filiportela;911579; said:this is rigth
I think I'll agree to strongly disagree with this...
Seriously with no offense to you M/L but this is not very true or applicable at all..
Any evidence that fasting actually benefits fish?
- Thread starter Gr8KarmaSF
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I think I'll agree to strongly disagree with this...
Seriously with no offense to you M/L but this is not very true or applicable at all..
Fish are cold-blooded and usually have significant stores of fat that can sustain them for extended periods without feeding. When I travel to China on business, I routinely let my Dats go for one week without feeding. I'm sure that they don't "like" it, but there is no indication that this harms them in any way. When I reduce the frequency of feeding, the amount and size of the feces generated is reduced (as anticipated) and this suggests to me that their digestion may actually increase in efficiency because the material remains longer in the gut. I think it's plausible that the more you feed them, the faster the material in their intestines get pushed through and the less efficiently it is digested (although, I don't know this for sure). Certainly, fish don't have to be fed every day, and I'd bet that they eat less frequently and much less in the wild.
Ever since christmas morning, I've missed 5 of 8 feedings because of Guitar Hero 3 and a Snow Cone maker. I have pretty much ignored my fish over the past 3 days with the only attention they recieved was three 2 minute feeding sessions plus a 20 minute relax by one of the tanks. Thats it. :sad: In that time period, cons have spawned again, the loaches are out more and my favourite and largest angel (P. Scalare) has had 2/3 of his pelvic fins ripped off.
from my personal experience... IT IS TRUE.
my bettas have been living so loooooooooong when im just feeding them once a week compared to 3x a week.
my bettas have been living so loooooooooong when im just feeding them once a week compared to 3x a week.
Polypterus;921324; said:
sorry, but what part of M/L's post do u disagree??
coz "i think" it makes sense.
I always fast my fish for 1 day before a water change and 1-2 days after.
IMO, it makes them more active.
And gives my filters a great opportunity to have the upper hand.
IMO, it makes them more active.
And gives my filters a great opportunity to have the upper hand.I am amused by all the "in nature" theories we swing around like lightsabers at a jedi training academy. "In nature" people eat once a day, maybe less. I eat 2-3 times per day. "In nature" people stay shorter height-wise and live shorter lives. "In nature" the optimum for a species is RARELY found.
For example, mosquito fish get a boom of available food starting in spring and lasting thru early fall where they can and do eat their fill at will. From fall thru early spring, they eat very little. Now, what pattern of eating would be best for them, and what would you say they get "in nature"?
On another note, "in nature" people don't eat McDonalds. "In nature" fish don't eat Hikari pellets, or most of the other wonderful foods we feed.
My personal approach is to feed what the fish will eat. If a fish is eating hungrily, I will feed it. If it loses interest in the food I will stop feeding it. I watch my fish, and they are not obese. If they ever got obese, I would reduce the amount of food I gave them. Your mileage may vary, as your fish, filtration and water conditions vary. Find an approach that works for you and go with it.
P.S. I could fast for a week or more, as could you, but after a certain point it becomes detrimental to your body. Many small meals throughout the day does wonders for your body and metabolism. Could fish really be that different?
For example, mosquito fish get a boom of available food starting in spring and lasting thru early fall where they can and do eat their fill at will. From fall thru early spring, they eat very little. Now, what pattern of eating would be best for them, and what would you say they get "in nature"?
On another note, "in nature" people don't eat McDonalds. "In nature" fish don't eat Hikari pellets, or most of the other wonderful foods we feed.
My personal approach is to feed what the fish will eat. If a fish is eating hungrily, I will feed it. If it loses interest in the food I will stop feeding it. I watch my fish, and they are not obese. If they ever got obese, I would reduce the amount of food I gave them. Your mileage may vary, as your fish, filtration and water conditions vary. Find an approach that works for you and go with it.
P.S. I could fast for a week or more, as could you, but after a certain point it becomes detrimental to your body. Many small meals throughout the day does wonders for your body and metabolism. Could fish really be that different?
