How Often to Feed?

[canuck]

How often should I be feeding my fish? I have 4 tetras and 2 platys in a 29 gallon tank with artificial plants. I've had them for about 4 months. I was initially feeding them flakes twice a day, enough that it was eaten in 3-5 minutes.

I've been having problems with brown algae and went to a local LFS for some advice. The fellow there suggested I get better lighting, because the bulb that came with the tank (from PetsMart) was probably not very good. This was the same advice I had received on this forum, so I went ahead with it.

At the same time, the fellow at the LFS suggested I could be overfeeding the fish which could also be contributing to the algae. He said they only need to be fed once every other day and to use small pellets instead of flakes. I've been doing this for about 2 weeks and I've still got this algae in the tank. And now the fish seem to be REALLY excited when someone comes near the tank so I'm wondering if they're hungry and expecting to be fed.

On a more general note, how on earth does a newbie know what advice to follow? It seems that everybody I talk to has a different opinion and I'm just getting more and more confused as time goes on. This forum has been extremely helpful, but it seems like I get conflicting information from different sources.

 

[JamesTasker]

In general, hungry fish are healthy fish.

I feed mine flakes once a day (not too many), frozen once a week and a pellet for my bottom feeders every other day.

I think it's just a case of experimenting to find the right amount.

 

[GSD]

mine get flakes 2wice a day and get some bloodworm once every few weeks

 

[gale]

Mine get fed every other day, rotating crisps, frozen bloodworm and jarred daphnia plus an algae wafer for the tank with the cories. I have read that fish will always act hungry no matter what. Mine do but only when I feed them every other day-when I fed them every day they didn't attack the food like they do now. I love to watch the feeding frenzy.

 

[FrAnK3333]

I feed mine once a day everyday.

 

[grayshark]

flakes every morning and cucumber every wednesday night and sunday night. they love it.

 

[yvez9]

i feed mine sometimes once a day, sometimes twice...

my guppies and tetras are fed flakes most of the time

i throw in an algea wafer for the guppies twice a week.
My catfish gets an algea wafer and shrimp pellet every other day.

My bettas get frozen foods almost every day (brine shrimp, bloodworms, mosquitoe larvae)

Whatever frozen i have left over when i feed them i give to the guppies and tetras so they get a little bit every day too. I rarely feed my bettas pellets, except those at work cause i don't think my co-workers would enjoy frozen worms in the fridge over there

Then about once a week i don't feed them at all.

 

[skye4jc]

hey Canuk,

i feed my fish once every other day, and was told to by Kevin from Kevins Aquatics here in Langley. (FYI, its Skye, from the Langley Petsmart.... hi! B) ) my fish are just fine. its really hard to starve fish, unless youre breeding them or mixing community types where some are more aggressive than others. feeding more than a little once a day or once every other day just creates more work for you and the potetial for you fish to get diseases or get constipated. provided your tank temp is b/w 76-80F, once every other day is just perfect. never lost a fish this way, and never heard of that either. i was overfeeding (little pinch o' flakes twice a day) about amonth ago... lost 1 tetra, 1 platy and a betta, and gave my new betta popeye and another tetra the shakes which wont clear up now. this was 90% due to overfeeding. the rest had to do with not cleaning enogh to keep up with my overfed fishes! (sorry little guys!!)

another tip? switch b/w falkes and frozen/live if feeding carinvore or omnivore, and give algae eaters zucchini once a week/every other week (slice like a pickle and strap to a decoration or rock w/ an elastic band). they will ove ya for this (however, make sure you remove from tank after 24-36 hrs as it will begin to disitergrate... i like to do this a day or two before my water change so i can gravel vac any remnants...

anyhow, if you have any other questions, dont hestitate to ask us on here or come in to Petsmart Sat or Sun... thats when i work usually, and i love it when customers pick my brain for tons of info! 90% of my advise has been passed to me by these incerdible pepole here on fishforever (infact i wouldnt be suprised if you got this wedsite from me.... )

good luck!

Skye <><

 

[STEVIE00]

generally fish will eat till they burst
i was told by many experts feed every other day
that way they will roam around lookin
for food in the tank and keepin it clean
last thing u want in the tank is rotting food

and vary there food
u only see fish at there best when there hungry
(BUT NOT STARVING) lol

hope it helps

 

[NinjaSmurf]

I'm sorry, but I have never understood this whole 'eat until they burst' theory about animals, and I'm talking about everything from fish to dogs. I have never had a problem with an animal overeating like this, not to mention from a natural point of view this would be a very stupid thing for any animal to do. In the wild they have food sources everywhere, yet we don't find exploded fish floating around everywhere. Yes, they do have to work for it more, but still. My pictus acts insane when I feed him, but I can only feed him so much or else the pellets just sit at the bottom of the tank till the bristlenose comes along and pigs out, then he'll leave what he doesn't want and the rest will just rot. They may not be the most intelligent animals on earth but in this regard I think most people need to give them more credit.

 

[Mr Miagi]

LOL, i dont think they mean literally 'explode" because they have eaten too much. Most animals gourge themselves when given the opportunity. And then proceed to bring the food they just ate back up.

but i think u were feeding your fish the right amount there canuck. And i cant see why u should stop! Do what u feel is right, if the fish are well fed, u will eventually know what to feed them. U already have the basics from us, so learn what to feed from your own experiences!

Benny

 

[JamesTasker]

I have lost a fish because it ate too much. It became constipated and died.

 

[STEVIE00]

OK SMART ARSE

THEY DONT EXPLODE
AND YES FOOD IS EASLY FOUND ALL OVER IN RIVER BEDS
HENCE I SAID RIVERS
THE FLOW OF WATER WILL WASH ALL THE BAD TOXINS
AWAY
IT WILL NOT IN A TANK THATS WHY
ITS BEST FEED EVERY OTHER DAY TO MAKE THEM KEEP THE TANK
CLEAN BY EATIN THE SCRAPS ON THE TANK BOTTOM

HOPE THIS CLEARS UP WHAT I WROTE BEFORE

 

[elgecko]

My community tank gets 1 feeding 3 times a week.

My discus get 1 feeding 6 times a week.

 

[keane]

Hi,

I do 1 feeding daily.

flakes and an algae wafer for the corys on a normal day.

On wednesdays I skip the above and just feed cucumber and on fridays I just feed blood worm.

think it provides a nice balance of prepared foods, veggie and protein over the week.

steve B)