So, I currently feed both my tanks a waaaaaaay more varied diet than I used to. Flakes, sinking pellets, Bug Bites, frozen variety pack and frozen beef heart, to be more precise. But how much variety do my fish need? I could certainly add in some actual fish like tilapia (yup, I've been paying attention). I don't really want to do live feedings unless a) I have a fish that requires it for health and survival and b) I can find a reliable source of healthy feeders. Am I missing any other options? What do ya'll feed your tanks?
I only feed 2 types of pellets to adult fish, since pellets are nutritionally dense and I am not breeding. I feed a regular pellet with only 1 binder (like wheat) and for those fish more omnivorous I feed the regular pellet plus a pellet that has more aquatic vegetation that has algae and spirulina. They might get the occasional frozen fish or shrimp once a month or two. The adults, over 18 months, are only fed every other day at most.
For fish growing out in the first year, I add additional food to the pellets like frozen foods. This is fed the same day as the pellets, since I feed growouts about 2-3 times a day, every day.
For fish growing out in the first year, I add additional food to the pellets like frozen foods. This is fed the same day as the pellets, since I feed growouts about 2-3 times a day, every day.
i use flakes, small sinking pellets, and large shrimp pellets twice a day. frozen bloodworms twice a week. they get red worms once a week. i use mostly omega one products.
ive found that so much variety is detrimental to training my cichlids on pellets though. my jd just begs for worms every day, and would rather wait 6 more days for them than eat a pellet. little brat.
ive found that so much variety is detrimental to training my cichlids on pellets though. my jd just begs for worms every day, and would rather wait 6 more days for them than eat a pellet. little brat.
If all your fish will eat the same pellet, you could just feed one pellet exclusively and the fish would be fine on that. I have different fish that like different foods so I feed a variety. My pikes and belonesox like freeze dried krill the best, so they get that. My hericthys will only eat NLS, so he gets that. My panamensis like hikari gold, so they get that. They all eat a bit of everything though.
Seems like most everyone agrees that a high quality pellet/flake should be the centerpiece of the diet.
Hendre, I think that's the first time I've seen anything negative about beefheart (besides the question of whether terrestrial protein sources are as nutritious as aquatic sources). Should I not be using that at all? At most it gets fed once every week to ten days.
Hendre, I think that's the first time I've seen anything negative about beefheart (besides the question of whether terrestrial protein sources are as nutritious as aquatic sources). Should I not be using that at all? At most it gets fed once every week to ten days.
Buying a dozen different brands and types of fish food does not necessarily provide variety. You need to read those labels. Chances are fish are still deprived of vital nutrients as a lot of fish food sold is a good as feeding McDonald;s burgers, and some fish foods may even contain harmful to fish ingredients.
If you want variety, buy top of the market fish foods, New Life Spectrum specifically. There are a couple of other brands like Omega and Northfin but in my opinion not as good.
Frozen stuff and the likes are only treats, and in fact not as nutritionally comprehensive as high quality pellet food.
I've exclusively fed my fish New Life Spectrum over the last 6 or so years. The NLS food is very comprehensive ingredients wise and is optimal for majority of fish we keep. My bristlenose pleco has rarely seen vegetables or has had access to any major algae. Feeding him veg once a month is an overstatement. He gobbles NLS pellets as the rest of my fish. He's around 6 years old, so are the majority of my clown loaches, I have 7-8 years old corydoras, 5 year old kuhli loaches, etc...I totally can't complain to sticking to one food only. I had a guppy live 4 years and majority of my platies surpassed that age. I wiped out the remainder via a broken tank a year and a half ago. Besides living long enough lives, they also display great colours.
I normally buy just two of their formulas, Cichlids formula(and I don't keep cichlids) and Algae max formula. I mix them in a third jar , tuck the remainder in the freezer, and I feed daily...I occasionally give frozen foods, once a week the most ....not for any nutritional benefits, just as a treat.
