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.
Goldfish make fun, interactive pets that can provide years of enjoyment watching them swim around in their tank. But keeping goldfish happy and healthy requires more than just dropping fish flakes in the tank each day. Goldfish have specific dietary needs that must be met.
So what do you do when you suddenly realize you’re out of fish food? Starving your goldfish is not an option as they need proper nutrition The good news is that you likely have many items already in your kitchen that can stand in for fish food in a pinch.
In this article, we’ll cover 15 nutritious human foods you can feed your goldfish when you don’t have their normal fish food on hand
Why Goldfish Need Proper Nutrition
Goldfish are omnivores meaning they need a balanced diet of both plant and animal matter. In the wild, they eat a diverse combination of plants, insects, crustaceans and more.
Some key nutrients goldfish need include
- Protein for growth and muscle development
- Fiber for digestion
- Vitamins like C and K for immunity
- Carbohydrates for energy
- Fats for metabolism and nutrient absorption
Without proper nutrition from fish food or substitutes, goldfish can face issues like:
- Stunted growth
- Constipation
- Fin rot
- Increased susceptibility to disease
- Organ damage
- Shortened lifespan
So it’s important to ensure your goldfish get the nutrients they need daily, even when fish food runs out.
15 Human Foods You Can Feed Your Goldfish
When you find yourself in a pinch without fish food, look to your fridge and pantry. Many everyday human foods can stand in for goldfish food temporarily. Here are 15 healthy options:
1. Shrimp
As omnivores, goldfish benefit from animal proteins like shrimp. Raw, cooked, frozen or freeze-dried shrimp make tasty, protein-packed treats. Remove shells and cut into bite-size bits.
2. Hard Boiled Egg
Another source of animal protein, a few small pieces of hard boiled egg can work when fish food runs out. It can dirty the tank so use sparingly.
3. Peas
High in fiber to promote healthy digestion, thawed frozen peas make great goldfish snacks. Softened by thawing, pop out the inner pea to serve.
4. Zucchini
Low in fat and high in vitamin C and fiber, zucchini is a nutritious choice. Slice off the skin and cut into small pieces for your fish.
5. Sweet Potato
An excellent source of vitamin A, vitamin C, iron and calcium, sweet potato provides key nutrients. Steam or boil and cut into pieces sans skin to serve.
6. Spinach
Leafy greens like spinach contain carotenoids, iron, and vitamins for goldfish health. Steam until soft, then chop into small pieces for your fish.
7. Green Beans
Crunchy, fibrous green beans make a tasty snack that also aids digestion. Remove ends, cook until soft and cut into bites.
8. Cucumber
Composed of almost entirely water, cucumber keeps goldfish hydrated. Peel, deseed and slice into small pieces for your fish.
9. Apples
High in fiber and vitamin C, apples can be substituted for fish food, but remove peels and cores first. Cut into tiny chunks for goldfish.
10. Carrots
Packed with vitamin A, carotenoids and fiber, carrots support eye and fin health. Shred into very small bits without the skin for your fish.
11. Broccoli
With antioxidants, vitamins and fiber, broccoli florets make a healthy snack for goldfish. Cook slightly to soften before serving in small pieces.
12. Shelled Peas
Similar to frozen peas, fresh shelled garden peas can also provide plant-based nutrition for goldfish. Cook before feeding for easier digestion.
13. Berries
Fresh or thawed berries like strawberries and blueberries provide natural carbohydrates. Remove any stems and cut into bite-size pieces.
14. Orange Slices
While messy in the tank, oranges offer vitamin C and carbohydrates. Remove peel and membrane before slicing into tiny bits.
15. Leafy Herbs
Finely chop herbs like basil, cilantro or parsley to provide fiber, iron, vitamins and plant compounds. Feed in very small amounts.
Tips for Feeding Goldfish Alternatives
When using human foods instead of fish flakes:
- Remove all peels, skins, pits, stems and seeds which can harm fish
- Cut foods into pea-size or smaller pieces for easy eating
- Introduce new foods slowly in case they cause digestion issues
- Feed a variety for balanced nutrition
- Limit higher protein foods which goldfish don’t digest as well
- Rinse produce to remove pesticides, dirt and microbes
- Cook vegetables slightly to soften for digestion
- Feed only what they can consume in 5 minutes 1-2 times daily
Don’t Wait Too Long to Buy Fish Food
Feeding human food scraps should only be done in a pinch when you unexpectedly run out of fish food. Relying solely on people food can lead to malnutrition. Get to the pet store to buy proper goldfish food as soon as possible.
Goldfish don’t have nutritional requirements quite as complex as other pets, so in a jam, you likely have suitable alternatives already on hand. With a little creativity and care, you can keep your goldfish happy, healthy and fed even without their normal fish food.
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.