Given a variety in diet - and correct food for the species you are keeping - how often are you really supposed to feed? Some containers say 2-3 daily! Other people/references have said every other day??
I'm confused
I'm confused
How often are you really supposed to feed a community tank?
- Thread starter illiswiller
- Start date
I feed daily
the main school of thought that I've heard on this subject is:
dont over feed because it will hurt water parameters and spur algae growth
there rarely seems to be an answer around whats best for the fish
i would assume they could go for longer than humans without food (given algae bits - possibly plants, snails, etc....)
in a bare tank I wouldn't go longer than 4 days and would think that the more frequently the better.
the main school of thought that I've heard on this subject is:
dont over feed because it will hurt water parameters and spur algae growth
there rarely seems to be an answer around whats best for the fish
i would assume they could go for longer than humans without food (given algae bits - possibly plants, snails, etc....)
in a bare tank I wouldn't go longer than 4 days and would think that the more frequently the better.
Swimfins
This is as good as it gets.
Smaller amounts more frequently is best I'd say. Some fish are shy feeders and this gives them a chance. Greedy ones like platys can be fed every other day. If you feed small amts. more often the shy ones stand more of a chance of getting a bite. It depends on what your keeping.
Babies need more. Bottom feeders can be fed every other day or a couple times of week. Algae eaters can live on algae providing there's enough to go around. But I would still give an algae tab once a week to be sure
Babies need more. Bottom feeders can be fed every other day or a couple times of week. Algae eaters can live on algae providing there's enough to go around. But I would still give an algae tab once a week to be sure
It really depends a lot on the fish that you are keeping, and their age. Juvenile fish will suffer if they don't get enough to eat, slowing growth and weakening them. Predators need less food--a diet high in protien provides more energy than one with more vegetable matter. And of course, temperature plays a key role in determing how many calories a fish burns in a day. Coldwater fish of many species can literally go for months without food--some tropical species can go for weeks quite comfortably if they are in good shape.
So--for an aquarium--most tropicals will be fine with every other day feedings. The best guide is the fish themselves--not behavior, because most fish will always eat, but rather condition and health. I feed most of my tanks every other day. Those with juvenile fish get a bit more, those with predators get a bit less.
So--for an aquarium--most tropicals will be fine with every other day feedings. The best guide is the fish themselves--not behavior, because most fish will always eat, but rather condition and health. I feed most of my tanks every other day. Those with juvenile fish get a bit more, those with predators get a bit less.
I probably feed too much, but I do feed every day except for a random non feeding day each week. Though fish and worms are different a recent study has shown taht limiting a worms calories to half of what they normally consume in one day effectively doubles their life span. I don't know if they have tried this on any other animals yet.