Discovering the right consistency and type of food
The type of diet and food consistency can be determined by taking into consideration three divisions of two groups.
The first category is the type of food. Herbivores eat plant-based food only, carnivores are meat-eating fish and omnivores eat both plant and animal matter. Most fish fall into this third section.

There are also different levels at which fish feed in fish tank aquariums so it is essential to display food in a texture suitable for fish which collect food from the top, fish that feed on food which has been dropped into the water, and fish that gather food from the bottom of aquariums.

What\’s on the menu?
All fish require a balanced diet consisting of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. Here are a variety of foods you may consider, depending on the nutritional requirements of the fish in your tropical freshwater fish tank aquariums.

Herbivore fish need food with high fibre content, such as algae and vegetables. These fish will enjoy lettuce, zucchini, spinach, nettles, maize, carrots and peas. You need to ensure that these vegetables are boiled so they are soft, and broken down into reasonably sized pieces. These foods contain lots of vitamins, minerals and trace elements. I also recommend using Spirulina for herbivores as it provides them with easily edible vegetable protein.

For carnivores and omnivores, a diet rich in protein will be necessary. This can be provided through live food (ensuring it is nourishing), home-produced or commercial foods. Thin slices of raw red meat or cooked white meat can be used, live small fish (e.g. feeder goldfish), freeze-dried or live worms, daphnia, brine shrimp, Tubifex, and krill. Meat, brine shrimp and worms are best fed as a delicacy rather than as a daily meal. Tubifex promotes growth and may be used as a conditioning food to get your fish healthy prior to reproduction. Personally, I recommend krill as a dietary basis for carnivorous and omnivorous fish. They are rich in protein and contain amino acids and Omega 3 fatty acids for overall health, carotenoids to bring out bright colors in fish, vitamins and minerals which boost the immune system, dietary roughage for better digestion, and vitalizing carbohydrates. Krill also contain little fat and salt. They are superb for enabling a sick fish mend or to bring a healthy fish up to peak fitness for breeding or showing. For predatory carnivores who like to catch moving things, you can hang non-live food from a fork and let it down into the aquarium in front of the fish, swirling it around so that it seems it is alive!

Dry foods
There are many different types of dry foods for instance granules, pills, flakes, grains, pellets and wafers. All of these can be bought in a range of compositions depending on the type of fish you intend to feed and the different parts of the water column they live in. The majority of these prepared foods are of a high-quality, intended to supply a balanced diet and are full of extra vitamins and minerals, so it is vital to add them in the diet. Different formulas can also be used now and then such as preparation for breeding or for developing color. It is also very practical being easy to store and doesn’t involve any preparation. The risk of disease or parasites being introduced into fish aquariums with food is likewise completely eliminated.

Enjoy!
Diversity is the real key to high-quality fish nutrition. Therefore, it is essential to give your fish a choice of different suitable foods to ensure they are given a balanced diet for their best possible health and their interest in and enjoyment of food.

Copyright © 2009 Jill Kaestner @ Kaestner Marketing LLC

Jill Kaestner
I intend to supply you with expert guidance on setting up, stocking and servicing your fish tank aquariums. With personal experience in tropical freshwater aquariums and extensive professional research, information and counsel in my articles can be trusted. I have also started 'Aquarius', a website to share with you some of my favorite aquariums bowls.