:01:28 Bloodworms, brine shrimp, even small feeder fish can provide essential nutrients
00:01:28 --> 00:01:31 and stimulation for our carnivorous animals.
00:01:33 --> 00:01:36 Just be aware that while some fish can tolerate terrestrial meat,
00:01:36 --> 00:01:40 it's crucial to ensure that these are very low in fat, because excessive fat
00:01:40 --> 00:01:44 can damage a fish's liver and can even lead to death.
00:01:46 --> 00:01:50 The next fish we're going to talk about are our herbivores. These are our plant-loving fish.
00:01:51 --> 00:01:55 These fish have adapted to a diet primarily consisting of plant matter,
00:01:55 --> 00:01:59 and unlike carnivores, they have smaller stomachs and longer intestines,
00:02:00 --> 00:02:02 which allows for continuous grazing throughout the day.
00:02:03 --> 00:02:08 Examples of herbivorous fish would be goldfish and siamese alfayas.
00:02:09 --> 00:02:14 Algae wafers are a staple for herbivores, providing a concentrated source of
00:02:14 --> 00:02:19 algae and other plant-based nutrients, Sometimes you could use things like spirulina flakes.
00:02:19 --> 00:02:24 It also comes in a powder and this can be added to the tank as an extra option.
00:02:24 --> 00:02:29 Don't underestimate the power of fresh vegetables. So blanched baby marrows,
00:02:29 --> 00:02:35 spinach and even peas can add valuable fibre and variety to an operative fish diet.
00:02:36 --> 00:02:41 Just remember to remove any uneaten vegetables after a few hours to avoid polluting your tank.
00:02:43 --> 00:02:48 And then we have our omnivores. These are the adventurous eaters of our aquariums.
00:02:48 --> 00:02:51 They thrive on a mixed diet of both plant and animal matter.
00:02:52 --> 00:02:56 Now, most home aquarium fish fall into this category, making them adaptable
00:02:56 --> 00:02:58 and relatively easy to feed.
00:02:58 --> 00:03:03 So this would be bristlenose plecos, it would be your rainbow sharks,
00:03:04 --> 00:03:09 panda curry dories, cichlids, platies, guppies, and so on.
00:03:10 --> 00:03:14 A balanced diet for omnivores includes a mix of high-quality flakes,
00:03:14 --> 00:03:18 pellets, frozen or freeze-dried foods, and even some fresh veggies.
00:03:19 --> 00:03:23 And this will ensure that they receive a wide range of nutrients to support their health.
00:03:24 --> 00:03:28 I've mentioned a couple of fish food types already, but let's break that down.
00:03:28 --> 00:03:32 Most of us would have started out by using fish flakes for our aquariums.
00:03:32 --> 00:03:36 They're relatively cheap, they're always available, and they provide a basic diet.
00:03:36 --> 00:03:39 However, many of these flakes tend to lose their nutrients quickly,
00:03:39 --> 00:03:41 and they can create a mess if not eaten properly.
00:03:41 --> 00:03:46 So consider flakes as a supplemental food, rather than a primary source of nutrition.
00:03:47 --> 00:03:51 Also go and check the ingredients. Make sure that what you're feeding the fish
00:03:51 --> 00:03:52 isn't just filler stuff.
00:03:52 --> 00:03:55 Then there are pellets. They're an excellent choice. They provide better nutrient
00:03:55 --> 00:03:57 retention and create less mess.
00:03:58 --> 00:04:02 They do come in a variety of sizes and formulations for specific dietary needs of fish.
00:04:03 --> 00:04:07 For example, you have sinking pellets that will sink to the bottom and are great
00:04:07 --> 00:04:10 for bottom feeders like your plecos and your coris, while there are floating
00:04:10 --> 00:04:14 pellets that will suit surface dwelling fish like bettas.
00:04:14 --> 00:04:18 Then there are your frozen foods such as bloodworms and brine shrimp.
00:04:18 --> 00:04:23 And these provide excellent nutritional value and variety. and they're a great
00:04:23 --> 00:04:26 way to mimic a fish's natural diets and to entice picky eaters.
00:04:27 --> 00:04:28 Don't feed them all the time.
00:04:30 --> 00:04:34 Some of these frozen foods will have a high fat content. Remember that in a
00:04:34 --> 00:04:38 natural environment they won't be eating things like bloodworms all day long,
00:04:39 --> 00:04:42 every single day. It'll be a supplement to what they eat.
00:04:43 --> 00:04:46 You've probably also seen on the stores of your fish shop, of your pet store,
00:04:47 --> 00:04:51 freeze-dried options like tube-y-fix worms. And these are very convenient and
00:04:51 --> 00:04:52 there's a wide variety of them.
00:04:53 --> 00:04:56 But they may not be as palatable to your fish as frozen food.
00:04:56 --> 00:05:00 One way around that is to soak your freeze-dried foods in tank water for a couple
00:05:00 --> 00:05:02 of minutes before feeding.
00:05:02 --> 00:05:04 And this will make them more appealing to your fish.
00:05:06 --> 00:05:10 And of course, there's live food. Now, live food is the ultimate way to provide
00:05:10 --> 00:05:13 a natural and enriching feeding experience for your fish.
00:05:13 --> 00:05:19 It offers stimulation, encourages natural hunting, and is particularly beneficial for breeding fish.
00:05:20 --> 00:05:25 Popular choices here would be baby brine shrimp, some snails, daphania, bloodworms.
00:05:26 --> 00:05:30 But live food can come with a risk of introducing diseases or parasites,
00:05:30 --> 00:05:33 so always source your live food from reputable suppliers.
00:05:34 --> 00:05:38 It's a good idea to experiment with different food types to see what it is that
00:05:38 --> 00:05:41 your fish prefer and to ensure they receive a balanced and varied diet.
00:05:44 --> 00:05:48 Let's talk now about some tips, let's call them cheat codes,
00:05:48 --> 00:05:50 for success in our feeding regime.
00:05:51 --> 00:05:54 I've already told you one, and that is about pre-soaking the dry foods.
00:05:55 --> 00:05:59 What about making your own food? The DIY option. And if you're up for this challenge,
00:06:00 --> 00:06:02 it's something that most of us could do with a bit of effort.
00:06:02 --> 00:06:06 You've got to make sure that you're sourcing sensibly and responsibly.
00:06:07 --> 00:06:08 Fresh seafood possibly, maybe
00:06:08 --> 00:06:13 some vegetables, vitamins, other supplements you can add into the food.
00:06:13 --> 00:06:16 Make sure though that you A. are doing your homework and B.
00:06:17 --> 00:06:22 That you do this in a way that protects your fish from any unwanted things like
00:06:22 --> 00:06:26 parasites or dirt or anything else that is unwanted in their diet.
00:06:26 --> 00:06:30 It's quite a cost effective way to feed your fish and to ensure quality if you're
00:06:30 --> 00:06:36 doing it properly and a variety of nutritional options for your tank.
00:06:36 --> 00:06:39 There are plenty of YouTube videos about creating your own fish food,
00:06:39 --> 00:06:43 plenty of websites that offer that So I'm not going to go into that in this episode.
00:06:43 --> 00:06:46 We might use another episode to do that. But certainly if you're interested,
00:06:47 --> 00:06:51 go and spend some time browsing through YouTube. You're bound to find something that will work for you.
00:06:53 --> 00:06:57 You could also use feeding rings or feeding stations to control where food is
00:06:57 --> 00:07:01 dispensed in the tank because this helps food from scattering across the surface
00:07:01 --> 00:07:03 and ensures everybody gets a chance to eat.
00:07:04 --> 00:07:09 Then this is more of a feeding tip and more of one of a tank maintenance tip
00:07:09 --> 00:07:15 linked to feeding. Make sure your tank is on clean-up crew, so add scavengers such as shrimp.
00:07:15 --> 00:07:17 They don't need to be high-end shrimp, they can be cull shrimp.
00:07:17 --> 00:07:21 Cull simply means the shrimp that maybe a breed doesn't want because they're
00:07:21 --> 00:07:22 lacking certain coloration.
00:07:23 --> 00:07:27 Snails, some corridoras, they will help clean up uneasened food and reduce waste,
00:07:28 --> 00:07:29 thereby keeping your tank healthier.
00:07:31 --> 00:07:36 Remember leftover food rots, creates ammonia spikes and that in turn can lead
00:07:36 --> 00:07:37 to other health problems in your tank.
00:07:41 --> 00:07:46 Did you also know that the food you feed your fish can directly impact the coloration?
00:07:46 --> 00:07:51 So foods that are rich in carotenoids such as spirulina can enhance reds,
00:07:51 --> 00:07:54 oranges and yellows, while astaxanthin can boost reds.
00:07:54 --> 00:07:57 Now there are some commercial products out there, some commercial foods,
00:07:58 --> 00:08:01 that are designed for this purpose.
00:08:02 --> 00:08:04 They are high in these particular supplements.
00:08:04 --> 00:08:09 They are rich in carotenoids, they're rich in astaxanthin, and if you feed those
00:08:09 --> 00:08:12 regularly, you certainly will see a vibrancy in your fish.
00:08:14 --> 00:08:18 It's also good to watch your fish feed. It's a great opportunity to sit at your
00:08:18 --> 00:08:22 tank, to observe their natural behaviour, to see if any fish are being bullied,
00:08:22 --> 00:08:28 to see who the shy, retiring fish are, check for health, look at the state of your tank.
00:08:28 --> 00:08:31 You might see things you haven't seen before because now you're actually actively
00:08:31 --> 00:08:33 watching what's going on in the tank.
00:08:33 --> 00:08:37 It's a great way to get a glimpse into the fish's realities in the tank.
00:08:37 --> 00:08:41 Their social structures, their health, how they interact, that kind of thing.
00:08:41 --> 00:08:47 It's also the moment in the day when, as a fish keeper, you can sit down and just enjoy your fish.
00:08:48 --> 00:08:52 You're not worrying at that point about pH levels and tank maintenance and algae
00:08:52 --> 00:08:53 cleaning and all this kind of thing.
00:08:53 --> 00:08:56 You're simply sitting and enjoying the moment.
00:08:57 --> 00:09:00 Make sure you're doing this regularly with your tank. It's a great opportunity
00:09:00 --> 00:09:04 to enjoy the benefits of the work you put in as a fish keeper.
00:09:05 --> 00:09:12 And then there's something i want to call the clean plate club fish are opportunistic feeders,
00:09:13 --> 00:09:15 and some species will even beg when they're
00:09:15 --> 00:09:18 filled they will come out to the tank glass they will come to the surface
00:09:18 --> 00:09:21 of the water they will splash around a bit they will as you
00:09:21 --> 00:09:24 will pass they will almost want to follow you it's quite
00:09:24 --> 00:09:28 fun to watch but it's also very easy for beginner aquarists
00:09:28 --> 00:09:31 to want to give into that it's like that puppy begging
00:09:31 --> 00:09:34 for more resist the urge resist
00:09:34 --> 00:09:37 overfeeding stick the two to three minute rule no
00:09:37 --> 00:09:40 matter how convincing they are once your
00:09:40 --> 00:09:44 fish have eaten for two or three minutes that's enough
00:09:44 --> 00:09:47 remember that a rule of thumb is
00:09:47 --> 00:09:51 that the size of their stomach is the size of their eye yes obviously
00:09:51 --> 00:09:54 that's not a scientific thing but it's certainly a helpful thing to remember
00:09:54 --> 00:09:59 you're feeding those neon tetras and you want to give them more because shame
00:09:59 --> 00:10:02 they look hungry and then you remember that their stomach is the size of their
00:10:02 --> 00:10:08 eyeball and you realize that you've given them more than enough so yes their
00:10:08 --> 00:10:10 plates may be clean but they don't need more.
00:10:12 --> 00:10:15 Four things in conclusion that we need to do. Number one, research.
00:10:15 --> 00:10:17 Understand your fish's natural diet.
00:10:18 --> 00:10:21 Go and watch some videos about those fish. Read online.
00:10:21 --> 00:10:26 Go to sources that are responsible and that are accurate, that are scientific.
00:10:27 --> 00:10:31 Figure out what it is that these particular fish eat in nature and then try replicators.
00:10:33 --> 00:10:38 Offer, second point, variety. Offer diverse, high-quality foods.
00:10:39 --> 00:10:44 Thirdly, moderation. avoid overfeeding and follow that two to three minute rule.
00:10:45 --> 00:10:47 And number four, observe.
00:10:48 --> 00:10:52 Watch your fish's feeding behavior closely. And as I mentioned earlier,
00:10:52 --> 00:10:55 that moment when you're sitting and enjoying watching your fish eat,
00:10:55 --> 00:11:01 it's a great opportunity to really look with detail at the comings and goings
00:11:01 --> 00:11:04 in your tank, to look at the health of your fish, look at their behavior.
00:11:05 --> 00:11:09 By following these principles, you'll ensure that your fish not only survive,
00:11:09 --> 00:11:13 but thrive, have vibrant colors and lively energy.
00:11:14 --> 00:11:18 Do your homework. Do your research. Enjoy feeding your fish.
00:11:19 --> 00:11:25 Take the time to do so. And remember that a day when fish aren't feeding is okay.
00:11:26 --> 00:11:29 It mimics what happens in nature. They're not going to starve.
00:11:29 --> 00:11:33 And often it just allows things to settle in your tank if you don't feed them for a day.
00:11:34 --> 00:11:38 Maybe one day a week is a no food day. There's nothing wrong with that.
00:11:39 --> 00:11:42 Thanks for joining me today on this episode of aqua's edge
00:11:42 --> 00:11:45 please don't forget to subscribe in your podcast app
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00:11:51 --> 00:11:55 can enjoy the hobby together and let's join
00:11:55 --> 00:11:59 together next time for another interesting topic about aquariums
00:11:59 --> 00:12:02 and the wonderful fish that live in them until then
00:12:02 --> 00:12:05 happy fish keeping i'll see you then bye for
00:12:05 --> 00:12:08 now that's it for this episode of
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00:12:26 --> 00:12:36 Music.