Fish feed

How to feed fish

If you have purchased a fish from a retailer, he will advise you on the most suitable type of nourishment for the type of animal you have chosen. There are in fact differences regarding the nutrition of more particular breeds and that of the common goldfish. There are simple rules to follow daily for the administration of feed. It is preferable to administer food to fish in small doses, and respecting regular times, as fish also have their own specific biological clock. It is advisable to feed the fish in the morning and in the afternoon hours, because fish generally doze during the evening. As regards the doses, you must be careful that they are not abundant, because excessive doses of feed could create serious problems, and even in some cases be lethal. There are several types of food on the market, it is important to vary them often, so that the fish's nutrition is as complete as possible. The food that is generally administered to common fish is freeze-dried dry food. As a supplement to this basic food, natural algae and vitamins can be added, which ensure correct growth and general well-being of the fish. If, however, you have an aquarium with particular species and tropical fish, it is advisable to purchase a specific type of food that does not cause problems and damage to these animals. If you then have to leave home for a longer or shorter period, don't worry: at pet retailers it is possible to choose solid food, which dissolves slowly in water, and thus manages to feed the fish for fifteen days, and even more. As for feed brands, there are many. The retailer himself will recommend the best one, taking into account the relationship between quality and price. Most feed manufacturers are very careful to offer a product that is of good quality.

Types of feed

The type of food for fish varies depending on the food you choose. Dry (artificial) feed is the most easily available at food and pet supplies retailers. They can be in granules, tablets, flakes, pellets, etc. The advice is reiterated not to use this type of feed as an exclusive food for fish, but to integrate it with other products. Furthermore, feed containers must be well preserved and consumed within 3 months, otherwise they may lose their nutritional properties. It is preferable to buy packs of food that are not too large, also because the fish must be fed a few times a day and with small food rations. All the food that is not consumed ends up at the bottom of the tank or aquarium, and by decomposing, pollutes the water. To distribute the feed evenly and in the same quantity, you can use a teaspoon, which also serves to not alter the quality and aromas of the food. Freeze-dried food generally consists of small animals that are dried so that they can be preserved for a long time. This type of feed has a rather low cost, which is why it is the most used. The dehydration process, however, decreases some nutrients, which is why it is necessary to alternate this type of food with others. Unlike freeze-dried food, frozen food keeps almost all its nutritional properties intact, as long as the temperature is kept below 18 or 25 degrees. Otherwise, the food could spoil. Furthermore, food must be defrosted carefully in all its parts, even the innermost part. Room temperature must be reached. There are also frozen foods in cubes or tablets on the market, such as: copepods, Artemia, tubifex, plankton, fish eggs, krill, etc. Even fish or shellfish pulp can be food for fish, as long as they are chopped into small pieces.

Fresh and living foods

In the "fresh foods" category we can include everything found in the fish shop, and even seaweed. As for the latter, those on sale in Asian (particularly Indian) food shops are fine, such as "Nori" seaweed, for example. Fish are also fond of dry foods containing Spirulina algae. Vegetables, such as carrots, spinach, courgettes and especially broccoli, are also excellent for the healthy diet of fish. Fruit is also very good for fish health, because it is rich in vitamins and sugars. Be careful though! It should be administered in limited quantities. All fresh foods should be cut into small pieces and kept raw. It may happen that the fish do not accept them, and then you can try to cook them slightly to make them softer. If the fish are reluctant to eat this type of nourishment, it is advisable to make a mash that includes a series of foods such as crustacean pulp, fish pulp, mollusc pulp, chicken and turkey meat, spinach, carrots, broccoli, etc. Live food should never be missing if you want to best care for the fish in your aquarium. By "live food" we mean crustaceans, insects and larvae that are easily found along rivers, or that are specially cultivated. Many retailers sell this type of freeze-dried or frozen feed, but it cannot be ruled out that it can also be found alive. Among live foods we find, for example, "daphnia", rich in fiber and mineral salts. They should be administered from time to time to improve digestive activity and stimulate the intestine. Brine shrimp is a food particularly suitable for some species, such as fry. It is rich in fats and proteins. Or again there is krill, which is a shrimp that lives in ocean waters. It is a high protein food, which invigorates fish by promoting their reproductive capacity.

Food for ornamental fish

The number of aquarists, i.e. enthusiasts of ornamental fish, who live in large, comfortable and beautiful aquariums, in which their natural habitat is faithfully reproduced, is increasingly increasing. The breeding of ornamental fish has also become a rich and flourishing business in Europe, "imported" from South East Asian countries. We could count around 4000/5000 species of fish bred in the world, but of these there are very few that enter our aquariums, and which are therefore considered "common". Ornamental fish have precise nutritional needs, which must also be evaluated based on their age. Ornamental fish are generally given live food, but this type of nourishment, in addition to not providing all the nutrients they need, could transmit viruses, bacteria and parasites if it is not stored correctly. If we want fish to grow healthily, it is essential to pay attention to their protein needs, and in particular to the following nutritional elements: carbohydrates, lipids and minerals. Carbohydrates are not essential for the growth of fish, but they still constitute an immediate and rapid source of energy, which can very well replace lipids and proteins, especially for freshwater tropical fish. Lipids, on the other hand, are essential for the very survival of our aquatic friends, as they transport vitamins and sterols inside the cells. As for minerals, some of these are absorbed directly by the fish through the water, while others (such as phosphorus and iron) must be integrated through their diet. Some experiments have found that ornamental fish fed with dry food had faster growth and greater fecundity. The ideal would therefore be to integrate live food with dry food, ensuring the fish have a varied and rich diet. In some specific cases, a diet based on industrial preparations may be necessary.

Tips for feeding goldfish

If we are not lovers of aquarium fish, but are happy with cute goldfish, here is a series of tips to follow to feed them in the best possible way. First of all, you need to know that the most frequent cause of death for these animals is the abundance of food. If we put a lot of food in the tray they eat it all, as they have no ability to self-regulate. Furthermore, it is absolutely forbidden to feed cheese or bread, even if the fish seem to like them a lot! These are real poisons for their organism! On the market you can find jars with food flakes inside, from which it is possible to take equal quantities of food using a measuring cup. The quantity of food must also be evaluated taking into account the age of the fish (if it is young it is much greedier), and the water temperature. If we decide to feed the fish at a specific time, we try not to change it. Goldfish are very creatures of habit! We may often see him waiting for food with incredible precision, as if he knew the clock! Goldfish are omnivorous, they eat everything, so be careful what you put in the tank. The nutrition of this type of fish must be as balanced and balanced as possible. These are the percentages to be respected in general, to ensure that it grows correctly: vegetables 10-20%; cereals 45-40%; proteins 45-40%. Vegetables are not essential, they should only be administered sometimes to cleanse the intestine. If we are used to often leaving home, we should know that these fish can go up to 5 days without food. If the period of absence is prolonged, we can purchase an automatic feeder, which must be calibrated by programming the quantity of food that is considered right. Don't be scared however, because a few days of fasting does absolutely no harm, on the contrary it makes our fish more lively and lively!

Producers

There are many companies specialized in the production of fish feed. We point out some of them below. SHG (Superhigroup) is a very well-known and established Italian company in the feed sector, in particular ornamental and aquarium fish. SHG guarantees excellent quality products, because they are checked and designed specifically to meet the nutritional needs of both marine and freshwater fish. Then we have PRO.D.AC , which since it was founded in 1975, has increasingly specialized in the import (and subsequent wholesale) of tropical fish for aquariums. Over time this company has become part of the global feed production market. Are you familiar with the brands "Nutron" and "Nautilus"? Well, they were created by PRO.D.AC. Aquatecnic, on the other hand, is a rather young company, which is nevertheless making its way in the sector. The secret of its success on both the national and international markets lies above all in the excellent relationship between quality and price. The company is making a name for itself, in particular, with articles relating to aquariums. If you want to browse the web, visit the site to learn more about the company and its products. The Tetra company, on the other hand, has a long history behind it, given that it was founded in the 1950s. Precisely in those years the German scientist Ulrich Baensch invented dry flake food, which is widely used to feed aquarium fish. Tetra has launched the "TetraMin" feed line, one of the best, in flakes and with added vitamins. Aquarium enthusiasts will certainly know her. The Dohse Aquaristik company also boasts considerable experience in the aquarium sector. Its founder, Hans Dohse, has invested since 1949 in the production of a vast range of useful (and always new) items for fish nutrition.