Mary Allen
If you have the choice, you are spoiled for choice: there are many different types of ornamental fish food on the market. But how do you know whether the food is suitable for your fish?
You can find out here!
Characteristics of Good Ornamental Fish Food
- versatile & balanced
- consistent
- transparency
- good acceptance
- high digestibility
- suitable swimming / sinking properties
- adapted to the stage of development of the fish
- water stability
Versatile & balanced
Good ornamental fish food is one thing above all: balanced. Fish have a very varied diet in nature. Therefore, when choosing your food, make sure that it provides your fish with everything they need for health and wellbeing. Make sure to also pay attention to the type of fish you want to feed. A predator needs a different nutritional composition than a herbivore.
Sustainability
Does the fish use come from sustainable fisheries? Is there a focus on reducing emissions and energy consumption in production? When choosing your fish food, make sure that it is produced sustainably.
Transparency
A clear declaration of the feed materials used for the feed makes it easier for you to assess the quality of the fish feed.
Good acceptance
What use is the best food if it is not eaten? Better to choose a food that your fish will love to eat.
High digestibility
A highly digestible food reduces the excretion of your fish. This is a great advantage, as the excrement from your fish will otherwise unnecessarily pollute the water.
Suitable swimming and sinking behavior
Fish that eat from the surface need floating food. Catfish and other bottom dwellers, on the other hand, rely on the food to sink quickly. This is particularly important in the community pool. Otherwise, other hungry mouths will eat the food before it has reached the ground dweller.
Adapted to the state of development
Young fish need a lot of energy and an appropriate nutritional composition for their growth. The offer of smaller chunks of food usually makes sense.
Nutrient
As described above, good food must first and foremost be balanced. This means that it contains all the nutrients your fish need. Which nutrients are these?
Protein – indispensable building blocks
Proteins (or proteins) provide amino acids. These are building blocks from which the fish can build its own proteins (for example in the muscles). They are essential in the feed. Suitable protein suppliers have a suitable amino acid profile, which means that they can be easily used by the fish. Obviously, protein sources of aquatic origin are often particularly suitable for fish nutrition. This includes, for example, fish meal, which is made from fresh, whole fish (preferably from sustainable fisheries!).
Lipids (fats & oils) – pure energy
Lipids are almost bursting with energy. They are the main suppliers of the same and bring the important (omega) fatty acids to the body. The use of fish oil is particularly suitable for feeding fish. It remains liquid and easily digestible even at low temperatures. Vitamins A, D, K and E are fat-soluble and are therefore partly absorbed directly with fats and oils. If the food contains suitable fats and oils in the right amount, this can have a positive influence on the health of the fish.
Carbohydrates – good in moderation
Carbohydrates (for example from grain) provide energy that is readily available. They are also important for somebody’s functions. For example, they are needed to build up the protective mucus on the fish skin and can also have prebiotic functions in the digestive tract. An excess in the carbohydrate supply can lead to fat deposits and fatty liver – therefore you should be fed in moderation.
Dietary Fiber – Healthy Digestion
Dietary fiber is indigestible fiber and is not used energetically. The resourceful fish keeper is probably wondering why they should be included in the feed at all. For good reason: They help digestion. Herbivores need them more than predatory fish. Herbs and vegetables rich in crude fiber are sensible sources of fiber.
Minerals, trace elements, and vital substances
These substances play key roles in metabolism and growth. If there is insufficient supply, fish quickly show signs of deficiency. The meal is enhanced with natural and varied ingredients such as spirulina, yeast, zooplankton, and seaweed.
Pigments
You should also make sure that you have a suitable supply of pigments for the radiant coloring of your fish. Some natural ingredients, for example, spirulina and the particularly high-quality haematococcus alge, provide these coloring agents. The most important pigments that make your fish shine in gorgeous colors include astaxanthin, carotenoids, and phycocyanin.
Good ornamental fish food
With these tips, you will now also find the right food! And don’t forget the most important thing: Pay attention to the species-specific needs of your fish. The perfect herbivore food is of no use to your fish if they are carnivorous.