I use measuring spoons to adjust the amount of pellets I feed my fish. Big spoon and multiple spoonful to feed big fish, and small spoon and less spoonful for grow out fish. So I have a feel of the relative quantity I feed in different tanks of different bioload, and morning versus evening. Any measurement is better than guessing. The right amount of food is the amount my fish can finish greedily in 5 minute.
Feeding the proper amount.
- Thread starter Randys
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It depends on the species of fish, but I feed my Bass 3 to 4 times a week. The fish will feed until they explode so I put just enough food in until their bellies look plump. Food is inhaled instantly so the 5 minutes rule doesn’t apply for me. Now in my planted community tank I’ll feed what can be consumed in 5 minutes, but also skip a day or two per week in feedings.
Yep, as previously stated there really aren't any hard & fast rules, with feeding tropical fish. Too many variables involved to get overly specific regarding frequency and/or quantity, sometimes even among the same species of fish, during the exact same growth stage. IME understanding the difference comes with experience.
Only thing I can add is that activity level and environment come into play too. Currently my displaced fish are in totes but chunked up despite eating less than normal with 1 light feeding a day. Normally they eat like pigs and burn it off in their regular tank. But with less space to swim and less activity its butterball city...but the nonstop w/c they get seems to have added some growth to everyone. Hoping the new stand arrives before thanksgiving so everything returns to normal.
My Oscar in particular has had another quick growth spurt while he's in the tub alone. One large meal a day.
Sedentary fish should get less food than active fish I would think. Takes a while to figure the metabolism differences.
My Oscar in particular has had another quick growth spurt while he's in the tub alone. One large meal a day.
Sedentary fish should get less food than active fish I would think. Takes a while to figure the metabolism differences.
Yep, I noted same in my initial comment.
In commercial dog food one will typically see feeding suggestions such as the following in a quality puppy food: Metabolizable energy is 4000 kcal/kg (520 kcal per 250ml/120g cup) - while the same brand has the following on one of their Fit & Trim formulas; Metabolizable Energy is 3530 kcal/kg (425 kcal per 250ml/120g cup)
The big difference between dogs & fish is, some dogs can & will manage their own intake, I currently own a dog like this, others, if allowed, will eat until they are almost sick. I have also owned dogs such as the latter. The vast majority of tropical fish fall into the latter scenario, where most, if allowed, will eat until they are ready to explode.
LOL when you mentioned 'exploding' I thought of one of my parrots in particular, BOSS. I would say my Oscar and two of my parrots metabolize "higher". They would have to eat massive amounts of food to get fat (caveat one lays crazy eggs and all are still growing). The other two parrots gain weight quickly with only a moderate amount of food. My most massive parrot BOSS will balloon quickly if I don't monitor his eating. He's the only 'bottomless pit.' Very slow to slim down as well.
To no surprise the most active fish also maintain their weight better.
So:
KONG (bp), PATCH* (bp), BRICK (O) - maintain weight with moderate feeding. PATCH gets more to compensate for the crazy egg output every 2 weeks. KONG sometimes bulks out but loses it quickly with less food.
TANGO (bp) Gains weight quickly but loses it relatively quick based on feeding.
BOSS (bp) Gains weight quickly but loses it very slowly based on feeding.
CASH (Syno) maintains no matter feeding.
So it seems I have 4 high metabolism fish, 1 moderate metabolism fish, and 1 low metabolism fish.
Yeah it can definitely become challenging when feeding a group of fish that all have slightly different nutritional requirements, or even different calorie/volume requirements when consuming the same food.
