Feeding Live Food to your Fish
Feeding live foods has always been a tricky subject and we hope to shed some light with some of our personal experience.
For the purpose of our article, we will intentionally avoid the ethics portion and look at live foods as a food source only.
Live foods are a great source of nutrients for fish. In nature, most fishes consume the readily available live food found in their habitats.
Fishes also frequently spawn during rainy season, when an abundance of food (live) are available. It has also been said that live foods tend to bring out the colors of the fish more vividly than dry foods can.
However, too much can be harmful depending on the choice of live foods.
For the purpose of our article, we will intentionally avoid the ethics portion and look at live foods as a food source only.
Live foods are a great source of nutrients for fish. In nature, most fishes consume the readily available live food found in their habitats.
Fishes also frequently spawn during rainy season, when an abundance of food (live) are available. It has also been said that live foods tend to bring out the colors of the fish more vividly than dry foods can.
However, too much can be harmful depending on the choice of live foods.
Feeder fish
Almost every Local Fish Store (LFS) carry some form of live feeder fish. This can range from guppies, mollies or even small catfish and goldfishes.
Often sold in prepacked bags, LFS owners will tell their customers that live feeder fish is the best for their predatory fish!
Some owners choose to feed their fish with live feeder fish as they enjoy watching their pet hunting down their prey.
This often results in a sick pet fish in the long term as all fishes need a balanced diet in order to stay healthy.
Apart from lacking in a variety of vitamins and minerals, live feeder fish have been kept in their bags sometimes for days. It is not uncommon to see pieces of dead fishes in the bag. This shows how contaminated the water bag is. Most owners feed that live fish out of the dirty bag of water directly to their beloved fish and causes them to fall sick! We have heard too many horror stories of precious pet fish succumbing to water borne infections because of contamination.
Does this mean you cannot use feeder fish in a fish’s diet? No, live feeder fish can still act as a food source, but use it sparingly.
Often sold in prepacked bags, LFS owners will tell their customers that live feeder fish is the best for their predatory fish!
Some owners choose to feed their fish with live feeder fish as they enjoy watching their pet hunting down their prey.
This often results in a sick pet fish in the long term as all fishes need a balanced diet in order to stay healthy.
Apart from lacking in a variety of vitamins and minerals, live feeder fish have been kept in their bags sometimes for days. It is not uncommon to see pieces of dead fishes in the bag. This shows how contaminated the water bag is. Most owners feed that live fish out of the dirty bag of water directly to their beloved fish and causes them to fall sick! We have heard too many horror stories of precious pet fish succumbing to water borne infections because of contamination.
Does this mean you cannot use feeder fish in a fish’s diet? No, live feeder fish can still act as a food source, but use it sparingly.
Do's and Don'ts of using Feeder fish
For store bought feeder fish, DO quarantine them in a separate tank. DON'T feed them straight out of the bag when you get home.
DO continue to feed them with quality food before feeding your pet as it will go into your precious pet. DON'T starve them thinking that they are just 'feeders'.
DO maintain water quality for the feeder tank and DO observe for signs of disease.
DO continue to feed them with quality food before feeding your pet as it will go into your precious pet. DON'T starve them thinking that they are just 'feeders'.
DO maintain water quality for the feeder tank and DO observe for signs of disease.
Insects
Insects too make up a huge portion of the natural diet of fishes and as with live feeder fish, comes with their own set of risks.
There are many types available in the market and be sure to buy the appropriate size for your pet!
Large Live insects can cause damage to small fish which try to swallow something too big for themselves.
There are many types available in the market and be sure to buy the appropriate size for your pet!
Large Live insects can cause damage to small fish which try to swallow something too big for themselves.
Do's and Don'ts of using insects
DO purchase with reputable breeders / sellers. DON'T collect them from the wild as they might have been exposed to pesticides.
DO feed them a variety of foods like oats with the occasional carrot/veggies for vitamins. Carrots have natural color enhancing vitamins which will bring out colors of your fish.
DO feed them a variety of foods like oats with the occasional carrot/veggies for vitamins. Carrots have natural color enhancing vitamins which will bring out colors of your fish.
Conclusion
Feeding live food is meant as an ocassional treat for your beloved fish.
However, owners have to know that live foods might be lacking in certain vitamins and minerals and thus are not suitable for long term or excessive use.
Choosing an appropriate high quality dry food is often a better choice.
Happy fish keeping!
However, owners have to know that live foods might be lacking in certain vitamins and minerals and thus are not suitable for long term or excessive use.
Choosing an appropriate high quality dry food is often a better choice.
Happy fish keeping!