correct feeding

[glittergirl]

It has been suggested that I am overfeeding my fish. Reading this forum, it seems to be a common problem. I have tetras, danios and otos in my tank. How often should I feed them? On the packet of food it recommends to feed 2 or 3 times a day. I usually feed twice a day, so I thought I was being a bit skimpy on feeding. The fish always seem to eat all that I put in for them. If I am overfeeding, what is the correct amount?

 

[famman]

The correct amount (theoretically) is whatever they will eat within several seconds, no more. Perhaps once a day unless you are raising fry. If you enjoy feeding them more than once per day, use just the tiniest pinch of food and grind it up in your fingers.
I feed my cory tank every other day, sometimes I forget. My corydoras, danios and neons are fat.
good luck

 

[kveeti]

It's hard not to overfeed, especially when they seem so hungry. However, fish are opportunistic and very good actors; if you fed them 10 times a day they would still do their little "gimme dance" the 11th time you walked by. I have to feed my fish their little pinch once a day and walk away or I am always tempted to give a little more. When I want to watch them, I do it later because I know it's not feeding time and I will not be swayed.

 

[OrionGirl]

Yep--once a day is more than enough. I feed my tank every other day, and have very fat fish. Most community fish should always be active--not frantic, but roaming around searching, poking into nooks and crannies. If there is so much food that they can eat their fill from the surface, without doing any clean up, it's too much, IMO. Also, fish will ALWAYS eat, so don't base your feeding on their willingness to eat.

Quality of food is important--probably more so than quantity. Make sure you're feeding a quality flake, that is fresh. Many vitamins in the flake food break down over time.

 

[Anaxus]

I feed danios once a day, cories ever other day and my pleco twice a week. When I feed the cories shimp pellets the danios usually get extra food because they hang out around the pellet and eat the pieces that fly off.

 

[thom336]

I usually feed mine twice a day - when their tank light is first turned on, and about half an hour before I turn it off in the evening. Everyone is different in the way they feed their fish, how often, and the amount - the reason? Because every fish is different. You can't directly apply someone elses method to your own tank, but you can use an idea. At the end of the day it is really down to what works for you and your fish.

Some people do two medium sized feeds, others one good feed, and others three small feeds - three small feeds is probably best, as it would be more like what they would get in their natural habitat - small, frequent feeds. But there would also be times when they cant find food in the wild - and by skipping feeds now and then you can sort of replicate this. One good feed does not mean a big feed - it just means providing them with what they need, or, rather, what they want, before their next feed in 24hrs time. But the choice is up to you.

Thom.

 

[scott]

I agree with Oriongirl that quality is definately more important than quantity and also variety on that note. Mix it up, don't feed them the same thing day in and day out. My tetras and danios love blood worms and spirulina frozen in addition to their flakes. I think another variable is water changes, I feed my trimac four times a day right now because I am trying to grow him but I also change the water 25% every other day to siphon off any extra food. However, for a beginner I would recommend one small feeding either in the morning when you turn the lights on or about an hour before you turn them off at night, and a fast day on Sunday.
And if you think when you walk by the tank and they all come swimming to the surface they are hungry. Wait about two minutes. They will all go back to what they were doing, it's a conditioned response, just like Pavlov.

 

[scott]

One more thing. I take it from your stocking that your tank is small but have you done any checking into a small bottom feeder. Catfish really help clean up excess and I have also had success with ghost shrimp in my smaller tank. And you can't beat the price.

 

[ChilDawg]

Originally posted by famman
The correct amount (theoretically) is whatever they will eat within several seconds, no more.

famman, never heard that theoretical rule of thumb...I've heard what they would eat in 3 minutes, or 5 minutes...but it seems to work well for you personally, so I'll defer to your experience in the matter, and remind folks that theoretical rules of thumb are all well and good, but they may not work for your particular tank!

 

[wetmanNY]

I agree with famman: after thirty seconds (time that-- it's a long time) they should be hunting for scraps and no food should be drifing about.

I too agree with OrionGirl about variety. I feed spinach or zucchini every other day or so, and even carnivore tetras dig into the veggies if they're hungry enough. And they should be.

Our flake feeds are very high in proteins and fats. How to reduce the unneeded protein in a diet for adult fish is an issue you don't often hear about!

A feeding at lights-out is a good idea for the light-shy fishes.

But we all overfeed our fishes. You think they're welcoming you? Nonsense! Their name for you is The Food Shadow.