Feeding fishes can be as easy as dropping in the same can of fish food at random hours, whenever you stop by to observe your fish tanks and aquariums.
But clearly, your fishes aren't going to be the healthiest lot if you were to feed them that way.
There is a world of difference between feeding to keep alive and feeding to keep healthy.
The diet of your fish affects their health.
As a fish rearing hobbyist, you want your fishes' diet to be at least decent enough to promote good health.
Like people, fishes need a balanced and varied diet to stay healthy and looking their best.
Different fishes feed on different food items.
Herbivores feed on plants and algae, carnivores feed on mainly meat and omnivores will feed on both plant and animal matter.
But even among herbivores, different fishes feed on different types of plants.
The same goes of carnivores and omnivores.
For example, sucker-mouth fishes are commonly kept for feeding on algae on the side of the fish tanks, but algae alone will not be able to sustain them.
They must be supplemented with other types of plant material for a proper diet.
Even with fish food that supposedly contains a mixed of products for a balance diet, your fishes will benefit from different types of feed from time to time.
Like dogs and cats, pet fishes enjoy food treats that are different from their daily diet.
If poor quality or unsuitable feed is used, your fish may not be able to digest the food or absorb the nutrients properly.
This not only results in poor nutrition, your fishes also produces more waste causing your water to become polluted more quickly.
Water quality problems, coupled with poor diet can rapidly lead to health problems.
Asides from different types of food, fishes also have different feeding habits.
Fishes can be divided into surface feeders, mid-tank feeders and bottom feeders, each of which is accustomed to feeding at different part of the tank.
Fish food should float on the water for surface feeders and sink to the bottom for the bottom feeders.
Having the right type of food but not the right mode of delivery means your fishes are still going to starve.
Besides feeding at different levels, fishes may also feed at different times.
Most day feeders eat about two to three times and anything that is left uneaten after five minutes is probably excess food that should be removed from your tank.
Nocturnal fishes feed only at night, so you should add fish food only after the lights have been turned off in the evening.
A proper diet goes a long way in helping your fishes stay fit and healthy.
So next time when you feed your fishes, keep these tips in mind.