SIGNS OF OVERFEEDING

CLOUDY WATER
In most cases, a cloudy or ‘misty’ appearance of the water in your fishtank is a sign that there is some sort of organic material that is disrupting the water quality. In relation to overfeeding, this means that excess food has begun decaying in tank, resulting in bad water quality. It’s best to organize a low-impact replacement of some of the water in your tank, usually accomplished by a dual tubing system. Try removing approximately one-third of your fishtank water per day, in order to help ensure that the water quality is habitable for your fish.

ALGAE GROWTH
In most cases, algae growth as a result of overfeeding occurs after initial signs of cloudy water are detected. Most algae species will thrive in an environment that carries a large amount of dissolved organic material, such as fish food. As uneaten food decays, the algae is able to survive by the released organic material into the water. Though a small amount of algae growth is normal, if you have severe algae growth, it’s recommended that you give your tank a thorough cleaning.

FISH DISEASES
There are many diseases specific to fish that can occur from chronic overfeeding. The most common fish diseases seen in over-fed fish are fin rot, fatty liver and improper digestion. In general, it is recommended that you keep a close eye on your fish’s general health. Any changes in the behavior or appearance of your fish are always cause for concern. After you have identified the overfeeding problem, you may also have to look into adding medication to help your fish to become healthy.

PREVENTING OVERFEEDING

The best way to prevent overfeeding is to regulate the amount of food that you feed your fish. In general, it’s best to only feed your fish a quantity of food that they can consume within five or six minutes.  This may take some ‘trial and error’, but in general, most fish food manufacturers have a feeding chart that is displayed on the packaging of their product. In addition to this, try to feed your fish on a daily schedule. If you split up your fish’s food portions into two feedings per day, try to ensure that these feedings always take place at the same time each day. This will help ensure that your fish are on a feeding schedule, and will help them to consume the majority of the food in their tank.

TYPE OF FOOD

It’s possible that you may be feeding your fish flake food, pellet food, freeze-dried food, liquid food or live food. Depending on the type of food you are currently choosing to feed your fish, you will have to adjust your feeding portions. For example, flake food tends to break apart after it sinks to the bottom of your tank. Because of this, it’s slightly more difficult for fish to catch the food as it descends to the bottom. Though flake food may be consumed by bottom feeding fish, it’s possible that it may deteriorate in shape enough so that it becomes inedible. Pellet food, on the other hand, tends to hold its shape for a longer period of time, and is easily consumable by most types of fish. If you are feeding your fish live food, you will have to make certain considerations about the size of the live food, in a general ratio to your fish’s daily feeding needs. For liquid fish foods, the feeding ratio is usually clearly listed on the product’s packaging.

NUMBER OF FISH

Depending on how many fish you have in your tank, you may have to adjust your feeding ratio accordingly as a part of overall fish care. If you have a fairly crowded tank, you want to make sure that all of your fish have a chance to feed. Try to split your feeding ratio into portions that are deposited in both sides of the tank, in order to ensure that all of your fish are fed. If you have a relatively small number of fish, be sure that you do not overfeed! Overfeeding is one of the most common mistakes many fish owners make when feeding their fish.

ACTIVITY LEVEL

If you have fish that are not overly active, you may need to adjust their feeding ratio to be slightly smaller than that of active fish. Less-active fish usually expend less energy, and do not have nutritional requirements that are as high as those of fish that are constantly active. However, when in doubt, it’s best to follow the general rule: only feed your fish as much food as they are able to consume within approximately 5 -6 minutes.

Most pet fish have specific nutritional requirements, and may need a specific type of food in order to remain healthy. Depending on the type of fish food you wish to use for your fish, you may have to adjust your feeding schedule to meet your fish’s specific needs.

FLAKE FOOD

Flake fish food is primarily designed for fish that choose to feed at the top of the water, which can be determined by researching your specific species of fish. Flaked fish food formulas tend to float on top of the water for a short period of time, before eventually sinking to the bottom. Flake fish food can also be consumed by bottom-feeding fish, since they are able to eat the food once it reaches the bottom of the tank. When feeding your fish flake fish food, it is best to limit feeding to once per day. This will ensure that your fish eat any leftover food from the first feeding, which will help to minimize waste.

PELLET FOOD

Pellet fish food contains many of the same ingredients as flaked fish food, though is in a different form in order to appeal to different types of fish. Fish food pellets are usually designed for fish that like to spend time in the middle area of the tank, and can also be fed to bottom-feeding fish. Pellet fish food does not usually float, and often sinks all the way to the bottom of the tank. However, since pellet fish food does not break down as quickly as flaked fish food, it is possible to space your fish’s daily feeding portion out to twice per day. Most fish will easily be able to find any pellets that sink to the bottom of the tank, reducing the amount of waste after feedings.

LIVE FISH FOOD

Certain fish care specialists recommend feeding fish a diet that consists of live organisms. When deciding how often to feed your fish live food, it’s important to take into consideration any pre-existing live organisms that are leftover from previous feedings. In general, it’s best to have a strict ratio of live food that corresponds with the number of fish in your tank. Live food should always be available to your fish, but it is important not to crowd the tank with too many other live organisms.

The basic concept behind freeze-dried fish food is that in contains entire organisms that are prepared in a way that they can be fed to pet fish. Most freeze-dried fish food formulas are designed to be fed to fish that have special feeding needs, or fish species that aren’t able to have their nutritional needs met by other fish food formulas. The freeze-drying process is able to kill most parasites that may be present, while still preserving the nutritional value and flavor of the organism.

Freeze-dried fish food formulas are very important for the dietary needs of carnivorous fish, since a well-rounded diet of whole organisms is very important. However, most freeze-dried fish food formulas are not designed to be given as a sole source of nutrition for a fish’s diet. Most freeze-dried fish food formulas are better utilized when they are combined with other types of dietary supplements or food ingredients.

LIVE FISH FOOD

There are many controversies about feeding a live food diet to fish, though it is generally accepted that most fish will thrive off of a diet consisting of fresh, live ingredients. Feeding your fish a live diet requires a bit more investment in proper fish care, since live organisms often need to be maintained before they are fed to your fish. Finding a supplier of live fish food can also be quite difficult, since many pet stores don’t follow the proper procedures to prevent live food from transmitting certain diseases to fish. There are certain different live organisms that can be fed to fish, though the most popular are usually tubifex  worms and brine shrimp.

1. TUBIFEX WORMS
   The topic of feeding tubifex worms to fish has been the subject of some controversy, since it has been proven that tubifex worms have a high risk of transmitting certain diseases. The reason for this is largely because tubifex worms consume a diet largely consisting of the fecal matter of other fish. This means that tubifex worms may carry any number of diseases, which can be transmitted to fish through ingestion. However, most fish love tubifex worms, and are able to safely consume these organisms as long as proper procedures are followed. After purchasing tubifex worms, it’s best to wash them in water until they are completely clean. Leave the worms overnight in your refridgerator, and check the quality of the water the following morning. If the water is still clear, the worms can be fed to your fish without a significant risk of disease transmission. However, if the water is dirty, repeat this process until the water remains clean.
2. BRINE SHRIMP
   Brine shrimp are a fairly safe and highly nutritious live organism that can be fed to many types of fish. Brine shrimp are usually available at pet care supply stores that specialize in live food, though they may sometimes be fairly expensive. If you are not able to afford or maintain live brine shrimp, it’s also possible to purchase them in a frozen preparation.

SHELF LIFE

Pellet fish food tends to last just about as long as flaked fish food formulas, depending on the ingredients contained in the food. Many fish food formulas contain artificial preservatives (such as BHA and BHT) in order to ensure that bacteria does not begin to develop. However, it’s still very important to note that pellet fish food formulas tend to lose some of their nutritional value after approximately one month, and may not be able to provide for the dietary needs of your fish. Some fish food formulas are marked with an expiration date, after which it is best to dispose of any remaining pellet food formula.

TYPES OF FISH

Pellet fish food is generally suitable for mid-water feeding fish and bottom dwellers. Mid-water fish usually prefer to swim in the middle area of the tank, though they may occasionally also investigate the bottom of the tank. Most mid-water fish prefer to have their food delivered to them in a highly visible form, such as that of fish pellets. Pellet fish food formulas usually sink quite rapidly, and will be able to be consumed by mid-water fish as they drop. Since pellets often descend to the bottom of the fishtank, they are also suitable to be used as a food source for bottom-dwelling fish. Most bottom-feeding fish prefer to browse the bottom of the tank for their food-based needs.

An advantage of pellet based fish food formula is that it does not tend to deteriorate as rapidly once submerged in the water of the fishtank. Most flake fish food formulas break apart once they reach the bottom of the tank, and may slip underneath sand or gravel. This promotes growth of bacteria, as bottom-feeding fish may not be able to reach the food particles. Pellet fish food formulas are better able to retain their shape, and are more readily consumed by bottom-dwelling fish.

SPECIAL PELLET FISH FOOD

Certain types of pellet fish food are designed to be suitable for top-feeding, mid-dwelling and bottom-feeding fish. These types of pellets are designed to float for a short period of time, during which an outer layer of food is released from the pellet. As the pellet sinks, it releases a second layer of food while it descends to the bottom of the tank. After the pellet descends, the remainder of the food returns to the surface.

SHELF LIFE

Flaked fish food formula is currently the most popular formula for many pet fish owners. The most common reason that many fish owners prefer to feed their fish a flake-based formula is that it tends to have a fairly long shelf life. Since most fish food formulas contain protein from other fish, many fish food formulas do not keep for very long. This means that a smaller quantity of formula must be purchased, and it must be used within a designated amount of time. Flaked fish food is able to keep for longer, since it is baked at high temperatures in order to remove all of the moisture. Without moisture, bacteria is less inclined to deteriorate the quality of flaked fish food. However, it is important to note that flaked fish food does not keep forever. After roughly one month, flaked fish food tends to lose some of its nutritional value.

TYPES OF FISH

Flaked fish food is designed in a way that allows it to float on the surface of a fishtank for a short period of time after it is sprinkled on the water. Because of this, flaked fish food is best suited for types of fish that prefer to feed at the top of the fishtank. Not all fish are top-feeders, and may prefer to instead eat food that has fallen to the bottom of the tank. Flaked fish food may also be fed to bottom-feeding fish, since many bottom feeders will eat flaked fish food formula after it has descended to the bottom of the tank. However, a common problem with flaked fish food is the danger of overfeeding. Many people don’t’ understand how to portion flaked fish food, and instead simply drop an approximate amount into the water. Any food that is not eaten by the fish in the tank will descend to the bottom, and may begin to decay after a short period of time. Once the ingredients of flaked fish food are added to water, they become susceptible to growing bacteria. This bacteria growth can cause contamination of the water of a fishtank, which may lead to some fish developing certain diseases. To help prevent overfeeding, be sure to read the instructions listed on the package of your flake fish food.

FLAKE FISH FOOD

This is the most common type of fish food that is fed to most pet fish. Flake fish food usually comes in a small container with a removable lid. The flakes are dry, and are designed to float on the top of a fishtank after being sprinkled in the water. Because of this, flake fish food formulas are best suited for fish species that prefer to feed on the top of the water. With a bit of research, you will be able to figure out if your fish are top-dwellers, mid-water dwellers or bottom feeders. However, many bottom-dwelling fish will still be able to eat flaked fish food after it settles on the bottom of the tank. Flaked fish food is baked at high temperatures, in order to remove moisture and to give it a much longer shelf life.

PELLET FISH FOOD

Pellet fish food formulas are made up of many of the same ingredients as flaked fish food, but are available in a pellet form. These pellets may appeal to different species of fish, and may also retain their form long enough for larger fish to ingest them. Depending on your pet fish, you may have to experiment with different types of pellet foods in order to find one that is most easily digested by your fish.

LIQUID FISH FOOD

Liquid fish food formulas are not very common, but some pet fish specialists have suggested that they may be able to provide nutrition that is more bio-available. Liquid fish food formulas contain many of the same ingredients as other fish food formulas, though are broken down into liquid form. Most liquid fish food formulas contain several different types of zooplankton, phytoplankton and other protein-based ingredients. Liquid fish food is often used for feeding baby fish (or ‘fry’, as they are usually called) since it contains food particles that are small enough for baby fish to ingest.

LIVE FISH FOOD

Some fish will thrive off of a diet that contains live organisms. Possible organisms that can be used for live fish food include brine shrimp, blood worms, sludge worms and microworms. For larger fish, it’s also possible to purchase smaller ‘feeder fish’ to provide them with a live diet.

LIQUID FOOD FOR BABY FISH

The use of liquid fish food formulas is sometimes used to feed baby fish, or ‘fry’ as they are sometimes called. Liquid fish food formulas provide an aqueous suspension of tiny food particles, which are much easier for newly hatched fish to ingest. Because baby fish grow at such a rapid rate, they will thrive off of a diet that provides them with a constant supply of nutrition.

INGREDIENTS OF LIQUID FISH FOOD

Some of the most common ingredients in liquid fish food formulas include:

CALANOID COPEPODS
Calanoid copepods are a type of zooplankton that is in the order of copepods. There are approximately 2000 different species of calanoid copepods, which may reside either in saltwater or freshwater environments. The reason why calanoid copepods are a valuable source of nutrition for fish, is because they ingest phytoplankton and algae. This ingested food is then converted by the calanoid copepod into a more digestible form, which provides better nutrition for other animals, such as fish. Most commercially grown fish are dependent on calanoid copepods for a source of nutrition, which may be consumed either in their adult or larval forms. In most cases, calanoid copepods are freeze-dried before they are added to liquid fish food formulas.
NANNOCHLOROPSIS
Technically, nannochloropsis is a genus of alga that was first classified in 1981. For the most part, nannochloropsis is spherical in shape, and lacks chlorophyll b and c (unlike other related microalgae). However, nannochloropsis contains a high level of polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are often used for many different industrial applications. As an additive to liquid fish food, nannochloropsis provides a high-energy food source for most pet fish.
TETRASELMIS
Tetraselmis is a type of phytoplankton that is commonly used as a nutrient source in liquid fish food formulas. By description (in its natural state) tetraselmis is motile, green and very tiny. Tetraselmis is valued for its extremely high level in natural EPA lipids. In addition to this, tetraselmis also contains a fairly high protein content. Tetraselmis is also able to stimulate feeding in many different types of pet fish, by using its natural amino acids. In its digestible form, tetraselmis contains a 54.66% concentration of protein, a 18.31% concentration of natural carbohydrates and a 14.27% concentration of total lipids.

INGREDIENTS OF FISH FOOD

If a fish food is of high quality, it will include a few basic ingredients. Most fish food formulas are designed to be a complete source of nutrition for pet fish, and contain ingredients that will best suit a pet fish’s needs.

AMINO ACIDS

It’s very important that a fish food formula contain amino acids. Amino acids are the basic building blocks for protein, and are very important for a fish’s general health. Technically, an amino acid is a molecule that contains certain molecules which help enhance a fish’s biochemistry. Amino acids also play a very important role in a fish’s metabolism, and form linear chains to make up proteins.  Each type of protein is defined by its unique sequence of amino acid chains.

FATS

Fish derive the majority of their energy from fatty acids, which are broken down from certain fats. Fatty acids are especially important for proper functioning of a fish’s heart and skeletal muscles. In addition to this, fats also play a very important role in helping a fish to absorb certain vitamins. For example, Vitamin A, D and E are all only able to be absorbed, transported or digested in conjunction with fats. This quality is also known as being ‘fat-soluble’ vitamins.

CARBOHYDRATES

The majority of the carbohydrates that a fish ingests in the wild are from plant sources. Fish need the enzyme amylase, since this enzyme acts primarily to help break down certain starches into sugars. The group called ‘carbohydrates’ may contain celluloses, starches, sugars and certain gums. In a fish’s diet, carbohydrates do not supply the majority of a fish’s energy. However, digestible carbohydrates may spare some ingested protein in order to build new tissue. Fish are unique, in that they do not utilize glycogen for energy storage as humans do.

COMMON SOURCES OF FISH FOOD

Most fish food formulas contain fish meal, shrimp meal or squid meal as the primary protein source. These types of meals are formed from the dried product which is then ground down into a powder. Much of the fish meal in fish food formulas, however, is obtained from the waste products from plants that process fish for human consumption. Certain fish food formulas may also use soybean meal as a source of protein in fish food formulas. Other ingredients commonly seen in fish food formulas include Whole Wheat and Spirulina. Spirulina is a type of plankton that contains many important nutrients for a fish’s overall health.

WHEN TO FEED YOUR FISH

Deciding on the proper time to feed your fish may not seem like an important factor to consider in overall fish care. However, choosing a specific time to feed your fish is highly recommended for proper pet care of your fish. Depending on the species of fish that you are caring for, you may have to adjust your fish’s feeding schedule. Some species of fish are much more comfortable eating at night, while others are content to be fed during daylight hours. Depending on the type (and number) of fish that you have, you may need to adjust your fish’s feeding schedule accordingly. Research the behavioral habits of your species of fish, and decide on a standard feeding time that will best suit their needs.

WHERE TO FEED YOUR FISH

Another consideration that you need to make for proper fish feeding is where the best place to feed your fish is. Depending on the species of fish that you have, they may prefer to be fed in a specific area of their tank. Some fish prefer to eat food that floats on the top of the water, while others are more comfortable grazing for food on the bottom of the tank.

CHOOSING A FISH FOOD

Depending on the type of fish you are caring for, you may have several different choices when deciding on a fish food formula. Most fish owners do not take into consideration their fish’s dietary type, and do not consider what a fish may have eaten in the wild. In general, most fish can either be classified as carnivores, omnivores or herbivores. In addition to this, you also have to consider you fish’s age when choosing a fish food. Newly hatched fish fry need special food in order to grow properly, while adult fish have different nutritional requirements. There are many different types of fish food to choose from, including flake food, pellet food, liquid food and freeze-dried food.

HOW MUCH TO FEED YOUR FISH

A common mistake that many fish owners make is feeding pet fish an incorrect amount of food. Depending on which specific type of fish you have, you have to make certain considerations about the amount of food that you put into the tank. Too much food will mean that there is excess food left over after your fish are done feeding. This excess food can decay, causing bacteria to grow in your tank. However, if you don’t feed your fish enough food, they will become malnourished. Being nutritionally deficient in certain vitamins is the primary cause of fatal diseases in most fish.