Do you presoak dry food?

This includes pellets, flakes, and freeze-dried food. I’ve been reading up on this and there seems to be mixed opinions. People say that feeding these can lead to bloat, but these are all such common food items and I’ve heard them recommended a lot online. If these foods weren’t fed, really all that would be left would be live or frozen foods. Some don’t feed live because they’re afraid of parasites, so that only leaves frozen foods but I’m sure there’s probably a downside to everything.

So, the dry foods... Some people just presoak them, but then others warned that this would remove nutrients. I was looking to at least soak the pellets so that they would float down, avoiding the issue of a fish gulping in air and developing swim bladder disease.

The thing about the dry foods causing bloat, there were also people saying this is a myth. At this point I’m not sure what advice to take. Anyways, the discussions I’ve read on this were from a while back. I’d like to see what everyone’s opinions are on this now.

 

I feed a combination of frozen foods, flakes, pellets, and wafers. I feed a combination of foods: floating, sinking, bottom feeding so everyone in the tank will be satisfied, no matter where they like to feed. Since I feed multiple aquariums, I mix the food with RO water. I will add the frozen food first and allow it to thaw and then add the dry foods immediately before feeding. If I am feeding only one tank, I would use water from the tank rather than RO water. I would NOT use chlorinated tap water as the chlorine can react with the food. For that same reason, I use RO water when cooking food for my own consumption.

 

I presoak pellets, but not flakes. The flakes mainly feed my gourami that eat from the surface which is why I don't soak them. I also have ember tetras that go for the flakes, I've seen no issues in them in terms of bloating due to eating from the surface.

I also heard about them leaching nutrients while soaking, but to avoid that just simply only add enough liquid for the pellets to soak it all up. It takes some trial and error to figure out the right amount for the amount of pellets being soaked. I soak my pellets in vitachem rather than water to try and up the nutrients in them. I still only add enough vitachem for it to be absorbed.

 

I presoak pellets, but not flakes. The flakes mainly feed my gourami that eat from the surface which is why I don't soak them. I also have ember tetras that go for the flakes, I've seen no issues in them in terms of bloating due to eating from the surface.

I also heard about them leaching nutrients while soaking, but to avoid that just simply only add enough liquid for the pellets to soak it all up. It takes some trial and error to figure out the right amount for the amount of pellets being soaked. I also soak my pellets in vitachem rather than water to try and up the nutrients in them. I still only add enough vitachem for it to be absorbed.

When I had saltwater aquariums, I used Kent Marine Zoe as a vitamin supplement. I have not done that since going back to freshwater, but your recommendation for using Vitachem sounds like a good one. I will have to pick up a bottle.

I have a couple of dwarf gouramis in a 55 gallon community tank. However, they seem to feed mostly mid water. The do quite well with frozen foods and slow sinking pellets.

I have a shoal of 15 ember tetras in a 20 gallon tank with a king betta. The betta likes to feed from the surface, but the embers feed mid water. I guess they do not want to compete with the much larger betta at the surface.

 

This is a good question and I wonder the same thing. I feed a combination of high quality flakes, sinking pellets, sinking wafers, repashy, bug bites, freeze dried daphnia and freeze dried bloodworms.

I don’t soak anything EXCEPT the bloodworms, as I lost about 5 very tiny juvenile Rasboras after they were in my tank a few days, and after looking at all the possibilities it seemed most likely that they died because I overfed them with bloodworms. So now I’m paranoid about that. But not actually sure if it’s necessary as nowhere on the directions does it indicate pre soaking is necessary. On the other hand, should I be soaking the freeze dried daphnia, or any other dried foods?

 

Soakiing freeze drie

This is a good question and I wonder the same thing. I feed a combination of high quality flakes, sinking pellets, sinking wafers, repashy, bug bites, freeze dried daphnia and freeze dried bloodworms.

I don’t soak anything EXCEPT the bloodworms, as I lost about 5 very tiny juvenile Rasboras after they were in my tank a few days, and after looking at all the possibilities it seemed most likely that they died because I overfed them with bloodworms. So now I’m paranoid about that. But not actually sure if it’s necessary as nowhere on the directions does it indicate pre soaking is necessary. On the other hand, should I be soaking the freeze dried daphnia, or any other dried foods?

Soaking freeze dried foods is a controversial subject. If you have fish that love to feed at the surface and pick at the cubes, then drop them in the tank. However, I like to soak them until they break up so they will reach all levels of the tank. Otherwise bottom feeders will never get them.

 

I don't, but if i had an issue with bloating or fish not eating, that would probably be the first option i tried.

 

Most of the Oscars I've owned died from eating too many Hikari Cichlid Gold pellets too quickly. Those pellets expand quite a bit after being wetted and I believe that caused bowel obstructions.

I switched to Mazuri gel diets years ago. They avoid this problem, are more palatable, can easily be customized by adding medication or supplements, and their water content is similar to real food (60% vs. 10%).

 

I feed a combination of frozen foods, flakes, pellets, and wafers. I feed a combination of foods: floating, sinking, bottom feeding so everyone in the tank will be satisfied, no matter where they like to feed. Since I feed multiple aquariums, I mix the food with RO water. I will add the frozen food first and allow it to thaw and then add the dry foods immediately before feeding. If I am feeding only one tank, I would use water from the tank rather than RO water. I would NOT use chlorinated tap water as the chlorine can react with the food. For that same reason, I use RO water when cooking food for my own consumption.

It sounds like a combination is the way to go. Thank you for your input! If I do choose to presoak, I’ll remember to use tank water instead of straight from the tap.

I presoak pellets, but not flakes. The flakes mainly feed my gourami that eat from the surface which is why I don't soak them. I also have ember tetras that go for the flakes, I've seen no issues in them in terms of bloating due to eating from the surface.

I also heard about them leaching nutrients while soaking, but to avoid that just simply only add enough liquid for the pellets to soak it all up. It takes some trial and error to figure out the right amount for the amount of pellets being soaked. I soak my pellets in vitachem rather than water to try and up the nutrients in them. I still only add enough vitachem for it to be absorbed.

Ah, okay. It sounds like I should take into consideration where my fish want to be fed. I’ll see if sinking and/or presoak food works well, and if they have a hard time with that I’ll also feed floating. I wonder how many people have experienced bloating from dry food (aside from freeze dried bloodworms). If it’s a one off thing? Thank you for suggesting about how much water I should use. Very helpful! Do you think an eye dropper should be used? I may also look into purchasing vitachem in the future.

This is a good question and I wonder the same thing. I feed a combination of high quality flakes, sinking pellets, sinking wafers, repashy, bug bites, freeze dried daphnia and freeze dried bloodworms.

I don’t soak anything EXCEPT the bloodworms, as I lost about 5 very tiny juvenile Rasboras after they were in my tank a few days, and after looking at all the possibilities it seemed most likely that they died because I overfed them with bloodworms. So now I’m paranoid about that. But not actually sure if it’s necessary as nowhere on the directions does it indicate pre soaking is necessary. On the other hand, should I be soaking the freeze dried daphnia, or any other dried foods?

Yes, this topic is a little confusing! I’m paranoid about it now before my fish even get here. I’m sorry about your rasboras. I think I’m more likely to presoak the freeze dried bloodworms than anything else because I hear more about these possibly causing bloat. But maybe this is more an issue for small fish, than maybe a betta or African dwarf frogs, regular sized animals with a bit more wiggle room in their stomachs?

Soakiing freeze drie


Soaking freeze dried foods is a controversial subject. If you have fish that love to feed at the surface and pick at the cubes, then drop them in the tank. However, I like to soak them until they break up so they will reach all levels of the tank. Otherwise bottom feeders will never get them.

This is a good point. I hadn’t thought about the middle areas of the tank. Again, I guess I’ll have to wait and see what areas my animals will or will not eat, and adjust to that. Then I can determine whether I’m soaking or not soaking.

I don't, but if i had an issue with bloating or fish not eating, that would probably be the first option i tried.

Thank you for your input, Betta’s Anonymous!

Most of the Oscars I've owned died from eating too many Hikari Cichlid Gold pellets too quickly. Those pellets expand quite a bit after being wetted and I believe that caused bowel obstructions.

I switched to Mazuri gel diets years ago. They avoid this problem, are more palatable, can easily be customized by adding medication or supplements, and their water content is similar to real food (60% vs. 10%).

Thank you, AvalancheDave for the very helpful information. I’m sorry you lost your Oscars. I think I’ll test the pellets that I have to see how much they inflate, if at all, when presoaked. For the aquatic frog pellets that I have, I saw a review where various people feed these on the daily to tadpoles. In an earlier comment I assumed that maybe bloating could be more likely for smaller fish. So if these pellets were being fed to tadpoles without issue, then they might not inflate that much and do not need to be presoaked.

 

It sounds like a combination is the way to go. Thank you for your input! If I do choose to presoak, I’ll remember to use tank water instead of straight from the tap.

Ah, okay. It sounds like I should take into consideration where my fish want to be fed. I’ll see if sinking and/or presoak food works well, and if they have a hard time with that I’ll also feed floating. I wonder how many people have experienced bloating from dry food (aside from freeze dried bloodworms). If it’s a one off thing? Thank you for suggesting about how much water I should use. Very helpful! Do you think an eye dropper should be used? I may also look into purchasing vitachem in the future.

Yes, this topic is a little confusing! I’m paranoid about it now before my fish even get here. I’m sorry about your rasboras. I think I’m more likely to presoak the freeze dried bloodworms than anything else because I hear more about these possibly causing bloat. But maybe this is more an issue for small fish, than maybe a betta or African dwarf frogs, regular sized animals with a bit more wiggle room in their stomachs?

This is a good point. I hadn’t thought about the middle areas of the tank. Again, I guess I’ll have to wait and see what areas my animals will or will not eat, and adjust to that. Then I can determine whether I’m soaking or not soaking.

Thank you for your input, Betta’s Anonymous!

I definitely think it’s more of an issue with tiny fish, for the reason you pointed out. Lots of good info here on this topic

Most of the Oscars I've owned died from eating too many Hikari Cichlid Gold pellets too quickly. Those pellets expand quite a bit after being wetted and I believe that caused bowel obstructions.

I switched to Mazuri gel diets years ago. They avoid this problem, are more palatable, can easily be customized by adding medication or supplements, and their water content is similar to real food (60% vs. 10%).

That’s interesting, I also think I’ve lost juvenile cories due to them gobbling up cichlid pellets meant for my Rams. Curious, is mazuri gel similar to Repashy?

 

I only soak pellets. They take a while to absorb water, so I let them hydrate before feeding. Flakes hydrate so quickly I don’t feel the need. I use Hikari freeze dried bloodworms, which soak up water like a sponge, so I don’t soak those either.

 

I only soak pellets. They take a while to absorb water, so I let them hydrate before feeding. Flakes hydrate so quickly I don’t feel the need. I use Hikari freeze dried bloodworms, which soak up water like a sponge, so I don’t soak those either.

I’m glad you mentioned the Hikari freeze dried bloodworms. That’s what I have. Do you feed freeze dried shrimp? I would like to know if they soak up water like the hikari bloodworms.

 

I’m glad you mentioned the Hikari freeze dried bloodworms. That’s what I have. Do you feed freeze dried shrimp? I would like to know if they soak up water like the hikari bloodworms.

Unfortunately no, I don’t. I’d like to know that too, though.

 

Unfortunately no, I don’t. I’d like to know that too, though.

That's okay. When the fish arrive, I'll test it out and update here. Thank you for the information on the Hikari bloodworms

 

I drop my frog pellets into a large straw. That is a good enough pre soak to get them to sink in one corner. I have seen some fancy glass versions with a funnel on to and a dish on the bottom.

 

I drop my frog pellets into a large straw. That is a good enough pre soak to get them to sink in one corner. I have seen some fancy glass versions with a funnel on to and a dish on the bottom.

This is a great idea! I'd like to try this out.