How often do you feed your fish?

How Often Do You Feed Your Fish?

  • Once a day

    Votes: 61 46.6%

  • Multiple times a day

    Votes: 44 33.6%

  • Every other day

    Votes: 12 9.2%

  • Once a week

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Other (please specify in comments)

    Votes: 14 10.7%
  • Total voters
    131

Advertisement
We've had 10 bloodfin tetras for about three weeks now, and are very new to all of this.

Our fish stores have told us to only feed once a day - a VERY small amount of crushed flakes. One store went so far as to tell us to dip 1/2 inch of a toothpick in water and roll that around in the crushed flakes and only feed that amount - once a day.

Problem is that when we feed them they go into a frenzy and when everything is gone (in about three minutes) they go to the bottom and desperately dig around in the gravel for more food.

I've read that fish are always hungry by nature, and that it's supposed to be practically impossible to underfeed them. By their behaviour at feeding time, however, I'm afraid we're not giving these little guys enough.

How many times a day do you feed your fish?
 

Advertisement
Everybody seems to have their own theories about how often to feed their fish.
A fishes stomach is approx the size of one eye so as you can see their stomachs aren't very big. It's virtually impossible to feed fish until they quit eating and some will overeat. In the wild they may gorge one day and not eat for two or three days so the instinct is there to eat all they can while it's available.
Personally some of my tanks I feed twice a day and some only once a day. Then they do without(fast) one day a week.
Hope that helps.
Carol
 
Problem is that when we feed them they go into a frenzy and when everything is gone (in about three minutes) they go to the bottom and desperately dig around in the gravel for more food.
Click to expand...

The rule of thumb is to feed only as much as can be eaten in about 2-3 minutes. So, sounds like your feeding them the right amount.

As far as how often, everyone will give you a different response. Personally, I feed my fish twice a day and fast them at least once in a 2-week period. I feed my fish flakes as well as live and frozen foods; and even vegetables once a week.
 
I feed a very very small amount 3 times a day for my tetras and guppy and one sinking thing a day for my corys. That's what it says on the labels. Feeding small amounts and making sure it's all eat help keep your water cleaner.
 
I think we'll play it safe and only feed them the little bit once a day. We were going to add either brine shrimp or blood worms but the fish store said they'd mess up the water's chemistry.

Thanks for all your help!
 

Advertisement
I feed a very very small amount 3 times a day for my tetras and guppy and one sinking thing a day for my corys. That's what it says on the labels. Feeding small amounts and making sure it's all eat help keep your water cleaner.
Click to expand...

me too (excepy I don't have corries). my fry get fed, like 4-6 times a day, depending on how many I have.
 
Good morning,

I feed my fish once a day (with the exception of Wriggley my Betta 2 x a day but only when he's at the glass and ready to eat). Enough so that everyone gets a bite. If someone misses out then chances are they'll be first in line the next day

I have large fish producing a good bit of waste so I'm always careful not to over feed.

Any type of fish food will mess up your water chemistry if it's left in your tank to decay for long periods of time. With regular tank maintenance and gravel vacuums and good filtration it shouldn't be an issue as to what type of food you feed your fish.

Ken
 
A fishes stomach is approx the size of one eye so as you can see their stomachs aren't very big. It's virtually impossible to feed fish until they quit eating and some will overeat. In the wild they may gorge one day and not eat for two or three days so the instinct is there to eat all they can while it's available.

Personally some of my tanks I feed twice a day and some only once a day. Then they do without(fast) one day a week.
Click to expand...

+1
 
I feed my adults once in the morning and once at night, usually only enough to where I know everyone has gotten something. The fry tank gets fed almost every time I walk by it, so 4-5 times a day.
 
I think we'll play it safe and only feed them the little bit once a day. We were going to add either brine shrimp or blood worms but the fish store said they'd mess up the water's chemistry.

Thanks for all your help!
Click to expand...
Thawed frozen Blood worms and brine shrimp make excellent treats. They are so rich in protein most fish(unless conditioning them to breed) only need them once or twice a week.

I usually feed mine the day before a water change that way if any are missed(big chance...not ) it won't mess the tank up.
Over feeding fish also produces more waste so that's another reason for not over feeding
Carol
 

Advertisement



I really like the idea of feeding the "treats" the day before the water change, it would really simplify things.

LOL, it's going to be hard to look at the powdered flakes in my hand each day at feeding time and try to see if it's the right amount to equal 10 little fish eyes!
 
LOL, it's going to be hard to look at the powdered flakes in my hand each day at feeding time and try to see if it's the right amount to equal 10 little fish eyes!
Click to expand...
What's hard for me it that mine are merciless beggers LOL
Carol
 
I usually feed my fish once, every other day

But today I noticed one of my guppy's tails was pretty much nipped completely off

Do you think this is due to under feeding my fish?
 
I feed my school of neon tetras and sterbaI cories every day. However, they are not fully grown and I don't want to take a chance. I am not thinking that they will starve, but rather that their tendency to nip at each other might be increased if they are slightly hungry. I actually feed the tetras twice a day but I give the cories one wafer in the evening.

I haven't ever done what you are doing so I don't know for sure, but its definitely worth a try. You can always go back to every other day feedings if nothing changes.

Do need any advice for that injured guppy?

Hope this helps,
Lee Rose.
 
Yes, I think you may be underfeeding. Most feed at least once a day. Nipped fins can be a sign the fish are hungry.
 
It wouldn't hurt to feed once a day. That's what most people recommend. However, this may also be a case of Zebra Danios being Zebra Danios, they are very nippy fish. I would up the feedings to see if it is caused by hunger, and if it stops great, but if not a suspect it is the Danios.
 
Nipped fins can also be due to incompatible stocking, which may be an issue here as well.

I feed my fish 2 to 3 times a day depending on which tank and what my intended goal is. I feed all the fish that I'm growing out at least 3 times a day.
 
I feed my school of neon tetras and sterbaI cories every day. However, they are not fully grown and I don't want to take a chance. I am not thinking that they will starve, but rather that their tendency to nip at each other might be increased if they are slightly hungry. I actually feed the tetras twice a day but I give the cories one wafer in the evening.

I haven't ever done what you are doing so I don't know for sure, but its definitely worth a try. You can always go back to every other day feedings if nothing changes.

Do need any advice for that injured guppy?

Hope this helps,
Lee Rose.
Click to expand...





Yeah, I feel really bad for the poor little guy...
Is added 4 of his kind about a week ago
I've never had any trouble with the danios and any of my other fish...

This was just really shocking to me
 
Yeah, I feel really bad for the poor little guy...
Is added 4 of his kind about a week ago
I've never had any trouble with the danios and any of my other fish...

This was just really shocking to me
Click to expand...
I know how you feel. My tetras were trying to develop the order of power when they were younger and it really freaked me out. Several of the tetras had ripped fins, but I used melafix to help them regenerate and to fight any oncoming infection. Is there any place in the tank where the guppy can get and the danios can't?
I am not sure if that would help, but it would give me some peace of mind.
Good luck and give us an update if you like.
I hope he pulls through,
Lee Rose.
 

Advertisement



I know how you feel. My tetras were trying to develop the order of power when they were younger and it really freaked me out. Several of the tetras had ripped fins, but I used melafix to help them regenerate and to fight any oncoming infection. Is there any place in the tank where the guppy can get and the danios can't?
I am not sure if that would help, but it would give me some peace of mind.
Good luck and give us an update if you like.
I hope he pulls through,
Lee Rose.
Click to expand...

I found the little guy floating at the top of my tank today
:/
 
I feed three times a day in little amounts, I find they digest it better, They get their staple in the morning and at night, in the afternoon they get something else.
 
I usually feed them once a day, but I do drop in a wafer/shrimp pellet 2x per day....I have 7 snails, two of which are large mystery snails...and they need to be shared with the cory, tiger pleco and honey gourami. don't ask, he's weird.

I feed the bettas once a day mostly, but sometimes twice, depends.

your guppy might be able to recover without moving him to a qt, assuming you have one. you could get a breeder net, so he's in the tank, but in a space where no one can get to him. try using some stress coat on the tank too, and feed at least once a day. hope it helps!
 
I fed my guppies 3x a day. Morning and night live BBS and Kens flakes in the middle.
 
Check your water parameter there might be a problem in your water be sure ammonia is not spiking!
 
I feed my fish between 0-3 times a day depending on diff circumstances and tanks
 

Advertisement



I feed my fish 1-3 times a day in varying amounts with different foods, just b/c I think that's what would happen naturally. Just my theory!
 
I feed my fish in small amounts three times a day and they get a treat every weekend.
 
2 feeds per day, a small amount each time to give them something to look forward to!
 
Yep twice a day, small amounts.
Cichlids sometimes get an extra treat of bloodworms, prob twice a week.
Corys get a wafer once a day, as they do find food that the other fish missed
 
I feed twice a day and the fry three times, about once a week they also have a slice of cucumber which I leave in for two days
 
well I was wondering how often do you feed the fish ?

I feed the fish once per 2 days in my 10 gallon tank and I only add a little bit and make sure that nothing is left behind and they eat everything.

But now since I have stocked my 29 gallon tank, I was wondering how often should I feed this fish?

I have:
1 DG
6 male guppies
5 black skirt tetras..

and they always try to eat the small bubbles in the water so its my feeling that they are hungry all the time

Thanks in advance.
 
I feed probably 10 times a week. Some days they get fed twice, some once, and maybe 1 not at all.

Fish aren't very smart, but they quickly learn that they can make you feed them by acting like they are starving.
 
Good morning,

I feed my fish a variety of foods once a day, every day.

Ken
 

Advertisement



I switch between 6 different foods and feed 2 to three times a day to feed different active fish I have awake at that time.

Also I do small amounts and make sure all my fish get some of it.
 
I feed once a day, and every once in a while, I skip a day.
 
My guppies get fed twice a day except for when I go away for the weekend then they go without. But if I am home and think I can skip a feeding, look out as they are rushing the glass and all but jumping out of the tank when I open the lid. My betta boys only get fed once a day and my turtles only eat in the winter (during their hibernation time) when they let me know they are hungry but swimming crazily and looking up at me to make sure I am getting the hint. In the summer they demand to be fed every day, can not fill them up and nothing is safe.
 
So it loooks like it varys, you can do what you want to, there your fish after all if you think they need a little more food go for it, just remember there size, they don't need to much food to get full.

Good luck
 
So it loooks like it varys, you can do what you want to, there your fish after all if you think they need a little more food go for it, just remember there size, they don't need to much food to get full.

Good luck
Click to expand...

And to piggy back on that, remember to feed the fish more as they grow!! It's easy to fall into the routine of just feeding a pinch, but as the fish grow they'll need 2 pinches
 
My krib fry eat as many times per day as necessary depending on their age.... the rest of the gang gets fed every other day.
 
And to piggy back on that, remember to feed the fish more as they grow!! It's easy to fall into the routine of just feeding a pinch, but as the fish grow they'll need 2 pinches
Click to expand...

Yes, I feed mine so often because I have my 5wo discus growing, my 2 angels, my dragon goby is only half grown or a little less (12") and my Pleco.

Along I have 7 gudgeon fry. growth needs food.
 

Random Great Topic!

Dechlorinating Water While Using The Python Water Changer
Python Water Changer and Dechlorinating Water

Today's Deals


Amazon Daily Aquatic Deals

Amazon Aquatic Coupons


Advertisement



Advertisement








Advertisement




Fish Lore's aquarium fish forum - aquarium hobbyists helping hobbyists since 2005!

Fish Lore is an amazon affiliate and some pages may contain links to aquarium related products on amazon: Affiliate Disclosure

Aquarium forum statistics

Threads
427,391
Messages
4,714,455
Members
127,557
Back
Top Bottom