When you’re stressed, watching your goldfish swim around the tank can help you forget about it. But your peace can be broken quickly when you realize you’re out of fish food. Although your pets can last close to 2 weeks without food, starving your fish risks their health. When you can’t get to the pet store right away, you can feed your pet human food until you can get to the pet store.
As a goldfish owner, you know that providing a proper diet is crucial for your fish’s health. Goldfish are omnivores and need a balanced mix of veggies, fruits proteins and carbohydrates. But what do you do when you run out of their staple fish flakes or pellets? Even though goldfish are not picky eaters, not all human foods are safe for them. This article will explore 14 healthy foods you likely have at home that can be used to feed your goldfish in a pinch.
Why Variety is Important
While goldfish will eagerly gobble up fish flakes day after day, a diverse diet is vital to their health Different foods provide different vitamins, minerals and nutrients. Rotating various protein, veggie and fruit sources makes sure your goldfish’s nutritional needs are fully met
This is especially important because goldfish lack stomachs. Their short intestinal tract requires a varied diet to ensure proper digestion and absorption of a wide range of nutrients.
So next time your fish food container is empty, don’t panic! Take a look in your fridge and pantry for some of these 14 handy ingredients:
1. Shelled Peas
Peas are a super healthy treat for your goldfish. They are packed with fiber to support healthy digestion. Their high protein content also provides energy. Thiamine, folate, Vitamin C and Vitamin K round out their nutritional profile.
Since peas sink, they are perfect for bottom-feeding goldfish varieties like shubunkins. Floating flakes sometimes cause swim bladder issues in these fish because they gulp air at the surface. Sinking peas allow them to feed comfortably.
Make sure peas are cooked and then cut into bite-sized pieces before adding to the tank.
2. Spinach
Leafy greens like spinach are goldfish favorites. Spinach provides proteins and a huge nutritional punch of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, iron and calcium. It also contains zeaxanthin, an antioxidant important for eye health.
Wash spinach thoroughly, blanch lightly to soften, then chop into small pieces before feeding to your fish. The vibrant green color will look beautiful drifting in the tank.
3. Zucchini
Zucchini is an extremely healthy choice. It offers antioxidants like lutein and beta-carotene as well as Vitamin A, Vitamin C, magnesium and potassium.
The soft flesh of zucchini is easily digested by goldfish. Wash the zucchini, remove the skin, blanch, then finely chop or grate into tiny bits before adding to the tank.
4. Sweet Potatoes
Orange-fleshed sweet potatoes provide an array of vitamins and minerals: Vitamin A and C, copper, pantothenic acid, potassium and manganese. The extra fiber will aid your goldfish’s digestion.
Cook sweet potato thoroughly until soft all the way through. Then cut into very small pieces for easy eating.
5. Pears
Pears are another great natural snack. They contain copper, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, potassium, and antioxidants like flavonoids and carotenoids. Pears offer a sweet, enticing flavor for goldfish.
Peel, core and finely dice pears before feeding to your fish. Only provide a few small pieces at a time, as the fiber content may cause tank water to cloud.
6. Cantaloupe
Cantaloupe melon is packed with nutrition like Vitamin A and C, folate and potassium. It also provides beta-carotene and zeaxanthin for healthy eyes. The sweet flavor will make this melon irresistible to goldfish.
Remove rind and seeds then cut cantaloupe into bite-size portions. Feed in moderation since the high natural sugar content can affect water quality.
7. Carrots
Crunchy carrots are brimming with beta-carotene, potassium, Vitamin K1, and antioxidants. They make a tasty treat for goldfish while also keeping their immune systems strong. Carrots support eye health just like they do in humans.
Lightly steam or boil carrots to soften them up. Then chop the cooked carrots into tiny pieces before feeding to your fish.
8. Cucumber
Cucumbers are made up of almost entirely water, making them a very hydrating snack. They provide vitamin K, copper and potassium. Their mild flavor and crunchy-when-raw texture is perfect for goldfish nibbling.
Peel, remove seeds, and slice cucumbers into thin quarter-inch pieces. Goldfish can nibble on these fresh veggie bites. Just remove any uneaten pieces within a few hours to prevent the water from clouding.
9. Green Beans
Buttery soft when cooked, green beans are packed with Vitamin C, Vitamin K and silicon. Their texture is easily digestible by goldfish. Beans also provide plant-based protein sources for proper growth and muscle maintenance.
Trim ends, cook until tender, then chop beans into small bits for your fish.
10. Shrimp
Shrimp make an excellent occasional protein-rich treat for your goldfish. Thaw frozen shrimp and cut into tiny nibble-sized portions. You can also feed freeze-dried shrimp by rehydrating in tank water for 5 minutes before feeding. Remove any leftovers within a few hours.
Opt for sustainably caught shrimp brands to provide omega-3s without depleting wild populations.
11. Hardboiled Egg Yolk
One tiny chunk of hardboiled egg yolk 1-2 times per week offers goldfish a big protein boost. It also provides healthy fats and essential nutrients like Vitamin A, folate, selenium and calcium.
Egg yolks are very rich, so only feed a pea-sized amount per fish as an occasional treat. Remove any uneaten portions promptly.
12. Daphnia/Brine Shrimp
Live or freeze-dried daphnia and brine shrimp make excellent supplemental feedings. They mimic the natural microorganisms goldfish eat in the wild. Their twitching movements will trigger excited chowing by your fish!
If feeding freeze-dried, rehydrate in tank water then sprinkle into the tank. Remove any uneaten bits within 2 hours.
13. Unsalted Raw Almonds
Natural raw almonds provide plant-based proteins, fiber, Vitamin E, magnesium, and phosphorus. Soak 1-2 crushed almonds per fish for an hour before feeding. Start with just a few at a time to make sure the oil content doesn’t affect water quality.
14. Blanched Broccoli Florets
Broccoli is super nutritious, providing a powerhouse of vitamins K and C, plus folate, potassium and fiber. Goldfish find the tiny tree-like florets irresistible, especially once blanched to soften them up.
Wash broccoli thoroughly, trim florets, boil briefly, then chop into pea-sized pieces to feed your fish.
Putting it All Together
As you can see, there are lots of handy fruits, veggies and pantry items you can use to feed your goldfish in a pinch. For the healthiest results:
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Wash produce thoroughly before prepping to remove dirt, chemicals and contaminants
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Cook veggies by lightly steaming or boiling until just fork-tender
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Chop foods into pea-sized soft bits your goldfish can eat easily
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Feed a variety of choices to provide balanced nutrition
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Only feed a few items per day, and remove uneaten leftovers promptly to avoid water fouling
With a diverse mix of foods on hand, you’ll never have to worry about your goldfish going hungry! A varied diet will keep them active, healthy and eager to greet you at feeding time.
So next time you run out of fish food, look no further than your fridge for the makings of delicious goldfish cuisine. Your scaly friends will be thrilled with the yummy—and nutritious— Alternatives.
1 Leafy Greens
Leafy greens like spinach, romaine, and kale can be steamed, chopped, and served to your goldfish. Darker greens such as baby spinach are typically more nutritious than lighter greens and provide more carbohydrates. Some of the nutritional benefits of feeding spinach, when using a 1 cup portion, to your fish include:
- 24 milligrams of magnesium
- 167 milligrams of potassium
- 86 grams of protein
- 145 micrograms of vitamin K
- 09 grams of carbohydrates
Savoy spinach has thick, fibrous stems that need to be cut off. Baby spinach has shorter stems that can be chopped up.
While not as good for a goldfish as fruits and vegetables, a hard-boiled egg can be used instead of fish food. Eggs are sometimes fed to young fish to help them grow, but adult fish need foods that are lower in protein than eggs. The most significant disadvantage to using an egg is how it muddies the water in the tank. You’ll have to clean the tank more often if you serve eggs more than a few times a week.
Grapes are healthy substitutes for fish food, and you can supplement your goldfish’s regular diet by adding grapes once or twice a week. One cup of red grapes contains 27.33 grams of carbohydrates, 1.4 grams of fiber, 288 milligrams of potassium, and 1.09 grams of protein. Of course, you will only need one or two grapes to feed a single adult, and you should remove the skin and dice the fruit into small pieces before serving.
Top 15 Things Your Goldfish Can Eat When You’ve Run Out of Fish Food
Like their ancestor, the crucian carp, goldfish are omnivorous creatures that rely on meat and plants to survive. You can serve either live or frozen brine shrimp, but make sure the shrimp is thawed first so it is easier to eat and digest. If you use tiger or white shrimp, take off the shell and legs and cut the meat into very small pieces. You can also use freeze-dried foods, but fish will digest them better if you add water to them first.