Fish Food and Nutrition Buying Guide

Whether you've won a goldfish  at the carnival or are thinking of building an extensive aquarium  of tropical fish, it's important to know about the foods  and vitamins  that constitute proper nutrition for your pet fish  so they can live long, healthy lives.  Plus, feeding your fish the right grub in the right amounts will eliminate extra waste in your aquarium, helping to keep it clean and inhabitable.

The Basics

• It's all about variety.  No single food can provide all of the nutrients your fish need in the forms each species prefers. Thus, the key to good feeding is variety, especially because fish enjoy a whole range of textures and tastes, just like humans.  You don't want oatmeal everyday just as much as your fish doesn't want shrimp brine flakes every day.  Mix it up!
• Meat versus veggies.  While the majority of aquarium fish eat both plants and animals, some are built to digest one or the other.  Plant-eating fish that are fed animal-based foods will not be able to digest the food properly, which may cause internal problems such as constipation, and the same is true of carnivorous fish that are fed only plant-based materials.  Be familiar with the eating habits of your particular species of fish to avoid illness and even death.
• Balance is key.  As a rule, fish should be fed once or twice a day with a quantity that they can eat entirely in 3-5 minutes.  And remember, overfeeding is much more common and harmful than under-feeding.  It can often result in uneaten food that will decompose, causing an increase in ammonia, bacteria or fungus. 

Food

Fish food comes in four different varieties:

Fish food flakes : While flakes can work well for most fish--they just swim to the top to retrieve it--some try to gulp food and air at the same time, causing swim bladder disorder.  Try soaking the flakes in water first so they'll safely sink to the bottom of the tank.	Fish food pellets :  Pellets are a good option because they come in both the floating and sinking variety.	Frozen fish food :  This stuff is a real treat for your fish because it comes in tons of different flavors and doesn't take much preparation.  You can throw it in the top of the tank where your fish can nibble on it as it thaws.  Just make sure you buy bacterial free to avoid any issues with tank cleanliness.	Live fish food :  This has a bunch of nutritional value and can help stir the natural instincts of carnivorous fish, making them happier and healthier.  It also helps to put fish in prime breeding condition.

Vitamins

• Vitamin A:  From greens and crustaceans. It's super-helpful for the formation of bones and scales.
• Vitamin B Complex:  From greens, eggs and fish. This helps with proper growth, digestion of protein and the maintenance of a healthy nervous system.
• Vitamin C:  From greens, algae and fish eggs.  This vitamin helps with disease prevention and overall healing capabilities.
• Vitamin D:  From snails, shrimps and earthworms. This is particularly useful in the metabolization of calcium and phosphorus, which aids in the normal development of bones and scales.
• Vitamin K:  From water fleas, greens and liver. This aids in blood coagulation.

Fat

Fish diets should be low in fat.  Because fish have difficulties digesting hard fats--like those found in beef--they should particularly avoid eating too much meat.  Excessive fat can damage the liver, and can result in disease and early death.

Protein

While protein is a key element required for good health and nutrition in all types of fish, the amount each breed of fish requires varies.   Protein requirements vary based on the type of fish.  As a rule of thumb, herbivores need about 15 to 30 percent protein in their diet, while carnivores need approximately 45 percent.

Carbohydrates

Too many carbs can inhibit healthy growth in fish, particularly because in higher percentages, they can reduce other essential nutrients in the body.  This is especially true for young fish.

Related Guide

Fish Care	Tropical Fish Care	Fish Finders	Fish Field Guides

External Links

• About.com: Nutrition 101 for freshwater aquariums.
• DrFosterSmith.com:  A database of pet care FAQs.
• Ebay.com:  An aquarium supply guide that includes details on different food varieties.