Starving fish ... For just a day

[Sasquatch]

This is something I've read about in a couple of different places. Namely, not feeding your fish one day per week. It supposedly gives them time to clear their intestines, reduces pollution in the tank, waste buildup on the bottom etc...

I'm wondering just how useful it really is. It's only once a week. Also, for my catfish, who only eats once a day, it means 48h between feedings. Would it also contribute to aggression among the fish?

What do you think? More importantly, what do you do with your own fish?

[sergo]

it shouldn't be a problem. hell i need to do it to mine, they're getting a little fat.

[xoolooxunny]

well, I have an assortment of community fish in a 75g. My fish go a day without eating when I'm away from the house for awhile, and they do fine. This is the first i've heard of the "clearing intestines" but it sounds like a good idea. None of my fish are aggressive, so i don't believe not feeding them once a day once a week has an effect on their aggression.

[Chrona]

Not feeding fish for a day or two is fine. I've had to do it a few times when my angelfish got too fat because he was hogging all the food. As for aggression, I've noticed that my cardinals stop fighting for a few minutes after I feed them, but go right back at it after that.

[Incredulous_Ed]

Fish can go up to 3 weeks without food, so your's should be fine.

[Drumachine09]

To treat bloat, you dont feed for a week, so you should be fine.

[Chrona]

Or crushed up frozen peas! (thawed of course)

[Rue]

I don't feed 2X a day either...depending on my work scheduale they get fed 2X a day, or 1X a day...and I skip a day every 2 weeks or so...sometimes on purpose, sometimes by accident...

...hasn't ever been an issue...

[jeffs99dime]

plus, they are going to scavenge in the tank anyway.

[Gelo_USA]

Or crushed up frozen peas! (thawed of course)

yeaa the peas do work I had to do it one time and overnight my fish was SKINNYYY again LOL...

I used to feed twice a day but I noticed all my fish are getting fat so now I feed once a day.....

[muffin]

I tend to leave my fish without food 1 to 2 times a week. I actually just left for a long weekend where the fish were not fed for a three day stretch. I wa a little worried since my molly just had a batch of fry that I caught and put into a breeder net. I camt back and my tank was cleaner than it has even been and all the fish were still looking good.

I also usually only feed the fish once a day before I go to work. I do feed the fry more often so that they will grow a little faster. but i will leave the adults to scavenge a day here and there.. it's good for them to work off the fat that they may have been putting on.

Also, in nature, they may not get to eat every day. And finally, in nature they have a 'limitless' amount of swimming room to keep in shape. In your tank they ay be very limited. Just some things you can keep in mind

[BritishGuy]

I feed my fish 1xDay and around the same time, 7:30pm. Once it gets close to that time, they all start to hover at the top of the tank, waiting for their dinner. When I open the glass top, they go nuts!!


Matt

[sergo]

I feed my fish 1xDay and around the same time, 7:30pm. Once it gets close to that time, they all start to hover at the top of the tank, waiting for their dinner. When I open the glass top, they go nuts!!


Mattditto here.

[bettaboy691]

every sunday, none of my fish get fed (apart from fry) as i think it does them good.plus i usally do waterchanges on sundays, so it works out well.

[Sasquatch]

Thanks for all the answers!

I didn't think I was doing any real harm to my fish, I was just wondering how useful it really was.

Since it seems that most people do it, intentionally or not, and their fish are fine, I'll continue.

[crackatinny]

Does the same rule apply to larger fish like oscar's that eat quite a bit?

[jessie]

I can't comment on the oscars, but I have heard it is actually recommended for Malawi cichlids to let them fast once a week. Somebody already mentioned bloat, and these species are particularly prone to it if they overeat (especially too much protein). Mine fast once a week.