Overfeeding

[amosf]

I dont think feeding every other day is starving any fish.

To be fair, the feeding will differ where you are. I'm in the tropics and the tanks, even unheated, sit in the 80's all summer. So the goldfish are very active and always hungry.

No fish actually has to eat every day and it's not starving them if they don't, but I do feel there is an attitude out there that reducing food intake on fish is just a way to cope with an inadequate tank size or filtration system. That was more my point here.

 

[mostlycichlids]

Do you eat every other day? Why should it be any different for a fish?

I eat a lot of food on a daily basis. My fish are extremely healthy and I dont think I am keeping them from being healthy by feeding them the way I do. Fish arent Human so the comparision is unfair...

 

[mostlycichlids]

To be fair, the feeding will differ where you are. I'm in the tropics and the tanks, even unheated, sit in the 80's all summer. So the goldfish are very active and always hungry.

No fish actually has to eat every day and it's not starving them if they don't, but I do feel there is an attitude out there that reducing food intake on fish is just a way to cope with an inadequate tank size or filtration system. That was more my point here.

point taken I agree most do this for that reason but that is not my case.

 

[daniellehaagen]

It's nice to see what people think on the situation. I'm realizing that everyone has a different opinion on the subject, and maybe one way isn't better than the other it's just different. I was thinking I was feeding too much because my fantail (Ipo) is really starting to grow and his belly is looking much more round and fat than when we first got him. He has almost surpassed our Oranda (Lolo) who was double the size of Ipo when we first purchased them. I think I'll still cut back the portions, but as long as they seem to be healthy and happy (and our water params are excellent) I'll continue to feed them as I always have. Thanks!

 

[JohnF]

Many sources state that one should stop feeding his goldfish when temperature falls below 15 deg. C. I believe that if fish are still swimming around they are hungry and need sustenance. Sure they need much less food because their metabolism slows down, but they need it.

What is critical is the quality of food at low temperatures. The food must have easily digestible protein sources and all correct vitamins and trace elements - wheatgerm is the common and often recommended source of this type of protein. Wheatgerm is easily digested and the diet should also contain a higher level of fats.

During late spring and summer one should use a food that contains higher amounts of protein. Protein is used by the body for bone and tissue growth. Goldfish, as in humans, do not store protein in the body. It is used for growth, however a small amount may be converted to carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are burned as energy for swimming.

A one day fastening once in a while, would do no harm.

 

[daniellehaagen]

What kind of food is a good source of protein?

 

[JohnF]

Proteins should be a complete source of amino acids and should be digestable (plant sources of protein are often incomplete and less digestable). The essential amino acids are - Phenylalanine, Histidine, Isoleucine, Leucine, Lysine, Methionine, Tryptophan, Valine, Arginine, and Threonine.

Pellets usually contain shrimp, krill, shellfish, mackerel, herring, whitefish, etc.