How Often To Feed

[CONE_YAK]

I know this may seem like a basic question, but I was wondering how often should I be feeding my fish. I use flake food and sometimes frozen blood worms.

[Stlouisfish]

Many forum members feed their fish once daily, some skip one day a week and feed blood worms or shrimp once a week for a treat.

If you have baby fish, they need to be fed more than that because their stomachs can't handle larger feedings.

[Knightia]

I tend to feed twice a day for the main fish stock (only what they eat in about 30 seconds in each feeding) and throw in a couple of sinking catfish wafers just before the lights go out at night.

Just as a side note: I've always been very careful not to overfeed, but recently my planted tank has had phosphate deficiency problems so I have started feeding more frozen foods (and putting a bit more in than I'm really comfortable with) - and it seems to have done the trick. Phosphates are back up to the aimed for levels.

[CONE_YAK]

Many forum members feed their fish once daily, some skip one day a week and feed blood worms or shrimp once a week for a treat.

If you have baby fish, they need to be fed more than that because their stomachs can't handle larger feedings.

Thanks, I have been feeding every other day but read where you should do small feedings 3 times a day (seemed a bit suspect so I figured I would ask).

[CONE_YAK]

Well with what firefly just shared, I guess it is not a bad plan.

[jeffs99dime]

And several different types would be good to vary their diet.

[Goes to 11!]

Like firefly I feed twice daily in SMALL amounts, Literally no more than they can eat in two minutes and then wafers after lights out also.
There are a few other aspects to their overall diet [Live - frozen - fresh, All at intervals]
I fast them one day a week also on the day before I do WC.

[Knightia]

Testing your water regularly is important if you change your feeding routine. Because I've recently increased the food I put in my tank I'm testing for nitrates twice a week at the moment. Also, because of the plant issue - phosphates.

[CONE_YAK]

I usually test about 2 to three times a week. Water is fine so I may mess around with the feeding patterns ensuring that I watch my levels. Thanks all for the insight.

[ijankrom]

I fast them one day a week also on the day before I do WC.

Interesting, why the fast the day before you complete WC?


Something else I wondered, do you guys feed from the same spot?

Only time I open the lid on my tank is to feed or vacuum gravel (pwc are completed in a different section). I feed my fish from the same area, and when I just open the lid they all swarm to that area regardless of time. It's quiet amusing to watch. Often they don't even give me time to pour in the food and their already striking the water surface as if trying to be the first one to get food.

There's also always a solo fish (not the same one all the time) that stays more towards the bottom-mid section just waiting for the food the others miss.

This last week I fed them live mosquito larvae, they went nuts over those. It was fun to watch the larvae that survived the initial onslaught try and get to the top to get air. Never failed, one of my fish would spot it and devour it. Great show for my kids.