What Do I Feed My Goldfish?

Ok so I just learned I could feed my goldfish vegetables?? I have been feeding them goldfish flakes as well as the occasional treat (blood worms and algae pellets) but how should I feed them veggies? I tried to put alittle iceburg lettus but it just floats and I am not sure that's good for them. Is that correct?

 

Mine like skinned peas

 

How many peas per fish should be fed? And how often?

 

A good rule of thumb is to feed an amount of food the size of a fish's eye, as that's about the size of the stomach. Granted, goldfish don't have stomachs, so it's better to feed them smaller amounts 2-3 times a day. Mine like blanched kale and spinach, and I know you can feed broccolI and carrots as well.
For the peas, be sure to blanch and skin them first. Depends on the size of the goldfish, but 1-3 peas per feeding should be fine

 

Graet thanks! Also what about broccolI do I have to cook it first? Sorry ive never had to do this before.

 

Graet thanks! Also what about broccolI do I have to cook it first? Sorry ive never had to do this before.

No problem! Since their teeth are located in the throat and not the mouth, they can really only eat soft vegetables. They'll probably eat the crown and stem of broccoli, they're not that picky, as long as it's blanched first. I feed mine blanched kale stems, so honestly any part should work

 

I feed spinach quite often. I usually microwave for a few seconds and then use a clip to attach it to the wall of the aquarium. I've also fed other types of greens.

 

Check out my thread "stuff I've fed my goldfish so far"

 

I feed spinach quite often. I usually microwave for a few seconds and then use a clip to attach it to the wall of the aquarium. I've also fed other types of greens.
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Awsome!

Awsome!

Ill have to pick up a clip like that!

 

I hook mine on an aquarium decoration!

 

Dice some cucumber and microwave them in water for 1 minute.

 

So I found with mine, once they got the idea that veggies are food, I could make it harder to eat and they are up to the challenge. And it keeps them busy.

 

So I found with mine, once they got the idea that veggies are food, I could make it harder to eat and they are up to the challenge. And it keeps them busy.

That makes sence. I know I don't want to feed them only flakes and pellets...

 

I feed mine lettuce and spinach on occasion, but usually prefer feeding them aquatic plants—like hornwort, duckweed, Amazon frogbit, water sprite, and even string algae.

 

I feed mine lettuce and spinach on occasion, but usually prefer feeding them aquatic plants—like hornwort, duckweed, Amazon frogbit, water sprite, and even string algae.

Whats the size of your fish?

 

Whats the size of your fish?

Between 7” and 9”, if I were to guess.

 

Ah, see. Mine are brand new and have trouble eating even 3mm pellets. I'm going to wait a while to feed them fresh veggies until they get a little bigger...

 

Ah, see. Mine are brand new and have trouble eating even 3mm pellets. I'm going to wait a while to feed them fresh veggies until they get a little bigger...

Nah just make smaller pieces or softer stuff. I actually took a knife and "feathered" the edges of the cilantro at first, mine are maybe 6 or 7 months old they were pretty small to start!

 

Ah, see. Mine are brand new and have trouble eating even 3mm pellets. I'm going to wait a while to feed them fresh veggies until they get a little bigger...

Here’s one of my goldfish when it was a lot smaller. It was chewing on spinach, which I froze beforehand in a freezer bag. This helps to break down the cellular walls, making it easier for the fish to eat. Some people blanch, but I prefer not to. It took more than a day to eat it all, but that was the point. As it ages in the aquarium, it become even easier to chew through.

 

Here’s one of my goldfish when it was a lot smaller. It was chewing on spinach, which I froze beforehand in a freezer bag. This helps to break down the cellular walls, making it easier for the fish to eat. Some people blanch, but I prefer not to. It took more than a day to eat it all, but that was the point. As it ages in the aquarium, it become even easier to chew through.
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Ok heres a silly question, is it really bad for my goldfish to allways eat food that floats? Like I thought someone said it gives them swim blatter? Like what is that?

 

Ok heres a silly question, is it really bad for my goldfish to allways eat food that floats? Like I thought someone said it gives them swim blatter? Like what is that?

For non-fancy goldfish like Commons, Comets, and Shubunkins, it shouldn’t be a problem. Most species of fish will pluck food from the water’s surface in the wild. The problem lies with some fancy varieties, since their organs are close together in a confined cavity space. However, I have both a Common and a fancy goldfish, which I feed exclusively floating koi food and never had this issue. If you’re feeding flakes and worried about this, simply grab a pinch and release it underwater, preferably in front of the filter outlet. Not only will you not have to worry about fish gulping air, but this will also induce natural foraging behavior. I personally think the bigger problem is people overfeeding their goldfish.

 

Alright cool... basically what I feed them seems to be working. What I do is feed them in the morning around 7 or 8 as much as they can eat in like 3 or 4 minutes then like 4 algae pellets, small ones, as a snack before lunch, which is when I give them a small pinch that is gone very quickly, and then a regular sized pinch befor bed. I use the under the water pinch method. I feed them omega one flakes which seem to be going well and sinking pellets aren't in their diet yet as they can't fit them in their mouth's quite yet... but sometimes as a treat I feed them blood worms, just a little tho, and brine shrimp when I feel like spoiling them lol

 

Also, check out the goldfish forum here. Loads of info.

 

You can feed them a variety of vegetables. Crushed peas, tiny pieces of zucchini, brocolli, lettuce and some ever give bits of orange! Don't forget to cut them up into manageable pieces for your fish and boil the veg for a few minutes before feeding it to them!