Fish are animals that don't obviously ask for food , and if you don't pay attention to the aquarium, after getting used to seeing it as just another part of the house, the day may come when you forget to feed the fish and you don't know if it's good or bad.
To be honest, skipping a day or two of feeding isn't really bad because many fish tolerate that period well (although you have to be careful because they might attack each other if they're hungry and you could end up losing some, especially if there are already territorial tensions). However, perhaps feeding fish shouldn't follow an overly strict schedule , but rather a consistent daily routine adapted to their natural behavior.
In nature, most de peces find small portions of food throughout the dayTherefore, in the aquarium it is advisable to imitate that pattern with several small shots instead of one very large serving.
Fish usually eat at different times of the day . Some people feed them several times a day (learn how to prepare homemade fish food here ), while others feed them only once a day because they know the food will settle on the bottom and they'll eat it little by little. Even so, from the perspective of aquarium health, it's preferable to provide portions that are consumed in 2-3 minutes to avoid leftover food that could pollute the water.
To remember when to feed them, it's best to incorporate this task into your daily routine . For example, before leaving for work or after school, if the children are the ones feeding the fish. Doing it every day makes it a habit and easier to remember to feed them, and it also prevents multiple family members from unknowingly feeding them and causing overfeeding.
How many times a day should the fish be fed?
Most people feed their fish twice a day , once in the morning and once in the afternoon. This frequency is usually sufficient for healthy adult fish in a home aquarium. However, if we want to better mimic their natural feeding habits , it's ideal to provide small amounts four to six times a day, provided the quantity can be carefully controlled and overfeeding is avoided.
If your lifestyle doesn't allow for that many doses, a good practical reference is:
- Adult fish in community aquariums2-3 times a day, with very small portions.
- Fry and young fish: more daily doses, with even smaller portions, closely monitoring water quality.
- Nocturnal fish: part or all of the ration must be offered after turning off the lights of the aquarium.
As a general rule, the right amount is what they can eat in 2-3 minutes . It's better to start with a little less and add a bit more if they devour it too quickly, than to overfeed and have leftover food.
What is the right amount of food?
To adjust the portion , you can follow a very simple and effective method:
- Throw a small pinch of food to the surface.
- Time how long it takes them to eat it; if they finish it in less than two minutesNext time you can add a little more.
- If you see that part of the food either it floats or it sinks to the bottom If no one is eating it, the portion is too large and you should reduce it.
Any food left uneaten after a few minutes should be removed by siphoning , so that it does not decompose, release unwanted substances, and cause algae problems or spikes in ammonia and nitrites in the aquarium.
Furthermore, it's important to remember that not all fish feed in the same area of ​​the aquarium : some eat at the surface, others in the middle, and still others at the bottom. Therefore, it's often necessary to combine several types of food (flakes, granules, tablets, wafers, etc.) so that all the inhabitants get their share.
What is the best time to feed them?
To be honest, there isn't a single, precise time that works for all aquariums, although experience shows that many fish don't tend to eat much at night , especially if it's dark. In those cases, they prefer to wait until the following morning to eat rather than do so at night.
Early in the morning, they tend to eat faster and more actively , which means the water gets less dirty. I recommend feeding them at this time to avoid the food remaining in the water for too long (some fish don't like it, and it also worsens the water quality). You can also distribute part of their ration in the afternoon , when the lights are still on and the fish are active.
In the absence of natural light, it is important to ensure that the aquarium lamp is on while feeding them, especially if they are fry or shy fish , as they need to see the food clearly to locate it.
If bottom-dwelling and surface-feeding fish live together in the aquarium, a useful trick is to turn off the aquarium and room lights for a few minutes so that the food sinks and the bottom-dwelling fish have more opportunity to feed without direct competition.
Overfeeding and how to avoid it
When fishkeeping is a shared family task, it's essential to coordinate who feeds them and when to avoid overfeeding . An overfed fish will not only be less healthy, but it's also more likely to pollute the water with its waste and uneaten food.
Most of the aquarium fish we buy are juveniles , so we must take care to give them quality food for their proper growth , but without overfeeding, which can weaken their immune system and promote disease.
As a general good practice, many aquarists let their fish go without food one day a week (except for fry), which helps the digestive system rest and reduces the risk of digestive problems.
How to make sure all the fish eat
Besides knowing how often and how much to feed them, it's essential to ensure that all fish receive food . In many community aquariums , some fish are faster and more voracious and monopolize the food, while others, more timid or of lower status, barely touch it.
To avoid this , you can:
- Use various types of food (floating flakes, sinking granules, bottom tablets).
- Distribute the food in several points on the surface instead of putting it in just one place.
- Temporarily separate the most voracious fish during feeding if necessary.
- Offer specific foods for bottom-dwelling fish in the form of pellets, wafers or tablets that sink quickly.
A clear sign that something is wrong is when certain fish show no interest in food for two days in a row . In that case, it's advisable to check if they are sick or stressed.
How long can a fish go without eating?
This is just as important as feeding frequency. Generally, a healthy adult fish can go without eating for one to three days without serious problems. After that time, you'll start to notice it moving less, hiding more often, and showing signs of weakness.
If you are going to be away for a few days, there are solutions such as weekend food blocks , long-lasting tablets, or automatic feeders that dispense food regularly without clouding the water.
Every time you feed your fish, check the aquarium and make sure they've all received their portion . A simple daily visual check is a valuable tool for detecting problems early.
Properly managing the timing, quantity, and type of food your fish receive not only improves their health and color, but also It keeps the water much more stable, makes aquarium maintenance easier, and allows you to enjoy de peces active, with a good appetite and a natural and balanced behavior.
