Feeding your fish 

There is a wide variety of tropical fish foods available, so that it should be possible to provide an interesting and varied diet that will keep your fish in peak condition. When you put a pinch of dried food into the aquarium, you notice that it spreads out over the surface and gradually sinks when waterlogged. It is better to limit this spreading by utilizing one or two floating rings that contain food in one place. It can then be controlled and will sink over a designated area, where any food that is not immediately consumed can be easily found and removed later if it remains uneaten. Some fish feed at the surface, some in midwater and some scavenge from the bottom. Do remember that fish are very small creatures with small stomachs and appetites, and that pollution caused by uneaten food can quickly kill them. Give only as much food as will be completely consumed in three minutes.

Dry foods

These foods form the principal diet of most fish, being supplemented occasionally by frozen or live foods. Remember that dried foods lose nutritious value in proportion to the length of storage. It is better to buy supplies for one month at a time and from a store that has a high turnover of stock, to ensure freshness.

Frozen foods

Brine shrimp, shrimp, sliced fish, sliced beef.
Feed sparingly as these are very rich.

Live foods

Earthworms, daphnia (see below), fruit flies, mosquito larvae, white worms, blood worms, algae.

In their natural habitat, live foods would probably form a large proportion of the diet, so it it reasonable to suppose that the provision of live foods would make for a more acclimatized fish, with the possibility of improved fertility and breeding performance. Some live food should form the diet of all tank-bred fish.

Daphnia

These are very tiny water fleas that can often be found in ponds. A large, very fine net will probably get you a good supply.

Brine shrimps

These are an excellent food for young fish. They can be purchased as eggs, which can be easily hatched in a jar of vigorously aerated salt water at a temperature of 21.5 - 24 ° C (71 - 75 ° F). They hatch in about 24 hours.

Whiteworms

can be bred in boxes filled with damp earth and peat. They are very small, segmented worms, which grow too about 1 inch (2.5cm) long. Although they reproduce and multiply rapidly, the culture eventually dwindles. It is better, therefore, to set up a new box in addition to the first after about four weeks, and to dispose of the first box after about seven weeks. In this way, a constant supply can be maintained. The first culture can be purchased from a good aquatic dealer.

Tubifex worms

These are available from your aquatic shop, being small red worms about 1 inch (2.5cm) long, that are collected from the beds of rivers and streams. They should be fed to the fish in a tubifex holder, otherwise the uneaten worms can burrow down into the gravel and cause pollution.

Earthworms

are an excellent food for the larger fish. Red oscars and similar fish devour even large sized worms in great gulps. Clouding of the water occurs if they are fed to frequently and care should be taken to avoid pollution.

Microworms

are tiny, microscopic worms used exclusively as food for fry. Cultures are sold by aquatic dealers and they are easy to breed. Make up a small quantity of porridge (or something similar), and let it thoroughly cool in a shallow dish. Add a few drops of the culture liquid, and within a few days the surface of the porridge will be teeming with thousands of minute worms. Remove them lightly with a child's paintbrush, which can then be dipped into the fry tank.

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