Surface feeders have up-turned mouths for reaching up to the surface of the water. Hatchetfish and gouramies are common surface-feeders. [2] X Research source These fish like having their food as flakes or floating pellets. Mid-level feeders, like barbs and tetras, have forward-facing mouths, and will prefer food that sinks from the surface, but not necessarily reaches the floor of the tank. In addition, they may prefer tablets that can be stuck to the side of the tank, which lets them eat in full view of you and anyone you want to see your fish. Bottom feeders have downward-facing mouths, and like to graze on food that sits at the bottom of the tank. Plecos and Cory Catfish are popular bottom feeders. [3] X Research source If you have bottom feeders, make sure you get heavier pellets or other food that will sink to the bottom of the tank. Be sure to get the right size, quality, and kind of food for your particular fish, as that is extremely important for its well-being.
Carnivores. These fish like a large, protein rich diet. They will mostly likely have large mouths full of sharp teeth for tearing their food apart. If you have predator fish, just be careful about the other fish in your tank, as they may try to eat other, smaller fish. Herbivores. These fish have smaller stomachs and flat teeth for grinding plant material. They will want plant and vegetable matter, and you’ll need to feed them in small amounts, and with more frequency. Omnivores. This covers most aquarium fish, and they will eat a wide variety of food. Because of this variety, they are generally easier to take care of.
Dry foods. These are the most common types of foods, and can come in various forms including flakes, pellets, tablets, and sticks. If you use flakes, you’ll probably need to use quite a bit of them to make sure your fish get enough to eat. You can also get larger tablets that sink to the bottom of the tank for bottom feeders and scavengers. Frozen foods. These are mixtures of food that can provide different nutrients, though you’ll need to vary them even more than with dry foods to make up for deficiencies. You can store frozen foods in your freezer, and just drop them into the tank. The tank’s warm water will thaw out the food for your fish. Avoid foods that have been thawed and refrozen. Live foods. Some fish, especially predators, enjoy chasing down their food. Small worms and fleas are most common, though larger worms like earthworms and mealworms are popular with larger carnivores. You can also look for small creatures like brine shrimp and krill. Most pet stores do not stock large supplies of live foods, so you will need to get a separate supplier, or be prepared to raise your own. You can also supplement your fishes’ diet with vegetables from around your home. Take a small piece of a carrot, potato, or cucumber, and set it on the bottom of the tank overnight for your fish to graze on. Just remember to remove whatever is left the next morning. [7] X Research source
You can also feed your fish with an apparatus or accessory. There are automatic feeders which will release an amount of food at preset times. You can also get rings, tubes, and tongs that will help you keep control of food for easier clean up. Before you get a feeding tube or ring, make sure your fish will eat peacefully together, and not get into fights. [8] X Research source
You can feed more than once a day. If you do that, though, it should be in smaller portions. Avoid overfeeding. This is the most common mistake people make. In addition to leaving extra food to clean up, eating too much will cause your fish to become bloated. If your fish have been overfed, they will float to the top and swim upside down. In addition, they will probably produce more waste, making it harder to clean the tank. [10] X Research source
If your fish really are underfed, they will look emaciated, and fight one another more often during feedings. [11] X Research source
Even a once a week treat, like some brine shrimp in addition to flakes, can be a good way to diversify you fishes’ diet and help your fish stay healthy, strong, and colorful.
Remember that this is a trial and error process. Make sure that only a small portion of the food makes it to the bottom of the tank. As a starting point, feed your fish with what it can eat in about 30 seconds.
