Power-feeding's effects on longevity

[anarekist]

This being mfk i know we want our fish to get as big as possible as soon as possible but do we ever consider the effects on our fish's health and specifically lifespan?

I just wanted to run this across you guys, if i dont feed enough they will get stunted? what i do know is that in some cases too small a tank + bad water conditions will stunt a fish's growth but will sparingly feeding them do the same thing? we know that fish in the wild can go weeks without food, we also know in the wild these guys get HUGE. What im asking is if i feed my fish maybe once a day or every other day will they eventually max out? or will they be stunted cause i didnt feed em enough? I read that power feeding get em big but at the cost of their life span, i want my guys to be around longer than me so im willing to feed em less as long as they will eventually become the monsters they're ment to be. hahaha.

 

[Gill Blue]

fish that get enough to eat get huge, the others often become food for the huge. all you have to do is look at obesity figures for the US to determine than more food only makes you grow fatter, not better.
enough is the point of contention.

 

[Burbotman]

Food demands will vary by species but also by where they are on their growth curve. For example most polypterids go through a 1 to 1.5 year intense growth spurt and then slow dramatically. It is almost impossible to over feed them during this growth phase, however once this is done then feeding needs to be more controled. I have found 7 day a week feeding for young polys and 4 to 5 day a week for adults.
High quality varied foods of course is essential.