Introduction

If you have researched books and Internet articles about how much to feed your freshwater fish, then you are probably as confused as I am. There are all types of suggestions out there on how much you should feed your fish but which one is right.

Here is the question – “How much should you feed freshwater aquarium fish.”

Answers

1. Only as much as they can eat in several hours.
2. What they can consume in 30 seconds.
3. Only that amount they can eat in two minutes.
4. Feed them only enough that does not allow a build up excess food in the substrate.

And the results are in:

Answer #1 – This is actually on an algae tab bag so the answer is correct. But I do not want to wait around for several hours to see if the tabs are eaten. When I add algae tabs, I put a couple of tabs in two times a day for my five algae eaters that I have in my 75-gallon aquarium. They can also feed off the algae that is created naturally in my aquarium.

Answer #2 – When I bought my first fish, the pet store attendant told me this was the amount I should feed my fish. I found this hard to believe so I did some research and found that no one recommends this amount of feeding.

Answer #3 – This is the general recommendation I have found in the various books and articles I have read.

Answer #4 – With all the different recommendations out there on how much to feed your freshwater, this is the one I use. I have two major feeding times and one snack time during the day. My fish appear to know the times because they school next to the glass waiting for their food at the appropriate feeding times.

The problem with feeding your fish is they appear to be starving at feeding time but do not let them fool you. In between feedings they are usually grazing, feeding on the algae and bacteria.

Your main goal is to keep your fish healthy by not allowing excess waste from their food to build up in the substrate. So only feed your fish enough that does not allow for the build up of excess food in the substrate.

Conclusion

With all the different recommendations on how much to feed your freshwater fish, the goal in feeding your fish is not to allow excess food to build up in the substrate. This will keep your fish healthy.