Fish Food Archives - Seatech Aquariums

Can fish eat human food? That’s a question we hear every now and then from our clients. The answer is mostly “no,” but there are some possible exceptions. Even for those exceptions, however, we wouldn’t recommend placing human food in an aquarium because it could be dangerous for the animals and live plants.

Herbivorous livestock may be able to graze on some kinds of fruits and vegetables, and carnivorous fish may be able to eat some kinds of proteins. It’s tricky and limited, so ask our aquarium technician for specifics regarding the human foods that your particular fish can eat if you’re in a crunch.

Generally, human foods that certain fish can possibly eat include:

Light white fish, such as cod and tilapia, but avoid feeding them fish that are too oily or that have unhealthy chemical composition
Hard-boiled egg yolks
Blanched lettuce
Cooked peas (without the shells)
Cooked spinach
Cucumber/zucchini
Sweet potatoes
Melon

Any human food given to fish must be in small pieces or minced, and you should take care to avoid any choking hazards.

These foods can be freeze-dried or frozen, but never give them canned foods. Canned foods may contain preservatives and other chemicals that can be dangerous to the livestock.

Although it may be possible to feed them these foods if you’re out of fish food, we don’t recommend doing so for the following reasons:

The leftovers and fats can cause cloudiness in your tank or generally diminish the appearance of the aquarium.
The fish may produce excess, relatively unnatural waste, which can endanger the overall habitat.
Fish foods are made with the essentials that fish need, including protein, amino acids, healthy fatty acids (lipids) and/or vitamins. Human foods might not give them the nutrition they need.
The fish may become spoiled with human foods and refuse fish foods.

Never place the following foods in your fish tank.

Cat or dog food: It is formulated for their bodies, so it will not give fish the nutrients they need. It may also contain ingredients that are generally unhealthy for livestock, such as preservatives.
Bread: Fish may eat it, but it can be especially dangerous for them. The yeast, wheat, salt, and preservatives can lead to bloating, which is potentially fatal to fish.
Beef, chicken, or pork: These meats typically contain too much fat, which can endanger a fish, and can be difficult to digest.
Any foods that are too fatty: Too much fat can be harmful to a fish’s liver and reproductive organs.
Cooking oils: They can poison the livestock, contaminate the water, and cling to the tank.

For more information about how to maintain a proper diet for your fish, contact Seatech Aquariums by phone or by sending us a message through our website.

Many fish are picky eaters. Some won’t eat certain types of fish food at all, while others are fine with almost anything you give them. It’s important to know the difference and give the fish what they want, mainly because you don’t want other fish in the tank to become fish food. And that can happen if you’re not careful.

Keep in mind that the type of fish food that will be best for your livestock will depend a variety of factors, including:

Whether they’re saltwater fish or freshwater fish
The specific fish breeds in the tank
Whether or not you have other types of animals in the tank, such as frogs or shrimp
The size, temperament, and natural habitat of the fish

Basic Types of Fish Food

There are a few basic categories of fish food: flake food, live food, freeze-dried, frozen, spirulina/seaweed, and some types of greens and other produce.

Flake Fish Food

Flake foods are the easiest for humans to work with, are relatively inexpensive, and provide fish with some of the nutrients they need. Many fish don’t prefer flake food, but it’s a viable option. If you have large, hardy fish, you may want to think of flake food as doggy snacks.

When choosing flake food, read the ingredients, as much of them contain fillers that don’t provide fish with as much nutrition as they would obtain from more substantial foods.

Remember that flake foods expire, which means they won’t have much nutritional value at all after a while.

Freeze-Dried Food

The benefits of freeze-dried fish food is that it is easy to use and has a longer shelf life than some other options. The livestock tend to enjoy it as well, depending on the breed. The downside is that the nutritional value is lower than that of live or frozen food.

Bloodworms, shrimp, anchovies, daphnia, and plankton are among freeze-dried options.

Frozen Fish Food

Frozen fish food is perhaps the most popular option among hobbyists. The animals enjoy it, and it maintains most of its nutritional value. It can also generally keep in the freezer for approximately six months.

The downside is that some have preservatives, so they may need to be rinsed before they are given to the fish; otherwise, you would be introducing these contaminants to the ecosystem. There is some controversy here as well: some hobbyists say frozen fish food leads to higher waste and nitrate levels, while others say they see the opposite results.

Another downside is that frozen fish food isn’t as readily available as freeze-dried food, flakes, or pellets. You will need to go to a pet supply store or order it from your aquarium maintenance technician.

Common types of frozen fish food include mysis shrimp, crab, bloodworms, and daphnia.

Live Fish Food

Some fish won’t touch the flakes, frozen foods, or dried foods unless it’s a matter of life or death. Live fish food may be the hardest for hobbyists to work with, although live fish food may be the most natural and substantial for the fish.

However, there is some controversy regarding how healthy they actually are for the animals in the tank, especially considering that the live food itself may have bacteria.

If that’s your preference and what’s most ideal for the animals in your fish tank, some commonly used types of live fish food include:

Some types of shrimp
Daphnia (water fleas)
White worms, earthworms, grindal worms, and microworms
Fly and mosquito larvae
Flightless fruit flies
Vinegar eels

Spirulina

Spirulina, which is basically algae or seaweed, provides tremendous nutritional value, although it’s not as satisfying to the livestock. It’s more like a healthy side of broccoli to complement a steak. Spirulina is known to have antibiotic properties, enhance pigmentation, and assist in healthy growth. It’s available in powder form or as flakes or pellets.

Fruits, Vegetables, and Plants

Every now and then as a treat, you can add a leaf of lettuce to the tank, which also may be effective in ridding the tank of nuisance snails. A slice of cucumber or zucchini will bring joy to the tank as well.

If you add such items to the tank occasionally, it’s critical that you clean these fruits or vegetables with RODI water first in order to get rid of the pesticides, dirt, and other harmful contaminants. For leafy vegetables, dip them into the water and gently rub them to clean them. Allow the leafy vegetable to dry before placing it in the tank.

Creating a Fish Feeding Routine

One more thing we want to stress is how important it is to feed your fish only the adequate amount of food. While it’s important to feed fish on a schedule to ensure they don’t become hostile or sick, it’s also critical that you don’t feed them too much. Giving fish too much food means more waste in the tank. When you have too much waste in the aquarium, the manmade and natural filters won’t keep up, and a dirty tank can sicken fish.

Determining the best types of fish food for your aquarium can be complicated, but we’re here to help. We can help identify the most ideal foods and treats for your fish tank, as well as suggest an appropriate feeding schedule.

Tag Archives: Fish Food

Are Any Human Foods Safe for Fish?

Types of Fish Food: What are the Differences?