Techniques of Feeding Your Fish
Fish which are sold in the pet fish shops are generally very easy to maintain.
They can sustain on processed food which is also available at the shops.
However, if you make a small research, you can feed your fish in a better way for their good health and long term survival.
The food for fish is very sensitive and delicate.
Generally it is available in tins.
If you keep the tin open and exposed to sunlight, moisture can catch the food.
If you buy a big container which will last for a longer time, the food quality will be affected and such food may not remain good for the fish.
So you have to preserve the food very carefully.
Processed fish food which is available in the market is usually in the form of flakes or stakes.
It is available in three types.
You can select it and depending on the category of fish you keep - vegetarian, omnivorous and carnivorous.
The food available in flakes looks like rice.
It may take care of most of the requirements of your fish but you need to give something 'extra' over it also.
You should always remember the 5 minutes rule.
You need to feed the fish only at times when they will finish it in 5 minutes! Many new fish keepers cannot believe this.
They feel that they will be starving their fish if they don't give food at regular intervals.
And they are not happy with the quantity which is suggested on the labels.
So have a look at my suggestions when you feed your fish.
Just observe your fish for some time before you start feeding.
You should stand right in front of the aquarium.
Then feed your fish slightly less than what you think enough.
Then watch out.
You should also look at the food which escapes from the fish and goes to the bottom of the aquarium.
Then watch whether the fish go to the bottom for the food.
Some fish like gouramis are bottom feeders while fish like rainbows will not go down for food.
After 5 minutes you will find that there is no food seen in the aquarium except a few particles which are settled at the bottom.
In that case, give your fish something more.
However give this time in much less quantity.
Again watch carefully whether they consume whatever you provided.
In this way you can feed your smaller fish twice or thrice in a day and depending on the type of fish you keep.
However for fish big in size, feeding once in a day is enough.
You can even give a break of one day in between.
You will notice that the fish will be eating algae and other plants which are edible during this time.
Another important thing to remember - if you provide rich food like blood-worms, the fish can get fatter.
Generally when you buy your fish they are small in size.
How they grow up will depend on your care.
As high levels of nitrates can halt the growth of fish, overfeeding can also result in fish with deformed bodies and they will have other problems also.
Finally, here is a tip on feeding live foods to your fish.
There are live foods available in the market.
However the experienced fish-keepers keep away from them because of the fear of parasites and worms.
You have to decide whether you can take this risk.
They can sustain on processed food which is also available at the shops.
However, if you make a small research, you can feed your fish in a better way for their good health and long term survival.
The food for fish is very sensitive and delicate.
Generally it is available in tins.
If you keep the tin open and exposed to sunlight, moisture can catch the food.
If you buy a big container which will last for a longer time, the food quality will be affected and such food may not remain good for the fish.
So you have to preserve the food very carefully.
Processed fish food which is available in the market is usually in the form of flakes or stakes.
It is available in three types.
You can select it and depending on the category of fish you keep - vegetarian, omnivorous and carnivorous.
The food available in flakes looks like rice.
It may take care of most of the requirements of your fish but you need to give something 'extra' over it also.
You should always remember the 5 minutes rule.
You need to feed the fish only at times when they will finish it in 5 minutes! Many new fish keepers cannot believe this.
They feel that they will be starving their fish if they don't give food at regular intervals.
And they are not happy with the quantity which is suggested on the labels.
So have a look at my suggestions when you feed your fish.
Just observe your fish for some time before you start feeding.
You should stand right in front of the aquarium.
Then feed your fish slightly less than what you think enough.
Then watch out.
You should also look at the food which escapes from the fish and goes to the bottom of the aquarium.
Then watch whether the fish go to the bottom for the food.
Some fish like gouramis are bottom feeders while fish like rainbows will not go down for food.
After 5 minutes you will find that there is no food seen in the aquarium except a few particles which are settled at the bottom.
In that case, give your fish something more.
However give this time in much less quantity.
Again watch carefully whether they consume whatever you provided.
In this way you can feed your smaller fish twice or thrice in a day and depending on the type of fish you keep.
However for fish big in size, feeding once in a day is enough.
You can even give a break of one day in between.
You will notice that the fish will be eating algae and other plants which are edible during this time.
Another important thing to remember - if you provide rich food like blood-worms, the fish can get fatter.
Generally when you buy your fish they are small in size.
How they grow up will depend on your care.
As high levels of nitrates can halt the growth of fish, overfeeding can also result in fish with deformed bodies and they will have other problems also.
Finally, here is a tip on feeding live foods to your fish.
There are live foods available in the market.
However the experienced fish-keepers keep away from them because of the fear of parasites and worms.
You have to decide whether you can take this risk.