Rough Guide to Fish Foods

Depending on what fish you keep, a varied diet is essential in keeping them in top condition. There are several foods that can be used to supplement the many flake, pellet and wafer foods that are available.

Bloodworm: this is midge larvae, it is available either as a live food which should then be rinsed through in clean water before use, or it can be bought in freeze dried packs.

Brine Shrimp: is a saltwater crustacean, it is an excellent food for young fish as they are not known to carry any diseases.

Glassworm: as these are a predatory worm, they should only be fed to adult fish, do not use them in a tank with fry.

Whiteworm: these are purchased as a culture to grow on yourself. They are an excellent food, and as they are not an aquatic worm they do not carry many of the diseases associated with aquatic worms. Whiteworms do contain a large fat content so they should not be used on a regular basis.

River Shrimp: usually sold in live bags, these shrimps live in brackish water, so the contents of the bag should not be emptied into a regular tropical tank, they should be added separately. They are generally used to feed fish larger than 2” and are a very good food for ambush predators.

Tubifex: this worm is found in sewage and polluted waters and is known to carry many diseases, therefore if using live worms they must be washed thoroughly before use. A better option is to buy gamma irradiated frozen packs.

Daphnia: the waterflea is a crustacean, which can be collected from ponds and rivers, or by the bag from aquatic outlets, it can also be purchased in frozen pack form. It is one of the best foods to use in a general tropical set up.

Aquatic Snails: many varieties are available and generally easy to breed. They can be offered to fish such as loaches and puffers.

Earthworms: are highly nutritious and very easy to collect. They can be cut up and offered to smaller fish.

Cockle in Shell: these are sold in gamma irradiated packs and are used to feed large puffers.

Whole Mussel: specifically a puffer food, but will be accepted by many other varieties including catfish and cichlids.

Crab Sticks: if cut into small pieces they can be offered to a variety of fish.

Whole Prawns: will be accepted by most large fish.

Brown Bread: can be offered to add roughage to the diet of larger predatory fish, however it may need to be inserted into the stomach of pieces of trout or sprats to ensure that the fish accepts it.

Meats: suitable for carnivorous species, cut up pieces according to the size of fish. The best meats to try could include cooked chicken or beefheart, but only feed these foods sparingly.

Fish: used to feed large predatory fish, try trout or sprats purchased from a fishmonger, or for a smaller option, lance fish is available from aquatic outlets in frozen packs.

Vegetables: many species of fish require vegetable matter in their diet, these could include, lettuce as long as it has been blanched in hot water first or cucumber, both will have to be weighed down or put in a food clamp. Peas are another good food, they should be cooked and then shelled before use.

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