Fish feed

One of the main conditions for the normal growth, development and reproduction of aquarium fish is proper and nutritious nutrition.

Aquarium fish feed in different layers of water. Their mouthparts can be located low (they feed at the bottom), along the central axis of the skull (they feed in the water column), and on top (they get food from the surface of the water). Therefore, depending on the species, each fish needs its own food. According to the nature of nutrition, fish are divided into herbivores, carnivores, fry eaters and omnivores.

The food should include proteins, fats, carbohydrates, as well as minerals and vitamins. Under optimal conditions of maintenance (which is not always the case), mineral salts can be contained in sufficient quantities in water and soil. All other components of fish are obtained with feed (of animal or vegetable origin). Food for aquarium fish can be divided into two groups: natural (live, dried or frozen) and industrial.

Mass production of industrial feed began in the first half of the XX century. These were combinations of 2-3 species of dried invertebrates, which served as a temporary replacement for live food. The production of complete feed came with the development of new technologies. The pioneers in the field of fish feed were TETRA (the first to produce flaked food) and SERA, which created feeds using freeze-drying technology.

In order for the food to be better absorbed by the fish, manufacturers carefully grind raw materials, use a gentle temperature regime during processing, enrich the diet with vitamins, natural carotenoids (astaxanthin, spirulina) and trace elements.

Industrial feeds contain little water, so they can be stored even in the open for a long time. Their size and shape are adapted according to the size and species of fish. They pollute water less than homemade mashes. The composition of industrial food is quite natural and meets the natural needs of most fish. It includes invertebrates, algae, fish and other natural ingredients.

Multi-component diets Multicomponent feeds allow you to maintain food diversity and make the nutrition of fish complete in key nutrients. Today, industrial fish feed is produced in the form of multi-component mixtures (the number of ingredients in them sometimes exceeds 30-40) in the form of granules, tablets and flakes.

Fish feed pellets can be floating or sinking. Floating and slowly sinking food to the bottom is suitable for cichlids and goldfish. For large and medium-sized fish, feed sticks (a special type of large pellets) are produced.

Sinking and sticking tablets are perfect for catfish and other bottom species. For fry, there are special dust-like food, as well as liquid food. If there are 10-15 fish in the aquarium, it is convenient to set food in the form of briquettes.

Flake food is one of the most popular in the world and is suitable for almost all types of aquarium fish. Their high digestibility helps to reduce the level of ammonia and nitrites in the aquarium. There are also chips on sale (an intermediate form between flakes and granules).

In pet stores, you can also buy gel food in the form of gel or tablets. It slowly falls to the bottom and does not dissolve, so it can be eaten by the fish gradually and does not spoil the water. This food is suitable for both fry and adults.

Monofeeds Industrial monofeeds are produced in the form of freeze-dried and lyophysic, as well as frozen aquatic organisms (gammarus, daphnia, bloodworms, tubule, etc.). Invertebrates that are part of industrial feed are grown in specialized areas, which guarantees the absence of pathogens in them.

Frozen food is produced in the form of briquettes and cubes. The industrial freezing process, due to the low temperature, kills most of the pathogenic microorganisms that affect fish, so frozen monofeeds are much safer, their nutritional value is as close as possible to live feed. Monofeeds contain a large amount of proteins, so they cannot be fed constantly.

Specialty Foods Food for fish can be everyday (complete) and delicacy (containing bloodworms, daphnia, shrimp and other invertebrates). There are specialized diets to improve color, accelerate growth, as well as therapeutic food with antibiotics and antiparasitic components, as well as food for certain types of fish (discus, goldfish, catfish, etc.).

High-quality dry fish food should be packaged in hermetically sealed containers to prevent their spoilage during storage. Since some vitamins, such as vitamin C, can be destroyed by heat, moisture and light, feed should be stored in a cool, dry place, and the jars should be opaque and have tightly closing lids. The amount of dry food should be calculated for no more than three months, because over time the vitamin content in it may decrease.

References FISH FEED - ZooMedVet