| Most species of fish will thrive on live foods, most of | | | | and some Carps and Minnows. You usually find that |
| which can be purchased from your local aquatic store. | | | | these types of fishes are particularly fond of algae, |
| Live food that is fed to your fishes should be | | | | and some Catfishes especially, can often be seen |
| bought, or cultured if you know how too. Live food | | | | rasping on objects in the aquarium, and even on the |
| that has been caught from the wild, for example, a | | | | aquarium glass itself where algae has grown. |
| garden pond, could introduce diseases into the | | | | As long as this algae is not out of control it can be |
| aquarium. | | | | safely left in the aquarium for these fishes to feed |
| Daphnia are small crustaceans, and are sometimes | | | | on. However, the fact that it is not out of control, |
| referred to as water fleas, although they are not | | | | therefore not in great abundance, means that you |
| really fleas at all. They can be found in ponds during | | | | will need to offer your fishes extra vegetable matter |
| spring and summer, and are often sold in aquatic | | | | to supplement their diet. |
| shops. They don't have a great food value, but | | | | There are a great variety of vegetable foods that |
| fishes love them, and your fishes will certainly keep | | | | are suitable to feed to your fishes, some possibilities |
| fit chasing around catching them. | | | | include lettuce and spinach leaves, which must be |
| Bloodworm are the larvae of midges and are very | | | | blanched (briefly boiled) prior to feeding to your |
| nutritious, they can be found at the bottom of ponds | | | | fishes, slices of cucumber, peas, and of course there |
| or even small puddles. You may have seen them as | | | | are a number of excellent dried foods available, which |
| small wriggling red worm-like creatures about half an | | | | include all the right ingredients for vegetarian fishes. |
| inch (1.3cms) in length, almost anywhere that holds | | | | There are some foods that may not have been |
| any amount of water. | | | | considered by newcomers to the hobby, which don't |
| Tubifex worms live in the muddiest and dirtiest of | | | | come under the category of normal or commercial |
| conditions, so it may seem surprising that they are | | | | fare for pet fishes, for example, meat, other fishes, |
| recommended as food at all. Nonetheless it is a | | | | and crustaceans. These foods could be considered as |
| popular choice when it comes to fish treats, although | | | | solid foods, and some fish, in particular large Cichlids, |
| fish should not be fed too much or too often with | | | | do like to have solid food. |
| tubifex because of the high albumen (protein) | | | | Feeding your fish on high quality flake and live food |
| content. | | | | etc is still recommended, but occasionally you could |
| Earthworms provide an excellent food, and are full of | | | | try small pieces of beef heart (no fat), pieces of |
| albumen, making them suitable for the larger fishes, | | | | mussel or prawn, and pieces of fish, if you're having |
| such as large Cichlids. One reason why they are not | | | | some fish yourself for a meal, before you cook it, |
| used as often as one might think, is the fact that | | | | cut a small piece off for your fishes, they'll love it. |
| they have to be chopped up, before giving them to | | | | If you are a fisherman, it is not wise to feed your |
| the fish. | | | | fishes with fish that you have caught from natural |
| You could try your local fishing tackle shop for these; | | | | bodies of freshwater; this carries the risk of |
| otherwise, if you obtain your own, make sure you | | | | introducing diseases into your aquarium. A simple little |
| thoroughly clean them in fresh water. Before they | | | | rule is that you should; feed freshwater fishes with |
| can be fed to your fishes you must place them in a | | | | salt water fish, and feed salt water fishes with |
| box and allow enough time for them to clear out | | | | freshwater fish. If you follow this rule you will |
| their intestinal tract of sand, keep them moist. | | | | prevent any disease from cross contaminating. One |
| There are many fishes whose main or only diet | | | | thing that you must not feed to your fishes is bread; |
| consists of vegetable foods. Many Catfishes belong in | | | | this will swell up in their stomach and could cause |
| this category, along with some Livebearing species, | | | | problems. |