Different diets for different species Feeding fish a balanced diet that is suited to their species is absolutely essential. Proper feeding maintains a healthy immune system, promotes growth and breeding, improves the appearance of fish and encourages activity. Different species of fish require different diets so it is crucial that you research the dietary habits of the fish you propose to put in your tank aquariums. Discovering the right type and consistency of food The type of diet and food consistency can be judged by taking into account three divisions of two groups. The first section is the type of food. Herbivores eat plant-based food only, omnivores eat both plants and animals, and carnivores are meat-eating fish. Most fish fall into this third section. There are also different levels at which fish feed in fish tanks so it is crucial to present food in a texture suitable for fish which collect food from the top, fish that feed on food which has been dropped into the water, and fish that collect food from the bottom of fish tanks. What's on the menu? All fish need a balanced diet rich in fats,carbohydrates,proteins, vitamins and minerals. Here are a variety of foods you may consider, depending on the nutritional requirements of the fish in your fish tanks. Herbivore fish need food with high fibre content, for instance algae and vegetables. These fish will enjoy lettuce, zucchini, spinach, nettles, maize, carrots and peas. You need to make certain that these vegetables are boiled so they are soft, and broken down into suitably sized morsels. These foods offer several vitamins, minerals and trace elements. I also recommend using Spirulina for herbivores as it provides them with easily digestible vegetable protein. For omnivores and carnivores, a diet rich in protein will be essential. This can be supplied through live food (making sure it is healthy), home-produced or commercial foods. Thin slices of raw red meat or cooked white meat can be used, live small fish (e.g. feeder goldfish), freeze-dried or live worms, daphnia, brine shrimp, Tubifex, and krill. Meat, brine shrimp and worms are best fed as a luxury rather than as an everyday food. Tubifex promotes growth and may be used as a conditioning food to get your fish healthy prior to breeding. For myself, I recommend krill as a dietary basis for carnivorous and omnivorous fish. They are rich in protein and contain amino acids and Omega 3 fatty acids for general health, carotenoids to bring out bright colors in fish, vitamins and minerals which support the immune system, dietary roughage for better digestion, and stimulating carbohydrates. Krill also contain little fat and salt. They are excellent for helping a sick fish get better or to bring an already healthy fish up to maximum fitness for breeding or showing. For predatory carnivores who like to catch moving things, you can suspend non-live food from a fork and lower it into the fish tank in front of the fish, swirling it around to give the impression it is alive! Dry foods There are various types of dry foods for example granules, grains, flakes, pills, wafers and pellets. All of these can be bought in a range of compositions considering the type of fish you want to feed and the different parts of the water column they occupy. Most of these prepared foods are of a high-quality, intended to supply a balanced diet and are full of extra vitamins and minerals, so it is essential to add them in the diet. Different formulas can also be used from time to time such as preparation for breeding or for developing color. It is also very convenient being easy to store and doesn't require any preparation. The possibility of disease or parasites being brought into fish tank aquariums with food is likewise completely eliminated. Enjoy! Variety is the real key to superior fish nutrition. Therefore, it is imperative to provide your fish with a choice of different appropriate foods to guarantee they receive a balanced diet for their optimum health and their interest in and enjoyment of food. Copyright 2009 Jill Kaestner @ Kaestner Marketing LLC
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