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Feeding the Fish
By choosing the right kind of aquarium, equipment, plants, decorations and optional accessories we lay the basis for the healthy conditions in our fish tanks. It is up to us the hobbyist to set up the closed environment in such a way that our fish can thrive.
This section will cover all the basics of setting up your aquarium
in order to reach your goal.
FOODS AND FEEDING
Perhaps no single fact about a fish we intend to keep is more important than the knowledge of its feeding habits. Given proper temperature and water conditions, the health and growth of our fish will depend almost entirely on how and what we feed them. There are three different diet types, and all fish will fall into one of these types.
This section will try to give some explanations and suggestions on how to keep our wet friends happy and healthy.
Classification of food
The food we give our fish can be divided into four basic food types:
All food starts out as some sort of "live" material and through whatever processing it goes through becomes the food we feed our fish. I will define each type here.
You can buy dry fish food that is made up of animal or plant matter as well as every combination needed at any fish store. Dry food is a good basic staple. Store dry food in a cool dry place and don't use it after a few months as they tend to lose their nutrients and vitamin content over time. Dry food comes in different forms.
Freeze dried food.
Fresh food is quickly frozen and then put under a very high vacuum. The water vaporizes and is removed. Since the food was frozen so quickly many of the nutrients and vitamins remain intact. The most popular varieties are Tubiflex worms and Krill.
Many fish, especially some Cichlids and the Lori Cats have to get some sort of vegetable food. You can buy a dry vegetable flake or pellet food at the pet store or give your fish fresh ones. Suitable vegetables include spinach and leafy forms of lettuce (not Iceberg) Bits of Potatoes and Cole crops can also be given. All leftover fresh vegetable food must be removed after a couple of days to prevent decay and water pollution.
Live and frozen food
Today, there is little difference in the quality of live and frozen food products. There is no difference in the nutritional value between them. Some fish and most fry still demand that their food is still moving before they eat it.
Aquarium stores sell frozen food in the shape of flat bars or ice cubes. You can store the food in your freezer for long periods of time without loss of nutritional value. When you wish to feed some either break of a chunk or pop out a cube and place it in a small glass filled with aquarium water. Let the temperature almost equalize and then spread the food across the surface.
Live food animals
The most common live food animals are Brine shrimp and Tubiflex worms. They are available at pet stores from time to time and should be bought whenever you can obtain them. I will go through other live foods that are sometimes available. Small crustaceans contain Carotenoids, which bring out the natural Red coloration in fish.