Number of feedings

I was shocked to hear that some people feed their fish 5-6 times a day. I feed my fish only once per day. Is this too little? I don't loose fish and am able to raise fry. My fish don't grow rapidly, but I don't think I'm stunting their growth. I could possibly add an additional feeding in the morning, but maybe I should leave well enough alone.

I also remember reading that letting the fish 'fast' occasionally is a good idea, so if we leave for vacation for upto 4 days, I don't bother having anyone feed the fish.

Just curious.

Specifics: 54 gallon corner tank 8 leilupi 8 JD marleri 4 brichardi 2 bristlenose 2 clown plecos 30-40% plant coverage (lutea and valisaria, couple others I don't remember) Lots of rock formations and a couple pieces of driftwood 1 aqua clear 300 with 2 sponges and filter floss 130W compact flour - 10-11 hours Temp ~77F yeast CO2 reactor - very basic model PH 8.4 hard water 0 ammonia weekly or biweekly 20% water changes monthly gravel vac

the more the merrier. I try to feed twice a day, doesn't always happen though. But in their natural environment that eat all the time. A little here, a little there. I would certainly recommend more feedings. Little fish need the more frequent feedings than bigger fish, but they can all survive the way you are doing it. But I don't want my fish to survive, I want them to thrive.

and as far as fasting being good for them, that is a myth. It is alright if you have to. But it is not GOOD for them.

hi........i think that feeding to little is better than feeding too much.. i personally think that once a day is enough for most fish.this way you ensure that you are keeping your biological load to a minimum...

good luck...

I think it depends on what you keep, Like all things, Big dogs eat more then small round fat dogs. Some fish are quite happy, with a pinch of Flakes once a day, and others will bang on the glass every time you walk past the tank. bassett

You've got to watch it with fish though because that coming to the front of the tank when you walk near thing is the biggest problem Fish are quite well known for stuffing themselves to death, literaly. They will eat (some of them) 'till they explode if they can. I have a Honey Gourami like this - a little orange pig!

I find the best indication with my inhabitants is to watch them for an hour or so (I can see my tank while I'm watching TV) and see if they are picking at the substrate. The Serpae Tetra are the best indicator for my particular tank. I then take a pinch of flake food and put half of it back. The other half gets fed to them. Usually crushed a little because the Black Neons won't eat anything bigger than a pin head size, although they do have an aquired taste for live mosquito larvae, I discovered yesterday - talk about a feeding frenzy - beserk!

More often than not they are peckish but not starving. If I feel 'nice' they get half a block of frozen blood worm about an hour later.

I used to feed mine about 3 to 4 times a day, but over this last week I've cut them down to one feeding a day because ultimately if they are starving and you get to know your fish you'll know when they are just eating because it's there or eating because they are hungry

My $0.02

In nature most fish don't gorge themselves once a day. They forage constantly for picks of food here and there. Tiny meals throughout the day are supposed to be optimal.

Here's the point when I admit that I'm not practicing what I preach. I feed once a day lightly (about 2 or 3 flakes per inch of fish). I also make sure the food is wet before its in the tank. This all comes from having lost two angels to what could only be determined as 'intestinal blockage'.

I agree, I feed what they can eat in 1 min., 5 or 6 times a day. Fish need the protein to build immunity. Feeding once a day, same thing day in and day out, when a disease or parasites are interduced into the tank, your fish suffer from what ever was interduced.

Constipation in fish is easily treated with one teaspoon of Epsom Salts per 5 gals.